ἄντλημα (antlēma)
antlēma
bucket
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun antlēma refers specifically to a bucket or vessel used for drawing water from a well. It denotes the physical object itself rather than the act of drawing, which is why it appears in contexts involving concrete tools and daily labor.
This word occurs only once in the New Testament, in John 4:11. Here, Jesus uses the term to describe the device the Samaritan woman would need to lower into Jacob’s well. The specificity of the word highlights the tangible nature of her request for living water, contrasting a simple tool with spiritual sustenance.
Etymologically, it derives from the verb antleō, meaning to draw up or fetch. By focusing on the instrument rather than the action, the text emphasizes the practical reality of the woman’s situation, grounding the subsequent theological conversation in everyday life.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word antlēma means a bucket or vessel used for drawing water from a well. It appears only once in the New Testament, in John 4:11. Here, Jesus speaks with a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well. She points out that He has no bucket to lower into the deep shaft. This simple detail grounds a profound spiritual conversation in everyday reality.
Jesus uses this ordinary tool to highlight a deeper truth. The woman seeks physical water for daily survival, but Jesus offers living water for eternal life. By mentioning the bucket, the text shows how God meets us in our practical needs while inviting us toward something greater. This word reminds us that spiritual truths often arise from common, tangible moments.
When you feel stuck in routine tasks or deep wells of difficulty, remember this encounter. God does not ignore your physical circumstances; He enters them to offer lasting refreshment. You are invited to look beyond immediate needs toward the sustenance that satisfies the soul completely.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to draw with1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἄντλημα1×
Key Verses
-
John 4:11
The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. So where do you get that living water?
The woman uses the specific term for a drawing bucket to highlight Jesus' lack of physical tools, setting up the contrast between earthly water and spiritual life.