Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
A vessel made of skins for holding wine (Josh. 9:4. 13; 1 Sam. 16:20; Matt. 9:17; Mark 2:22; Luke 5:37, 38), or milk (Judg. 4:19), or water (Gen. 21:14, 15, 19), or strong drink (Hab. 2:15). Earthenware vessels were also similarly used (Jer. 19:1-10; 1 Kings 14:3; Isa. 30:14). In Job 32:19 (comp. Matt. 9:17; Luke 5:37, 38; Mark 2:22) the reference is to a wine-skin ready to burst through the fermentation of the wine. “Bottles of wine” in the
Authorized Version of Hos. 7:5 is properly rendered in the Revised Version by “the heat of wine,” i.e., the fever of wine, its intoxicating strength. The clouds are figuratively called the “bottles of heaven” (Job 38:37). A bottle blackened or shrivelled by smoke is referred to in Ps. 119:83 as an image to which the psalmist likens himself.
Smith's Bible Dictionary (1863)
The Arabs keep their water, milk and other liquids in leathern bottles. These are made of goatskins. When the animal is killed they cut off its feet and its head, and draw it in this manner out of the skin without opening its belly. The great leathern bottles are made of the skin of a he-goat, and the small ones, that serve instead of a bottle of water on the road, are made of a kid’s skin. The effect of external heat upon a skin bottle is
indicated in (Psalms 119:83) “a bottle in the smoke,” and of expansion produced by fermentation in (Matthew 9:17) “new wine in old bottles.” Vessels of metal, earthen or glassware for liquids were in use among the Greeks, Egyptians, Etruscans and Assyrians, and also no doubt among the Jews, especially in later times. Thus (Jeremiah 19:1) “a potter’s earthen bottle.” (Bottles were made by the ancient Egyptians of alabaster, gold,
ivory and stone. They were of most exquisite workmanship and elegant forms. Tear-bottles were small urns of glass or pottery, made to contain the tears of mourners at funerals, and placed in the sepulchres at Rome and in Palestine. In some ancient tombs they are found in great numbers. (Psalms 56:8) refers to this custom.—ED.)
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible (1898)
BOT'TLE . Gen 21:14. Ancient bottles were made of the skins of animals, which were properly dressed for the purpose. The openings of the skin were closed except at the neck, through which the liquor was to be received and discharged, and which was fastened by a string, like a bag. They were, of course, of different sizes and shapes, as the skins of kids, goats, or oxen might be used. Bruce describes particularly a bottle which he saw in Arabia,
made in this manner, of an ox-skin, which would hold 60 gallons.
Schaff's Bible Dictionary
BOT'TLE . Gen 21:14. Ancient bottles were made of the skins of animals, which were properly dressed for the purpose. The openings of the skin were closed except at the neck, through which the liquor was to be received and discharged, and which was fastened by a string, like a bag. They were, of course, of different sizes and shapes, as the skins of kids, goats, or oxen might be used. Bruce describes particularly a bottle which he saw in Arabia,
made in this manner, of an ox-skin, which would hold 60 gallons. BOW BOZ Christian missionaries in Eastern countries frequently speak of the goatskins and leathern bottles in which they carry water in their journeys. Skin-Bottles. (Ayre.) Where the travelling is rough and the vessels likely to strike against each other, they are made of the strongest material that can be found. The skins or bottles used for new wine were of the freshest and most
flexible kind, in order that they might the better endure the process of fermentation. Matt 9:17. The effect of smoke on a skin-bottle would be to blacken and shrivel it. Ps 119:83. Water or wine put into such a bottle would all run out. Nearly Arab Water-Carner. all the drinking-water now used in Egypt is brought from the river Nile in skinbottles, by Arab water-carriers, as shown in the picture.