Original Word: חֵמֶת
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: chemeth
Pronunciation: khay'-meth
Phonetic Spelling: (klay'-meth)
Definition: Bottle, skin, wineskin
Meaning: a skin bottle

bottle

From the same as chowmah; a skin bottle (as tied up) -- bottle.

see HEBREW chowmah

Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
a water skin
NASB Translation
skin (3).

חֵ֫מֶת, חֶ֑מֶת noun [masculine] waterskin (Late Hebrew id.) — הַחֶ֑מֶת Genesis 21:15; הַחֵ֫מֶת Genesis 21:19; וְחֵ֨מַת ַ™מיִם Genesis 21:14 (see Di), [Habakkuk 2:5 חֲמָתְךָ see חֵמָה].

Word Origin: Derived from an unused root meaning to boil up or ferment.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The corresponding Greek entry related to the concept of a skin bottle is Strong's Greek Number G779, ἀσκός (askos), which also refers to a leather bag or wineskin. This term is used in the New Testament, such as in Matthew 9:17, where Jesus speaks of new wine being put into new wineskins: "Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will spill and the wineskins will be ruined. Instead, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved." This illustrates the continuity of the use of skin bottles from the Old Testament to the New Testament era.

Usage: The term חֵמֶת is used in the Hebrew Bible to refer to a container made from animal skin, often used for carrying liquids. It is mentioned in contexts where the storage or transport of liquid is involved.

Context: The Hebrew word חֵמֶת (chemet) refers to a traditional container made from animal skins, commonly used in the ancient Near East. These skin bottles were crafted by sewing together the hides of animals, typically goats, and were used for their flexibility and durability. The process of making a חֵמֶת involved cleaning and treating the skin to ensure it was watertight. These containers were essential for daily life, especially in arid regions where water needed to be transported over long distances. The elasticity of the skin allowed it to expand, making it suitable for fermenting liquids like wine. In the Bible, חֵמֶת is mentioned in several passages, illustrating its importance in the daily life and culture of the Israelites. For example, in Joshua 9:4, the Gibeonites used old and cracked skin bottles to deceive the Israelites into believing they had come from a distant land: "They acted deceptively and set out as envoys, carrying old sacks on their donkeys and worn-out wineskins, cracked and mended." This highlights the common use and recognition of such containers in biblical times.

הַחֵ֑מֶת הַחֵ֙מֶת֙ החמת וְחֵ֨מַת וחמת חֲמַ֣ת חֲמָתְךָ֖ חמת חמתך chaMat chamateCha ha·ḥê·meṯ ḥă·mā·ṯə·ḵā ḥă·maṯ haChemet haḥêmeṯ ḥămaṯ ḥămāṯəḵā veChemat wə·ḥê·maṯ wəḥêmaṯInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts