Basket
“From a root referring to twigs or interwoven material”
Summary
Various types of woven containers used in biblical times for carrying bread, fruit, offerings, and other goods, with distinct Greek terms distinguishing the baskets used in Jesus' feeding miracles.
☩Hebrew Terms and Uses
Several Hebrew words describe different types of baskets. The sal was used primarily for carrying bread, as in the Egyptian baker's dream and the presentation of unleavened offerings. The tene was a large, deep basket for gathering harvest produce and presenting firstfruits at the sanctuary. The kelubh was an interwoven basket resembling a bird cage, used for fruit-gathering. The dud served various purposes from carrying figs to transporting clay for brickmaking, as referenced in the Israelites' bondage in Egypt.
☩Baskets in the Feeding Miracles
The Gospels carefully distinguish between two types of baskets used in Jesus' miraculous feedings. When five thousand were fed, the disciples gathered twelve kophinoi of fragments—a smaller, hand-carried provision basket commonly used by traveling Jews. When four thousand were fed, they gathered seven spurides—larger hampers or food-baskets. Jesus Himself preserved this distinction when later questioning the disciples about both miracles, confirming these were two separate events.
☩Paul's Escape from Damascus
When Paul's life was threatened in Damascus, the disciples lowered him through an opening in the city wall in a spuris or sargane—a large basket or hamper of plaited rope or wicker construction. This basket was evidently substantial enough to bear a man's weight, demonstrating the considerable size of some ancient baskets. The sargane was typically woven of rope and commonly used for carrying fish.
☩Materials and Construction
Baskets were made from various materials including willow twigs, palm leaves, rushes, and rope. Some were fashioned of peeled sticks or open wicker-work allowing air circulation, while others were more solidly constructed for heavier loads. Egyptian baskets depicted in ancient tombs show elaborate workmanship, sometimes ornamented with colors, ranging from small hand-baskets to large containers carried by poles between two men.
Related Verses35 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Basket," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. I (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Basket," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. I (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.James Hastings (ed.), "Basket," in Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, vol. I (T. & T. Clark, 1906–1908).