kroos : A small earthen vessel or flask, usually for holding liquids: צפחת , cappaḥath ; as water, 1 Samuel 26:11 , 1 Samuel 26:12 , 1 Samuel 26:16; 1 Kings 19:6; it being porous, the liquid is kept cool; also for holding oil, as in 1 Kings 17:12 , 1 Kings 17:14 , 1 Kings 17:16 .
In 1 Kings 14:3 ("a cruse of honey") the word בּקבּוּק , baḳbūḳ , would be better rendered "bottle," doubtless deriving its name from the gurgling sound of issuing liquids. In 2 Kings 2:20 צלחית , celōḥı̄th , is not a jar or flask, but a dish, or platter, for salt or other substances.
In the New Testament a small jar or vial, ἀλάβαστρον , alábastron , "alabaster cruse" or flask, for holding ointment; not "box" as in the King James Version (Matthew 26:7; Mark 14:3; Luke 7:37; compare 1 Samuel 10:1; 2 Kings 9:1 , 2 Kings 9:3 , where "box" in the King James Version is used for "vial" the Revised Version (British and American)).
The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) was edited by James Orr, John Nuelsen, Edgar Mullins, Morris Evans, and Melvin Grove Kyle and was published complete in 1939. This web site includes the complete text.
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