1375. gabia
Lexical Summary
gabia: Cup, Bowl, Goblet

Original Word: גְּבִיעַ
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: gbiya`
Pronunciation: gah-bee'-ah
Phonetic Spelling: (gheb-ee'-ah)
KJV: house, cup, pot
NASB: cups, cup, pitchers
Word Origin: [from an unused root (meaning to be convex)]

1. a goblet
2. by analogy, the calyx of a flower

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
house, cup, pot

From an unused root (meaning to be convex); a goblet; by analogy, the calyx of a flower -- house, cup, pot.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from the same as Geba
Definition
a cup, bowl
NASB Translation
cup (5), cups (8), pitchers (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
גָּבִיעַ noun masculineGenesis 44:12 cup, bowl׳ג Genesis 44:12 2t.; construct גְּבִיעַ Genesis 44:2; suffix גְּבִיעִי Genesis 44:2; plural גְּבִיעִים Exodus 25:34, גְּבִעִים Exodus 25:33; Exodus 25:33 4t.; suffix גְּבִיעֶיהָ Exodus 25:31; Exodus 37:17; — cup (of Joseph) Genesis 44:2,12,16,17; plural cups (of golden candlestick in tabernacle) Exodus 25:31,33 (twice in verse); Exodus 25:34; Exodus 37:17,19 (3 t. in verse); Exodus 37:20; bowls Jeremiah 35:5 גְּבִעִים מלאים יין וכֹסוֺת.

Topical Lexicon
Overview of the Term

The Hebrew noun גְּבִיעַ denotes a drinking vessel of some importance—variously rendered “cup,” “goblet,” or “bowl.” Its fourteen Old-Testament occurrences cluster around three contexts: (1) Joseph’s silver cup in Egypt, (2) decorative cups on the golden lampstand of the wilderness tabernacle, and (3) Jeremiah’s hospitality test of the Rechabites. In each setting the object serves as more than tableware; it becomes a theological signpost revealing God’s providence, holiness, and call to obedience.

1. Joseph’s Silver Cup: Instrument of Providence and Disclosure
• References: Genesis 44:2, 12, 16, 17
• Narrative role: Joseph orders his steward to hide “my silver cup” (Genesis 44:2) in Benjamin’s sack, setting up the climactic revelation to his brothers.
• Theological insights

 – Divine sovereignty: What appears a human ruse is God’s means of preserving the covenant family.

 – Moral testing: The cup exposes the brothers’ repentance, contrasting their former betrayal of Joseph.

 – Typology: A treasured cup in the governor’s hand anticipates the New-Covenant cup held by the greater Joseph, Jesus Christ, who tests and redeems His brethren.

2. Cups on the Lampstand: Symbols of Light and Life
• References: Exodus 25:31, 33-34; 37:17, 19-20
• Description: The golden menorah was fashioned with branches, knobs, blossoms, and “cups shaped like almond blossoms” (Exodus 25:33).
• Historical significance

 – Artistic craftsmanship: Each goblet-shaped ornament enhanced the lampstand’s resemblance to a flourishing tree—an Edenic image inside the holy place.

 – Liturgical function: While not used for drinking, the cup-like forms received and reflected the lamp oil, sustaining perpetual light before the LORD.
• Ministry implications

 – Holiness: Only pure gold was acceptable, underscoring the sanctity required for any vessel serving in God’s presence.

 – Witness: The lampstand’s light points forward to the church’s calling to “shine as lights in the world” (compare Philippians 2:15).

3. Jeremiah and the Rechabites: A Cup of Obedience
• Reference: Jeremiah 35:5
• Setting: The prophet offers “bowls full of wine and cups” to the Rechabites in the temple chambers.
• Purpose: The presentation tests fidelity to their ancestral vow of abstinence.
• Lessons

 – Covenant faithfulness: The Rechabites’ refusal contrasts with Judah’s covenant breach, validating imminent judgment.

 – Discipleship model: Voluntary self-denial for the sake of obedience receives divine commendation (Jeremiah 35:18-19).

4. Theological and Typological Reflections
• Revelation through ordinary objects: Whether hidden in a grain sack or engraved on sacred furniture, the goblet becomes a medium for divine speech.
• Cup motif across Scripture: From “the cup of salvation” (Psalm 116:13) to “the cup of the New Covenant” (Luke 22:20), Scripture unfolds a coherent symbolism of blessing and judgment, hospitality and holiness.
• Anticipation of Christ: Joseph’s cup foreshadows the testing and reconciliation accomplished at Calvary; the menorah’s cups prefigure the light of the world; Jeremiah’s cups highlight the stark choice between obedience and defilement.

5. Application for Contemporary Ministry
• Sacramental awareness: The Lord’s Supper invites believers to approach the covenant cup with reverence, mindful of its Old-Testament background.
• Personal integrity: Hidden tests (like Joseph’s cup) still reveal hearts; leaders should cultivate transparency and repentance.
• Corporate witness: Congregations, modeled after the lampstand, are to be purified vessels that bear the Spirit’s light in a dark world.

