Lexical Summary askos: Wineskin, leather bottle Original Word: ἀσκός Strong's Exhaustive Concordance bottle, wineskinFrom the same as askeo; a leathern (or skin) bag used as a bottle -- bottle. see GREEK askeo HELPS Word-studies 779 askós – a leather wine-skin (not a glass "bottle"). "Our word bottle originally carried the true meaning, being a bottle of leather. In Spanish bota means a leather bottle, a boot, and a butt. In Spain wine is still brought to market in pig-skins" (M. Vincent). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. word Definition a leather bottle, wineskin NASB Translation skins (4), wineskins (8). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 779: ἀσκόςἀσκός, ἀσκοῦ, ὁ, a leathern bag or bottle, in which water or wine was kept: Matthew 9:17; Mark 2:22; Luke 5:37f. (Often in Greek writings from Homer down; the Sept.) (BB. DD. under the word Topical Lexicon Term and Scriptural Setting The Greek noun ἀσκός appears twelve times in the New Testament and is confined to three parallel Gospel passages: Matthew 9:17, Mark 2:22, and Luke 5:37-38. In each setting Jesus employs the same imagery—new wine and wineskins—to answer questions about fasting and to illustrate the discontinuity between His messianic work and the prevailing religious expectations of His day. Cultural and Historical Background First-century wine was commonly stored in containers fashioned from the hides of goats or sheep. The fresh skin retained a measure of elasticity, allowing it to stretch as unfermented grape juice continued its process of fermentation. Once a skin had been used and had dried, it lost that flexibility; the pressure of new fermentation would burst the seams and spill the contents. Therefore, prudent stewards poured new wine only into recently prepared skins. Jesus’ audience would have understood the ordinary management of these skins as a matter of daily life, just as they understood the mending of cloth or the storing of grain in barns. Archaeological findings from Judean settlements corroborate the Gospel picture. Preserved skins, stitching patterns, and wine residues all attest to the widespread use of such vessels. Rabbinic literature also refers to “old skins” and their tendency to split, framing the background against which Jesus’ words resonated. Biblical Usage and Theological Implications The consistent setting of ἀσκός in the Synoptic tradition points to a unified theological purpose. Jesus contrasts “new wine” with “old wineskins” to underscore the incompatibility of His redemptive mission with the established ritualism that had encrusted Israel’s spiritual life. Matthew 9:17 records: “Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins burst, the wine spills, and the wineskins are ruined. Instead, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.” Mark 2:22 and Luke 5:37-38 echo the same warning and promise. Within the wider context of each Gospel, the image advances three interconnected truths: 1. A new covenant is being inaugurated. Just as fermented wine demands a container with room to grow, so the dynamic life of the kingdom cannot be confined to mere add-ons to Mosaic tradition. Illustration in the Teachings of Jesus The parable of the wineskins is linked to questions about fasting. John the Baptist’s disciples and the Pharisees practiced regular fasts, expecting Messiah to endorse their regimen. Jesus’ reply positions Himself as the bridegroom (Matthew 9:15), shifting the moment from mourning to celebration. New eschatological joy—symbolized by fresh wine—renders obligatory fasts obsolete in that season. In Luke 5:39 Jesus adds a unique saying: “No one after drinking old wine wants new, for he says, ‘The old is better.’” This closing remark exposes human reluctance to embrace change, warning that the comfort of tradition can eclipse the reception of revealed truth. Practical Ministry Applications 1. Church Renewal: Congregations prone to institutional rigidity must discern whether inherited forms still serve the living content of the Gospel. Structures, liturgies, and programs ought to remain supple, able to accommodate fresh movements of the Spirit. See Also Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:26-27; Matthew 26:28; Romans 7:6; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Hebrews 8:6-13 Forms and Transliterations ασκοι ασκοί ἀσκοί ἀσκοὶ ασκόν άσκον ασκός ασκού ασκους ασκούς ἀσκούς ἀσκοὺς ασκώ άσμα άσματος ασμάτων askoi askoí askoì askous askoús askoùsLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 9:17 N-AMPGRK: νέον εἰς ἀσκοὺς παλαιούς εἰ NAS: into old wineskins; otherwise KJV: into old bottles: else the bottles INT: new into wineskins old if Matthew 9:17 N-NMP Matthew 9:17 N-NMP Matthew 9:17 N-AMP Mark 2:22 N-AMP Mark 2:22 N-AMP Mark 2:22 N-NMP Mark 2:22 N-AMP Luke 5:37 N-AMP Luke 5:37 N-AMP Luke 5:37 N-NMP Luke 5:38 N-AMP Strong's Greek 779 |