κερᾰμ-ῐκός G2764
Made of clay or pottery; earthen, ceramic
This adjective describes objects made from potter's clay or belonging to the potter's craft. Revelation 2:27 uses it in the phrase 'clay vessels,' imagery drawn from Psalm 2 about the Messiah's authority to shatter rebellious nations as easily as ceramic pots. The Spanish 'de barro' (of clay) and German 'töpfern' (potter's) emphasize the material's fragility. This highlights the vulnerability of earthly power before divine authority.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Denotes items made of clay or pottery, emphasizing their fragility and breakability. In Revelation's promise to overcomers, the image of clay vessels being shattered represents the utter destruction of rebellious opposition to Christ's rule—pottery breaks irreparably when struck with iron authority. 1×
AR["الفَخّارِيَّةُ"]·ben["মাটির"]·DE["toepfern"]·EN["clay"]·FR["de-potier"]·heb["חֶרֶשׂ"]·HI["मिट्टी-के"]·ID["tanah-liat"]·IT["keramika"]·jav["lempung"]·KO["질그릇"]·PT["de-barro"]·RU["глиняные"]·ES["de-barro"]·SW["vya-udongo"]·TR["çömlek"]·urd["مٹی-کے"]
Related Senses
H4325 1. water, waters (582×)H6965b 1. Qal: to rise, arise, get up (432×)H2091 1. gold (the metal) (389×)H0068 1. stone, rock (material/object) (267×)H5178a 1. bronze/copper as metal (131×)H6083 1. dust, dry earth, soil (108×)H8313 1. burn, set fire to (94×)H2734 1. anger was kindled (82×)G5204 1. water (80×)H2822 1. darkness, absence of light (80×)G5457 1. light (illumination) (71×)G0450 1. rise, stand up (physical) (69×)H6965b 2. Qal: to stand firm, endure, be valid (50×)H6999a 2. burn sacrifice on altar (Hifil) (45×)H5553 1. rock, cliff (physical feature) (43×)H6965b 4. Hifil: to establish, confirm (covenant/kingdom/word) (40×)H1197a 1. burn, be on fire (39×)H4306 1. rain, showers (38×)H1653 1. rain, precipitation (34×)G4655 1. darkness (30×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
κερᾰμ-ῐκός, ή, όν, of or for pottery, γῆ κ. potter's earth, Refs 5th c.BC+; κ. ῥύμη, ={Κεραμεικός}, Refs 5th c.BC+; ὁ κ. τροχός Refs 1st c.BC+; κ. μάστιξ, Comedy texts Phrase for ostracism, Refs 3rd c.AD+; ἡ -κή (i.e. τέχνη) the potter's art, pottery, Refs 5th c.BC+; see at {κεραμεικός}.