Quick Definition
σκεῦος, ους, τό n.n. a vessel to contain liquid, utensil, tackle
Strong's Definition
of uncertain affinity; a vessel, implement, equipment or apparatus (literally or figuratively (specially, a wife as contributing to the usefulness of the husband))
KJV Usage: goods, sail, stuff, vessel
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
noun, n. | -ους | ἀπαρασκεύαστος · ἐπισκευάζομαι · κατασκευάζω · παρασκευάζω · παρασκευή · σκευή
6.1 · Artifacts · Artifacts [General Meaning]
object, thing any kind of instrument, tool, weapon, equipment, container, or property The manner in which σκεῦος[a] is translated depends in many instances upon the specific context. It may, of course, be rendered by a highly generic expression such as English ‘thing,’ but wherever the context refers to some particular type of object, it is preferable to employ a specific referent. In ACT 27:17, for example, the reference of σκεῦος is generally understood to be the mainsail.
MAT 12:29 · MRK 11:16 · ACT 10:11 · ACT 10:16 · ACT 27:17 · HEB 9:21
6.118 · Artifacts · Containers
vessel, container a highly generic term for any kind of jar, bowl, basket, or vase In ACT 10:11 and ACT 10:16 σκεῦος[b] refers to a sheet (as a container) which was let down from heaven in Peter’s vision.
In a number of languages there is no relatively high generic term which may be used to refer to any type of vessel or container, and therefore one must employ more specific terms depending upon the context, even as in the case of most English translations in ACT 10:11, REV 2:27, and LUK 8:16.
LUK 8:16 · JHN 19:29 · ACT 10:11 · ACT 10:16 · ACT 11:5 · ROM 9:21 · 2CO 4:7 · 2TI 2:20 · 2TI 2:21 · HEB 9:21 · REV 2:27 · REV 18:12 · REV 18:12
57.20 · Possess, Transfer, Exchange · Have, Possess, Property, Owner
goods, belongings, household furnishings objects which are possessed
9.21 · People · Human Beings
person (a figurative extension of meaning of σκεῦος[a] ‘instrument, thing,’ 6.1) a person in relation to a particular function or role
8.6 · Body, Body Parts, and Body Products · Body
body (a figurative extension of meaning of σκεῦος[a] ‘object, thing, instrument,’ 6.1, or of σκεῦος[b] ‘vessel,’ 6.118) the human body It is also possible to interpret σκεῦος in 1TH 4:4 as meaning ‘wife,’ and for a discussion of this meaning and some of the problems involved in translation, see 10.55. A further alternative meaning, and one closely related to the meaning of ‘body’ is ‘sexual life,’ so that this expression in 1TH 4:4 might be rendered as ‘each of you must gain mastery over his sexual life’ or, in the form τὸ ἑαυτοῦ σκεῦος κτᾶσθαι ἐν ἁγιασμῷ καὶ τιμῇ, ‘your sexual life should be holy and honorable’ (see 23.63).
10.55 · Kinship Terms · Kinship Relations Based upon Marriage
wife (a figurative extension of meaning of σκεῦος[b] ‘vessel,’ 6.118) a woman married to a man, with focus upon the sexual relation The interpretation of σκεῦος in 1TH 4:4 has given rise to serious divisions of opinion as noted in 8.6, where σκεῦος is interpreted as designating a person’s own body. The interpretation of σκεῦος as ‘wife’ is based upon a number of considerations. In the first place, the verb κτᾶσθαι ‘to get, to acquire’ (57.58) does not normally go with ‘body,’ while it fits well with the meaning of ‘wife.’ On the other hand, σκεῦος meaning ‘wife’ is nowhere else attested in Greek but is assumed in 1TH 4:4 to refer to a wife primarily on the strength of the particular interpretation of the context, in which πορνεία ‘immorality’ (88.271) in verse 3 and and ἐν πάθει ἐπιθυμίας ‘with a lustful desire’ (25.30) in verse 5 are assumed to point to the meaning of σκεῦος as ‘wife.’ In ancient Jewish literature a wife was euphemistically called a ‘vessel’ in contexts relating to sexual relations, and ‘vessel’ is a very common meaning of σκεῦος in Greek. If, therefore, one assumes a Semitic background for this Greek text, the statement in 1TH 4:4 would refer to the need for sexual life to be both holy and honorable (see 23.63).
