a vessel for containing liquids. In the East pitchers were usually carried on the head or shoulders (Ge 24:15-20; Jg 7:16,19; Mr 14:13).

Women's water jars with one or two handles, carried on the shoulder (Ge 24:15-20).

The earthenware jar (cf. La 4:2 'earthen pitchers') in which in all ages the women and maidens of Palestine have drawn and carried the water from the village well (Ge 24:14 ff.). In wealthy households this task was performed by a slave or other menial (Mr 14:13; Lu 22:10). For illustrations of water-jars found in ancient cisterns, see Macalister, Bible Sidelights, etc., fig. 22, and the works cited under House,

Pitcher.

This word is used in the Authorized Version to denote the earthen water-jars or pitchers with one or two handles, used chiefly by women for carrying water, as in the story of Rebekah.

Ge 24:15-20

but see Mark 14:13; Luke 22:10 This mode of carrying has been and still is customary the East and elsewhere. The vessels used for the purpose are generally borne on the head or the shoulder. The Bedouin women commonly use skin bottles. Such was the "bottle" carried by Hagar

Ge 21:14

The same word is used of the pitchers employed by Gideon's three hundred men.

Jg 7:16