κεράμιον (keramion)
keramion
clay jar
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun keramion refers to a simple earthenware vessel, specifically a jug or pitcher used for holding liquids like water. As a common household item in the ancient world, it represents something functional and unpretentious, crafted from clay rather than precious metals.
This word appears only twice in the New Testament, both times in parallel accounts of Jesus’ final days. In Mark 14:13 and Luke 22:10, Jesus uses a keramion as a identifying marker for His disciples to find the place where they would eat the Passover meal. The specificity of this detail highlights how ordinary objects were woven into the unfolding narrative of the Gospel.
Its presence in these texts underscores the humility of the incarnation and the ministry of Jesus, who often used everyday items to teach profound truths or facilitate significant events. The use of a common clay jar for such a pivotal moment illustrates the accessibility of divine grace within ordinary human experience.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word keramion describes a simple clay jar, the kind used for carrying water in ancient homes. It was not made of gold or silver, but of ordinary earth. In the Gospels, Jesus points to this humble object as a sign to help His followers find the place where they would share the Passover meal. This detail shows that God often uses everyday things to guide us through uncertain times.
When life feels confusing, we might look for grand signs or miraculous events. Yet Scripture reminds us that faithfulness is often found in small, practical steps. Just as the disciples followed a man with a water jar, we can trust that God provides clear directions for our daily walk. His grace meets us in the ordinary moments, turning simple actions into part of a larger story.
This perspective brings comfort. We do not need to seek out extraordinary experiences to encounter God. Instead, we can find Him in the quiet reliability of His word and the simple duties of each day. May you feel peace knowing that your faithful steps, however small, are seen and used by Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a pitcher2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- κεράμιον2×
Key Verses
-
Mark 14:13
He sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and there a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him,
Jesus uses the keramion as a specific identifier to help the disciples locate the upper room for the Passover.
-
Luke 22:10
He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered into the city, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him into the house which he enters.
Luke records the same detail, emphasizing that the water jar was the crucial sign for finding the correct house.