Bible Dictionary
Flagon
“Flagon” translates several different biblical terms. It may refer to a pressed cake of raisins, a skin bottle, or a vessel used in the Tabernacle for pouring drink offerings.
Definition
“Flagon” translates several different biblical terms. It may mean a pressed cake of raisins, a skin bottle, or a golden jar used in the Tabernacle for pouring drink offerings.
Biblical Usage
Passages translated “flagons” in the Authorized Version often refer to raisin cakes. Elsewhere the word denotes skin bottles or vessels associated with drink offerings in the Tabernacle.
Historical Background
Skin bottles were made from the whole skin of a kid, goat, or other animal. The Tabernacle vessel was a golden jug or jar, also translated “cup” in one passage.
Scripture References
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Heb. ashishah, (2 Sam. 6:19; 1 Chr. 16:3; Cant. 2:5; Hos. 3:1), meaning properly “a cake of pressed raisins.” “Flagons of wine” of the Authorized Version should be, as in the Revised Version, “cakes of raisins” in all these passages. In Isa. 22:24 it is the rendering of the Hebrew nebel, which properly means a bottle or vessel of skin. (Comp. 1 Sam. 1:24; 10:3; 25:18; 2 Sam. 16:1, where the same Hebrew word is used.)
Smith's Bible Dictionary
a word employed in the Authorized Version to render two distinct Hebrew terms:
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>flag'-un:</p><p>The translation of 'ashishah, in the King James Version in 2Sa 6:19; 1Ch 16:3; So 2:5; Ho 3:1. In all, these passages the Revised Version (British and American) reads "cake of raisins" or "raisins." It was probably a pressed raisin cake. the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American) read "flagons," in Isa 22:24 as a rendering of nebhalim, which is elsewhere (1Sa 1:24; 10:3; 2Sa 16:1, etc.) rendered "bottles," the Revised Version, margin "skins." These were the bags or bottles made of the whole skin of a kid, goat or other animal. the Revised Version (British and American) has "flagons" in Ex 25:29 and 37:16 as translation of qeshawoth, a golden jug or jar used in the tabernacle from which the drink offerings were poured out. The same word is translated "cups" in Nu 4:7.</p><p>George Rice Hovey</p>