Key Passages for Further Study

Genesis 44:2; Genesis 44:16–17

Exodus 25:31–34; Exodus 37:17-20

Jeremiah 35:5-19

Forms and Transliterations
גְ֠בִעִים גְּבִ֣יעַ גְּבִיעִ֞י גְּבִיעֶ֛יהָ גְּבִעִ֛ים גְבִעִ֑ים גְבִעִ֗ים גביע גביעי גביעיה גבעים הַגָּבִ֔יעַ הַגָּבִ֖יעַ הַגָּבִ֜יעַ הגביע gə·ḇî·‘e·hā gə·ḇî·‘î gə·ḇi·‘îm ḡə·ḇi·‘îm gə·ḇî·a‘ gəḇî‘ehā gəḇî‘î gəḇi‘îm ḡəḇi‘îm gəḇîa‘ geVia geviEiha geviI Geviim hag·gā·ḇî·a‘ haggāḇîa‘ haggaVia
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Genesis 44:2
HEB: וְאֶת־ גְּבִיעִ֞י גְּבִ֣יעַ הַכֶּ֗סֶף
NAS: Put my cup, the silver cup,
KJV: And put my cup, the silver cup,
INT: my cup cup the silver

Genesis 44:2
HEB: וְאֶת־ גְּבִיעִ֞י גְּבִ֣יעַ הַכֶּ֗סֶף תָּשִׂים֙
NAS: the silver cup, in the mouth
KJV: the silver cup, in the sack's
INT: my cup cup the silver Put

Genesis 44:12
HEB: כִּלָּ֑ה וַיִּמָּצֵא֙ הַגָּבִ֔יעַ בְּאַמְתַּ֖חַת בִּנְיָמִֽן׃
NAS: with the youngest, and the cup was found
KJV: at the youngest: and the cup was found
INT: and ending was found and the cup sack Benjamin's

Genesis 44:16
HEB: אֲשֶׁר־ נִמְצָ֥א הַגָּבִ֖יעַ בְּיָדֽוֹ׃
NAS: possession the cup has been found.
KJV: with whom the cup is found.
INT: whose has been found the cup possession

Genesis 44:17
HEB: אֲשֶׁר֩ נִמְצָ֨א הַגָּבִ֜יעַ בְּיָד֗וֹ ה֚וּא
NAS: possession the cup has been found,
KJV: in whose hand the cup is found,
INT: whose has been found the cup possession he

Exodus 25:31
HEB: יְרֵכָ֣הּ וְקָנָ֔הּ גְּבִיעֶ֛יהָ כַּפְתֹּרֶ֥יהָ וּפְרָחֶ֖יהָ
NAS: of hammered work; its cups, its bulbs
KJV: and his branches, his bowls, his knops,
INT: base shaft cups bulbs flowers

Exodus 25:33
HEB: שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה גְ֠בִעִים מְֽשֻׁקָּדִ֞ים בַּקָּנֶ֣ה
NAS: Three cups [shall be] shaped
KJV: Three bowls made like unto almonds,
INT: Three cups shaped branch

Exodus 25:33
HEB: וָפֶרַח֒ וּשְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה גְבִעִ֗ים מְשֻׁקָּדִ֛ים בַּקָּנֶ֥ה
NAS: and three cups shaped like almond
KJV: and three bowls made like almonds
INT: flower and three cups like branch

Exodus 25:34
HEB: וּבַמְּנֹרָ֖ה אַרְבָּעָ֣ה גְבִעִ֑ים מְשֻׁקָּדִ֔ים כַּפְתֹּרֶ֖יהָ
NAS: four cups shaped like almond
KJV: [shall be] four bowls made like unto almonds,
INT: the lampstand four cups shaped bulbs

Exodus 37:17
HEB: יְרֵכָ֣הּ וְקָנָ֔הּ גְּבִיעֶ֛יהָ כַּפְתֹּרֶ֥יהָ וּפְרָחֶ֖יהָ
NAS: and its shaft; its cups, its bulbs
KJV: and his branch, his bowls, his knops,
INT: base shaft cups bulbs flowers

Exodus 37:19
HEB: שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה גְ֠בִעִים מְֽשֻׁקָּדִ֞ים בַּקָּנֶ֣ה
NAS: three cups shaped like almond
KJV: Three bowls made after the fashion of almonds
INT: three cups shaped branch

Exodus 37:19
HEB: וָפֶרַח֒ וּשְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה גְבִעִ֗ים מְשֻׁקָּדִ֛ים בְּקָנֶ֥ה
NAS: and three cups shaped like almond
KJV: and three bowls made like almonds
INT: flower and three cups like branch

Exodus 37:20
HEB: וּבַמְּנֹרָ֖ה אַרְבָּעָ֣ה גְבִעִ֑ים מְשֻׁ֨קָּדִ֔ים כַּפְתֹּרֶ֖יהָ
NAS: [there were] four cups shaped like almond
KJV: [were] four bowls made like almonds,
INT: the lampstand four cups shaped bulbs

Jeremiah 35:5
HEB: בֵית־ הָרֵכָבִ֗ים גְּבִעִ֛ים מְלֵאִ֥ים יַ֖יִן
NAS: of the Rechabites pitchers full
KJV: of the Rechabites pots full
INT: of the house of the Rechabites pitchers full of wine

14 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 1375
14 Occurrences


gə·ḇî·a‘ — 1 Occ.
gə·ḇî·‘e·hā — 2 Occ.
gə·ḇî·‘î — 1 Occ.
ḡə·ḇi·‘îm — 7 Occ.
hag·gā·ḇî·a‘ — 3 Occ.

1374
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