νιπτήρ G3537
a basin or washing vessel used for foot washing or ritual purification
John 13:5 records Jesus' shocking act of humility: 'He poured water into a basin (νιπτῆρα) and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel.' The term denotes a large bowl or basin specifically used for washing. In the ancient Near East, foot washing was a menial task performed by servants for guests who had traveled dusty roads in sandals. Jesus, the master and Lord, assumes the role of the lowest household slave—an acted parable of his entire mission. The basin becomes a symbol of servanthood and self-giving love. Peter's initial refusal and subsequent demand for a full bath reveal his failure to grasp the deeper symbolism: Jesus cleanses not just feet but souls, and those who belong to him are already clean.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Refers to the basin Jesus used when washing the disciples' feet at the Last Supper. The multilingual glosses preserve 'basin' or 'washing vessel' (Spanish 'vasija' meaning 'vessel', French 'bassin', German 'Waschbecken' meaning 'washbasin'). The domain (Nature, Class, Example) is acceptable for an artifact, though Artifacts would be more precise for this household implement. 1×
AR["مِغْسَلِ"]·ben["গামলায়"]·DE["Waschbecken"]·EN["basin"]·FR["bassin"]·heb["כִּיּוֹר"]·HI["चिलमची"]·ID["bejana"]·IT["niptera"]·jav["bokor,"]·KO["대야에"]·PT["bacia"]·RU["умывальницу"]·ES["vasija"]·SW["bakuli"]·TR["leğene"]·urd["طشت"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
νιπτήρ, ῆρος, ὁ, (νίζω) washing-vessel, basin, NT