PITCHER

pich'-er (kadh; keramion): The word is found chiefly in the Old Testament in the story of Rebekah in Genesis 24:13 ff; but Gideon's men also had their lamps in pitchers (Judges 7:16,19). Ecclesiastes speaks of the pitcher broken at the fountain (Judges 12:6). The single use in the New Testament is in Mark 14:13 parallel Luke 22:10. The pitcher was an earthenware vessel (compare Lamentations 4:2, nebhel), with one or two handles, used for carrying water, and commonly borne upon the head or shoulder (compare Genesis 24).

From the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Edited by James Orr, published in 1939 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.