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φιάλη

phiálē

G5357 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A broad, shallow bowl or cup; specifically, a vessel with a wide mouth and no handles, often used for pouring out liquids. In literary and ritual contexts, denotes a flat, dish-like container used for libations, offerings, or the ritual pouring of substances. In apocalyptic texts, refers to a vessel containing divine wrath or plagues to be poured out ceremonially.

Semantic Range

broad shallow bowl; ritual libation vessel; dish for offerings; vessel containing a liquid to be poured (literal and figurative); ceremonial bowl in apocalyptic visions

Root / Etymology

The origin is uncertain; the word appears as a loan or inherited term in Greek, possibly related to terms for bowls or containers (cf. Latin phiala). Not transparently derived from a known Greek root.

Historical & Contextual Notes

φιάλη is attested in classical Greek as a standard term for a libation bowl—a shallow, typically handleless vessel used in ritual pouring of liquids (libations) to deities. Used extensively in literary, ritual, and cultic contexts from the Archaic period onward. In the Septuagint, it denotes ritual vessels in the temple. In the Greek of the New Testament (specifically in Revelation), φιάλη refers metaphorically to vessels containing divine wrath or plagues, to be ceremonially poured out as part of apocalyptic judgment scenes. This metaphorical use aligns with the semantic association with ritual pouring. The traditional translation as 'vial' (especially in older English Bibles) narrows the sense and does not capture the ancient shape or cultic use; 'bowl' or 'libation bowl' reflects the Greek context more accurately. Not to be confused with ποτήριον (potērion), which denotes a regular drinking cup or goblet; φιάλη refers to a vessel primarily for pouring rather than drinking.

Translation Consistency

primary "bowl" 12 occurrences

'Bowl' is the most natural, common English word matching the SILEX range — a broad, shallow, open vessel used for libations, offerings, or to contain liquids in apocalyptic imagery. It appears most often in attestations and avoids the narrower or more ambiguous senses of 'cup' or 'dish,' providing a consistent, natural rendering across contexts.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of uncertain affinity; a broad shallow cup ("phial"):--vial.

Root Family

φιάλη (phialē) — bowl, dish, vessel for pouring

Root φιάλ- bowl, dish, vessel for pouring

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G5357-02 φιάλην phialen N ACC F SG bowl a shallow bowl a shallow bowl 7
G5357-01 φιάλας phialas N ACC F PL bowls broad shallow bowls broad shallow bowls 5

Occurrences in Scripture

12 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G5357-01 Revelation 5:8 φιάλας phialas N ACC F PL bowls broad shallow bowls broad shallow bowls
G5357-01 Revelation 15:7 φιάλας phialas N ACC F PL bowls broad shallow bowls broad shallow bowls
G5357-01 Revelation 16:1 φιάλας phialas N ACC F PL bowls broad shallow bowls broad shallow bowls
G5357-02 Revelation 16:2 φιάλην phialen N ACC F SG bowl a shallow bowl a shallow bowl
G5357-02 Revelation 16:3 φιάλην phialen N ACC F SG bowl a shallow bowl a shallow bowl
G5357-02 Revelation 16:4 φιάλην phialen N ACC F SG bowl a shallow bowl a shallow bowl
G5357-02 Revelation 16:8 φιάλην phialen N ACC F SG bowl a shallow bowl a shallow bowl
G5357-02 Revelation 16:10 φιάλην phialen N ACC F SG bowl a shallow bowl a shallow bowl
G5357-02 Revelation 16:12 φιάλην phialen N ACC F SG bowl a shallow bowl a shallow bowl
G5357-02 Revelation 16:17 φιάλην phialen N ACC F SG bowl a shallow bowl a shallow bowl
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