23.63 · Physiological Processes and States · Sexual Relations
Collocation: σκεῦος κτάομαι
sexual life (an idiom, literally: to possess a vessel) a euphemistic manner of referring to sexual relations It is also possible to understand σκεῦος in 1TH 4:4 as one’s wife (see 10.55). σκεῦος in 1TH 4:4 may also be understood as one’s body, and therefore the phrase τὸ ἑαυτοῦ σκεῦος κτᾶσθαι may be rendered as ‘to control his own body’ (see 8.6).
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
σκεῦος, -ous, τό, [prob. fr. τ. sku ‘to cover’; οἵ. Lat. scutum, cutis, obscurus; Curtius § 113; Vaniéek p.1115], fr. [Arstph.], Thue. down; Sept. for ὌΞ; 1. avessel: Mk. xi. 16; Lk. viii. 16; Jn. xix. 29; Acts x. 11,16; xi. 5; 2 Tim. ii. 20; Rev. ii. 27; xviii. 12; τὰ ox. τῆς λειτουργίας, to be used in performing religious rites, Heb. ix. 21; σκεῦος εἰς τιμήν, unto honor, i. e. for honorable use, Ro. ix. 21; 2 Tim. ii. 21, (καθαρῶν ἔργων δοῦλα σκεύη. Sap. xv. 7); εἰς ἀτιμίαν, unto dishonor, i. e. for a low use (as, a urinal), Ro. ix. 21; σκεύη ὀργῆς, into which wrath is emptied, i. e. men appointed by God unto woe, hence the addition κατηρτισμένα εἰς ἀπώλειαν, Ro. ix. 22; σκεύη ἐλέους, fitted to receive mercy, —explained by the words ἃ προητοίμασεν eis δόξαν, ib. 23; τὸ σκεῦος is used of a woman, as the vessel of her husband, 1 Th. iv. 4 (see κτάομαι ; [al. take it here (as in 2 Co. iv. 7 below) of the body]); the female sex, as being weaker than the male, is likened to a σκεῦος ἀσθενέστερον, in order to commend to husbands the obligations of kindness towards their wives (for the weaker the vessels, the greater must be the care lest they be broken), 1 Pet. iii. 7; ὀστράκινα σκεύη is applied to human bodies, as frail, 2 Co. iv. τῷ 2. an implement; plur. household utensils, domestic gear: Mt. xii. 29; Mk. iii. 27; Lk. xvii. 31, [in these pass. R.V. goods]; as the plur. often in Grk. writ. denotes the tackle and armament of vessels (Xen. oec. 8, 12; Plat. Critias p. 117 d.; Lach. p. 183 e.; Polyb. 22, 26,13), so the sing. τὸ σκεῦος seems to be used spec. and collectively of the sails and ropes (R. V. gear) in Acts xxvii. 17. metaph. of a man: σκεῦος ἐκλογῆς (gen. of quality), a chosen instrument [or (so A. V.) ‘vessel ‘J, Acts ix. 15; in a base sense, an assistant in accomplishing evil deeds [cf. Eng. ‘tool’], σκεῦος ὑπηρετικόν, Polyb. 13, ὧν ἢ; Los) 205) kee
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
σκεῦος skeuos 23x
a vessel, utensil for containing anything, Mk. 11:16; Lk. 8:16; Rom. 9:21; any utensil, instrument; σκεύη, household stuff, furniture, goods, etc., Mt. 12:29; Mk. 3:27; the mast of a ship, or, the sail, Acts 27:17; met. an instrument, means, organ, minister, Acts 9:15; σκεύη ὀργῆς and σκεύη ἐλέους, vessels of wrath, or, of mercy, persons visited by punishment, or, the divine favor, Rom. 9:22, 23; the vessel or frame of the human individual, 1 Thess. 4:4; 1 Pet. 3:7
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
σκεῦος, -ους, τό
[in LXX chiefly for כְּלִי ;]
