Bible Dictionary
Dish
A dish was a bowl, platter, or serving vessel used for meals or offerings. Biblical dishes could be ordinary household utensils or valuable vessels made of silver or gold for tabernacle service.
Definition
A dish was a bowl, platter, salver, or other vessel used for food, drink, or offerings. Such vessels could be ordinary household utensils or valuable articles made of silver or gold.
Biblical Usage
A dish could hold the principal part of a meal, and Jesus’ meal with His disciples involved a common dish. The tabernacle dishes were made of pure gold and held the bread of the Presence. A large bowl or dish is also mentioned in the accounts of Jael and Gideon.
Historical Background
Ancient dishes included shallow platters for sacred bread, silver vessels given as dedication offerings, and wide, deep bowls for meals. Oriental houses used such vessels for serving the principal part of the meal.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
For eating from (2 Kings 21:13). Judas dipped his hand with a “sop” or piece of bread in the same dish with our Lord, thereby indicating friendly intimacy (Matt. 26:23). The “lordly dish” in Judg. 5:25 was probably the shallow drinking cup, usually of brass. In Judg. 6:38 the same Hebrew word is rendered “bowl.” The dishes of the tabernacle were made of pure gold (Ex. 25:29; 37:16).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>The rendering in English Versions of the Bible in some connections of three Hebrew and one Greek word. The qe`arah of Ex 25:29; 37:16; Nu 4:7 was apparently a kind of salver, in this case of gold, for holding the loaves of the "presence bread." The same word represents the silver "platters" (Nu 7:13 ff) brought by the princes as a dedication gift. The cephel of Jud 5:25 was a large bowl, so translated in Jud 6:38. "Lordly dish" is literally, "bowl of (fit for) nobles." The tsallachath of 2Ki 21:13; Pr 19:24; 26:15 (last two the King James Version "bosom" after the Septuagint) refers probably to the wide, deep dish in which the principal part of the meal was served. Of somewhat similar form may have been the trublion (Septuagint for qe`arah) mentioned in connection with the Passover meal (Mt 26:23; Mr 14:20).</p><p>Benjamin Reno Downer</p>