Vessel
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Skeuos means vessel, container, implement, or instrument, and it can be used metaphorically for a person in relation to a purpose. Paul contrasts vessels for honorable and dishonorable use in a large household and says cleansing prepares a vessel for the Master's good work.
Reader summary
Full entry for σκεῦος (G4632) · Open the biblical lexicon
Skeuos means vessel, container, implement, or instrument, and it can be used metaphorically for a person in relation to a purpose. Paul contrasts vessels for honorable and dishonorable use in a large household and says cleansing prepares a vessel for the Master's good work.
The BSB source-word alignment has 23 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include possessions (3), . . . (2), [the] vessels (2), vessel (2), vessels (2).
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Matthew 12:29. Its strongest book concentrations include Acts (5), Revelation (3), Romans (3), 2 Timothy (2).
Skeuos means vessel, container, implement, or instrument, and it can be used metaphorically for a person in relation to a purpose. Paul contrasts vessels for honorable and dishonorable use in a large household and says cleansing prepares a vessel for the Master's good work. He describes the gospel treasure carried in earthen vessels so extraordinary power is seen as God's.
First Thessalonians tells each believer to know how to possess or control his own vessel in holiness and honor, a phrase whose precise referent is debated between body and spouse. The noun does not make people property or passive objects. Context and broader biblical dignity must govern the metaphor.
Skeuos ranges from household containers to metaphorical instruments and embodied life. Honor depends on preparation and use, fragile vessels display God's power, and believers must conduct embodied relationships in holiness rather than lust.
A large house contains not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay. Some indeed are for honorable use, but others are for common use.
Second Timothy 2:20 says a large house contains vessels of gold, silver, wood, and clay, some for honorable and some for dishonorable use. The image sets up a call to cleanse oneself from corrupt teaching and practice.
So if anyone cleanses himself of what is unfit, he will be a vessel for honor: sanctified, useful to the Master, and prepared for every good work.
Second Timothy 2:21 says the cleansed vessel is sanctified, useful to the Master, and prepared for every good work. The metaphor emphasizes holiness and readiness, not ownership of people by leaders.
Now we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us.
Second Corinthians 4:7 says believers have gospel treasure in earthen vessels so surpassing power may be God's and not theirs. Human fragility displays rather than disqualifies divine power.
Each of you must know how to control his own body in holiness and honor,
First Thessalonians 4:4 tells each person to know how to possess his own vessel in holiness and honor. Whether body or wife is intended, the passage rejects lustful exploitation and commands sanctified honor.
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders ItA compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
Greek word. vessel
Textus Receptus witness, full corpusGreek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
16 of 23 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
a vessel to contain liquid, utensil, tackle
Read versea vessel to contain liquid, utensil, tackle
Read versea vessel to contain liquid, utensil, tackle
Read versea vessel to contain liquid, utensil, tackle
Read versea vessel to contain liquid, utensil, tackle
Read versea vessel to contain liquid, utensil, tackle
Read versea vessel to contain liquid, utensil, tackle
Read versea vessel to contain liquid, utensil, tackle
Read versea vessel to contain liquid, utensil, tackle
Read versea vessel to contain liquid, utensil, tackle
Read versea vessel to contain liquid, utensil, tackle
Read versea vessel to contain liquid, utensil, tackle
Read versea vessel to contain liquid, utensil, tackle
Read versea vessel to contain liquid, utensil, tackle
Read versea vessel to contain liquid, utensil, tackle
Read versea vessel to contain liquid, utensil, tackle
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
This word appears as a noun across 6 case and number patterns. The form changes show how the word functions in a sentence; they do not change the basic lexical meaning by themselves.
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
σκεῦος is of uncertain origin - no further derivation.
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
Skeuos is useful imagery only when its limits are respected. Household vessels differ in material and purpose, and Paul uses that ordinary fact to call servants away from corruption toward honorable readiness. The gospel's treasure rests in clay jars so no one mistakes apostolic endurance for self-generated power. First Thessalonians applies vessel language to sexual holiness, though interpreters debate whether body or spouse is meant; either way, domination and lust are excluded by the command to holiness and honor.
Churches must never call people vessels in order to erase consent, agency, safety, or worth. The metaphor points to God's treasure, cleansing grace, embodied stewardship, and power made visible through fragile human servants.
2Cor.4.7
Skeuos means vessel, container, implement, equipment, or instrument. Metaphorical uses may highlight purpose, fragility, embodiment, or service; the chosen feature must be demonstrated from context.
Temple and household vessels are set apart for particular uses, while prophets describe people as clay in the Potter's hands. The Creator's authority never legitimizes human ownership or abuse of persons.