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Waterpot

Artifacts

What is the meaning of Waterpot in the Bible?

An earthen vessel, or jar, for carrying or holding water, usually carried by women upon the head or shoulder. Pots of larger size were used for ceremonial purification.

SIGNIFICANCE

Understanding the waterpot clarifies daily domestic routines and social customs depicted in biblical narratives, such as the meeting at Jacob's well, by grounding the text in the material reality of ancient household life.

Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide

Physical & Symbolic Reality: Physical objects and natural elements like Waterpot were everyday realities for biblical writers, frequently used as living metaphors for spiritual truths.
Bible Study Reflection Prompts:
  • Why did the biblical author mention Waterpot in this passage?
  • What cultural or historical assumption does Waterpot clarify?

Source Attribution

Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.

How to Cite This Entry

"Waterpot." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/waterpot/
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