a vessel, implement (for exx. in various senses, v. MM, xxii): Mk 11:16, Lk 8:16, Jo 19:29, Ac 10:11, 16 11:5, Ro 9:21, Re 18:12; pl., II Ti 2:20, Re 2:27; τὰ σ. τῆς λειτουργίας, He 9:21; pl., τὰ σ., utensils, goods, Mt 12:29, Mk 3:27, Lk 17:31; id. of the tackle or gear of a ship (Xen., Polyb., al.); so in sing., τὸ σ., Ac 27:17. Metaph., of persons: σ. ἐκλογῆς, Ac 9:15; ὀργῆς, Ro 9:22; ἐλέους, ib. 23; σ. εἰς τιμήν (cf. Ro 9:21), II Ti 2:21; of woman, ἀσθενέστερον σ., I Pe 3:7; so perh. τ. ἑαυτοῦ σ., I Th 4:4 (but v. infr.); of the body, II Co 4:7; so perh. I Th 4:4 (but v. supr., and v.s. κτάομαι).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
σκεῦος, **a vessel” (Rom 9?! a/.). This common noun is used with a variety of applications, e.g. P Eleph 1451 (iii/B.c.) ἔκ τε κτηνῶν Kal σκενῶν, P Petr III. 107(@)i™ (ii/B.c.) fares are paid for the conveyance τῶν ᾿Αγήνορος σκενῶν, “οἵ Agenor’s furniture,” P Ryl 11. 138?3 (A.D. 34) ἐρίων σταθμία te kal ἕτερα σκεύη, “15. measures of wool, as well as other implements,” P Oxy I. 105% (A.D. 117-137) σκεύη καὶ ἔπιπλα, ‘‘movables and household stock,” P Tebt II. 38114 (A.D. 123) (= Selections, p. 78) σκεύηι kal ἐνδομενίαν καὶ ἱματισμόν, ‘utensils and household-stock and clothing,” and P Grenf II. 7714 (iii/iv a.D.) (= Se/ectzons, p. 120) χάριν τῶν σκευῶν αὐτοῦ, ‘on account of his goods.” For σκεῦος = ‘‘(a ship's) tackle,” as in Ac 2717, cf. P Cairo Zen I. 590317° (B.c. 258) ἀδύνατογ yap μοι δοκεῖ εἶναι ἄνευ τῶν ἀναγκαίων σκευῶν πλεῖν τὰ πλοῖα, and Sy// 537 (= %969)* (B.C. 347-6) σ]υνγραφαὶ τῆς σκενοθήκης τῆς λιθίνης τοῖς κρεμαστοῖς σκεύεσιν. In the new uncanonical
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
σκεῦος (skeuos) — vessel. σκεῦος, εος, τό, vessel or implement of any kind, in singular, [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—but the plural is frequently used in a collective sense, all that belongs to a complete outfit, house-gear, utensils, chattels, opposed to live-stock and fixtures, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; σ. γεωργικά farming implements, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἱερὰ σ. sacred vessels and implements, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; a druggist's stores, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; σ. τὰ ἐπιτράπεζα table-furniture, [Refs]; military accoutrements, equipment, τὰ περὶ τὸ σῶμα σ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὰ τῶν ἵππων σ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; baggage of an army, and, generally, baggage, luggage, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὄνοι αὐτοῖς σκεύεσι packs and all, [Refs]; tackle, gear of ships, naval stores, etc., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὰ σκέα (σκεύη) τοῦ πλοίου [Refs 3rd c.BC+] (so, collectively, in singular, [NT]
2. inanimate object, thing, opposed to ζῷον, σῶμα, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; opposed to ὄργανον, [Refs 3rd c.AD+]; Protagoras gave the name of σκεύη to neuter nouns, ἄρρενα καὶ θήλεα καὶ σκεύη [Refs 4th c.BC+]; ὑπηρετικὸν σ. a subordinate person, a mere tool or chattel, [NT+2nd c.BC+] a chosen instrument, of Paul, [NT]
II. τὸ σ. the body, as the vessel of the soul, a metaphorically clearly expressed in [NT]
III. ={αἰδοῖον}, [Refs 1st c.AD+]
IV. sarcophagus, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]