Understanding ἀσκός (askos) Strong’s G779: Ancient Wineskins and the New Wine of the Kingdom

Pronunciation Guide: as-kos’ (ἀσκός)

Basic Definition

Strong’s G779: A wineskin, a leather vessel or bag made from animal hide, used primarily for storing and transporting wine in ancient times. The term carries both literal and metaphorical significance in Scripture, particularly in teachings about the transformative nature of the Messiah’s kingdom.

Etymology and Morphology

• Noun (masculine)
• Root: Unknown, possibly from Proto-Indo-European *h₂esk- (“to twist, weave”)
• Primary usage in narrative and teaching passages
• Common in ancient Greek literature dealing with wine storage and transport

ἀσκός Morphology:

• ἀσκός (nominative singular) – a wineskin
• ἀσκοῦ (genitive singular) – of a wineskin
• ἀσκῷ (dative singular) – to/with a wineskin
• ἀσκόν (accusative singular) – a wineskin
• ἀσκοί (nominative plural) – wineskins
• ἀσκῶν (genitive plural) – of wineskins
• ἀσκοῖς (dative plural) – to/with wineskins
• ἀσκούς (accusative plural) – wineskins

Origin & History

The term ἀσκός has a rich history in classical Greek literature, appearing in works as early as Homer’s Odyssey, where it describes the bag of winds given to Odysseus by Aeolus. In the Septuagint, it appears notably in 1 Samuel 16:20, where Jesse sends David to Saul with “an askos of wine.”

The early church fathers, particularly Clement of Alexandria in his “Paedagogus,” used the term metaphorically to discuss spiritual transformation. Origen, in his “Commentary on Matthew,” extensively discusses the wineskin metaphor as representing the need for spiritual renewal.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• A container made of animal skin, typically goat or sheep, used for storing and transporting liquids
• A leather vessel specifically designed for the fermentation and aging of wine
• A metaphorical representation of human hearts and traditional systems in relation to spiritual transformation

ἀσκός Translation Options:

• Wineskin – Most precise translation when referring to wine storage
• Leather bottle – Helpful for modern readers to understand the concept
• Skin-bottle – Alternative that emphasizes the material construction
• Wine-bag – Useful for emphasizing portability aspect

Biblical Usage

The term ἀσκός appears most prominently in the Synoptic Gospels in the context of Yeshua’s teaching about new wine and old wineskins. This metaphor appears at a crucial point in His ministry when questions arise about the relationship between His new teaching and traditional Jewish practices.

The metaphor’s placement in all three Synoptic Gospels underscores its significance in understanding the revolutionary nature of the Messiah’s kingdom and its relationship to existing religious structures.

• “Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins [ἀσκούς]. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined.” Matthew 9:17
• “And no one pours new wine into old wineskins [ἀσκούς].” Mark 2:22
• “And no one pours new wine into old wineskins [ἀσκούς].” Luke 5:37

Cultural Insights

In ancient Jewish culture, wineskins were typically made from goat hides that were tanned and sewn to form watertight containers. New wineskins were soft and pliable, capable of expanding during the fermentation process. As they aged, they became rigid and brittle, losing their elasticity. This physical reality formed the basis for Yeshua’s powerful metaphor about spiritual transformation.

The process of preparing wineskins involved careful tanning, cleaning, and treating with oil – a process that parallels the spiritual preparation needed for receiving the new wine of the Kingdom. The craftsmen who made these wineskins were highly skilled, understanding both the properties of leather and the fermentation process of wine.

Theological Significance

The ἀσκός metaphor reveals profound truths about the nature of spiritual transformation and the kingdom of God. Just as new wine requires new wineskins, the Messiah’s teaching about the Kingdom requires hearts and minds renewed and made pliable by the Holy Spirit.

This imagery powerfully illustrates the incompatibility between legalistic religious systems and the fresh, dynamic work of God’s Spirit. It speaks to the necessity of complete transformation rather than mere patching or reform of old patterns and systems.

The metaphor also points to the preservation principle in God’s kingdom – He provides appropriate vessels (new wineskins) to contain and preserve His new work (the wine of the Kingdom). This demonstrates both His wisdom in implementation and His desire for the preservation of His work in our lives.

Personal Application

The metaphor of wineskins challenges us to examine our own spiritual elasticity and openness to God’s work. Are we becoming rigid and inflexible in our spiritual walk, or maintaining the pliability needed for the Holy Spirit’s ongoing work?

This understanding calls us to regular self-examination and surrender, asking God to keep our hearts soft and expandable, ready to receive fresh fillings of His Spirit and new insights from His Word. It reminds us that transformation in the Kingdom is not about superficial changes but about becoming new vessels altogether.

Related Words

• οἶνος (oinos) [oy’-nos] – wine, the contents that fill the ἀσκός, representing the new life and teaching of the Kingdom. See G3631
• ἀγγεῖον (angeion) [ang-eye’-on] – vessel or container, a more general term for containers including wineskins. See G30
• πίθος (pithos) [pith’-os] – large earthen vessel, contrasting with the portable nature of wineskins. See G4082

Did you Know?

• Ancient wineskins could hold significant quantities of wine, with larger ones capable of containing up to 30 gallons. These were often used for storage in homes, while smaller ones were used for transport.
• The process of preparing a wineskin involved turning the animal hide inside out, removing all hair, washing it thoroughly, treating it with oil and special herbs, and then carefully sewing it together while leaving only the neck of the animal as the opening. This meticulous process took several weeks.
• Modern archaeological discoveries have uncovered intact wineskins dating back to the first century, providing valuable insights into their construction and use in Yeshua’s time.

Remember This

The ἀσκός metaphor eternally reminds us that God’s new work requires new vessels – He doesn’t patch the old but creates entirely new containers for His Spirit’s work.