Vessel

is used (a) of "a vessel or implement" of various kinds, Mark 11:16; Luke 8:16; John 19:29; Acts 10:11,16; 11:5; 27:17 (a sail); Romans 9:21; 2—Timothy 2:20; Hebrews 9:21; Revelation 2:27; 18:12; (b) of "goods or household stuff," Matthew 12:29 and Mark 3:27 , "goods;" Luke 17:31 , RV, "goods" (AV, "stuff"); (c) of "persons," (1) for the service of God, Acts 9:15 , "a (chosen) vessel;" 2—Timothy 2:21 , "a vessel (unto honor);" (2) the "subjects" of Divine wrath, Romans 9:22; (3) the "subjects" of Divine mercy, Romans 9:23; (4) the human frame, 2—Corinthians 4:7; perhaps 1—Thessalonians 4:4; (5) a husband and wife, 1—Peter 3:7; of the wife, probably, 1—Thessalonians 4:4; while the exhortation to each one "to possess himself of his own vessel in sanctification and honor" is regarded by some as referring to the believer's body [cp. Romans 6:13; 1—Corinthians 9:27; see No. (4)], the view that the "vessel" signifies the wife, and that the reference is to the sanctified maintenance of the married state, is supported by the facts that in 1—Peter 3:7 the same word time, "honor," is used with regard to the wife; again in Hebrews 13:4 , timios, "honorable" (RV, "in honor") is used in regard to marriage; further, the preceding command in 1—Thessalonians 4 is against fornication, and the succeeding one ( 1—Thessalonians 4:6 ) is against adultery. In Ruth 4:10 , Sept., ktaomai, "to possess," is used of a wife.

denotes "a jar" or "pail," Matthew 13:48 , in the best texts (some have No. 3). It is used, in an inscription, of a cinerary urn.

denotes "a small vessel" (a diminutive of No. 2), e.g., for carrying oil, Matthew 25:4 .