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ἀσκός

askós

G779 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A container made from animal skin, specifically a bag or pouch fashioned from hide; commonly used for holding liquids such as wine or water in antiquity. The term can refer generally to any flexible leather vessel, but most often denotes a wineskin or water-skin. In broader usage, it can indicate any pouch or flexible container made from skin.

Semantic Range

leather bag, wineskin, waterskin, flexible pouch, container made of animal hide, bag for liquids

Root / Etymology

From the same root as ἀσκέω (askeō, 'to work leather,' 'to fashion with bodily exercise'), related to the practice of preparing animal skins. The word is directly derived from the act of processing or working animal hide, reflecting its material origin.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical and Hellenistic Greek, ἀσκός designates a bag or pouch made of animal skin, widely used for storage or transport of liquids, especially wine or water. The term appears in Homer and throughout classical literature, generally without religious or symbolic connotation. In the Septuagint and New Testament (e.g., Matthew 9:17; Mark 2:22; Luke 5:37-38), ἀσκός is specifically used for wineskins, vessels essential in daily life before the widespread use of ceramic or glass bottles. The metaphorical use in the New Testament—'new wine in new skins'—relies on the practical knowledge that fresh leather expands, whereas old skins may burst. Modern translations often render ἀσκός as 'bottle,' but this can obscure the original material and the technological context: ancient ἀσκός were not rigid vessels but flexible, stitched skins. The Latin term 'uter' is a close parallel. There is no evidence the term implies any particular ritual use, though skin bags were sometimes used in cultic contexts for libations. The semantic scope does not include non-leather bottles or ceramics. The meaning remained stable across Greek literature from Homeric to Koine periods.

Translation Consistency

primary "wineskin" 12 occurrences

Most biblical and common usages of ἀσκός refer to a wineskin (a flexible leather bag for liquids). 'Wineskin' is the natural, common English term and fits the typical sense while still covering the broader idea of a leather pouch for liquids; it therefore provides the most consistent, natural rendering for all forms.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from the same as ἀσκέω; a leathern (or skin) bag used as a bottle:--bottle.

Root Family

ἀσκός (askos) — skin-bag, leather pouch, wineskin, hide container

Root ἀσκ- skin-bag, leather pouch, wineskin, container

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G779-02 ἀσκοὺς askous N ACC M PL wineskins leather skin-bags wineskins 8
G779-01 ἀσκοί askoi N NOM M PL wineskins skin-bags wineskins 4

Occurrences in Scripture

12 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G779-02 Matthew 9:17 ἀσκοὺς askous N ACC M PL wineskins leather skin-bags wineskins
G779-01 Matthew 9:17 ἀσκοί askoi N NOM M PL wineskins skin-bags wineskins
G779-01 Matthew 9:17 ἀσκοὶ askoi-2 N NOM M PL wineskins skin-bags wineskins
G779-02 Matthew 9:17 ἀσκοὺς askous-2 N ACC M PL wineskins leather skin-bags wineskins
G779-02 Mark 2:22 ἀσκοὺς askous N ACC M PL wineskins leather skin-bags wineskins
G779-02 Mark 2:22 ἀσκούς askous-2 N ACC M PL wineskins leather skin-bags wineskins
G779-01 Mark 2:22 ἀσκοί askoi N NOM M PL wineskins skin-bags wineskins
G779-02 Mark 2:22 ἀσκοὺς askous-3 N ACC M PL wineskins leather skin-bags wineskins
G779-02 Luke 5:37 ἀσκοὺς askous N ACC M PL wineskins leather skin-bags wineskins
G779-02 Luke 5:37 ἀσκούς askous-2 N ACC M PL wineskins leather skin-bags wineskins
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