κόφινος

From the study of John 6:13

Range of meaning

A sturdy wicker basket, often used for carrying provisions or produce. In some sources it is also a rough dry measure. It differs from the spyris, the basket named in the feeding of the four thousand (Mark 8:8; Matt 15:37; in Acts 9:25 a spyris is large enough to lower Paul down a wall).

Against the English

Most versions say simply 'baskets'; YLT says 'hand-baskets'. English cannot easily keep the distinction between kophinos and spyris that the Gospels keep (Mark 8:19-20 has Jesus himself use the two different words).

Used elsewhere in the period

The Roman satirist Juvenal twice links the cophinus with Jews (Satires 3.14; 6.542: Jews 'whose belongings are a basket and some hay'), apparently because Jewish travellers carried their own food to keep the food laws. Common in the papyri for agricultural baskets.

From the study of Matthew 14:20

Range of meaning

A wicker basket for carrying, the kind a person carried for provisions or goods. Its size varied. In some Greek regions the word could also name a dry measure. The Gospels consistently distinguish it from the spyris, the basket of the second feeding (Matt 15:37; 16:9–10), which was large enough to lower Paul over a wall in Acts 9:25.

Against the English

Most versions say 'baskets.' YLT's 'hand-baskets' and the common claim that the kophinos was 'small' go further than the evidence: ancient sizes varied. What is clear is that it was a portable carrying basket, not a bin.

Used elsewhere in the period

The Roman satirist Juvenal twice mocks Jews whose belongings are 'a basket (cophinus) and hay' (Satires 3.14; 6.542). This suggests the kophinos was a familiar sight among Jews, perhaps used to carry their own ritually acceptable food. Matthew 16:9–10 keeps the two feedings' baskets (kophinoi / spyrides) carefully apart.

From the study of Matthew 16:9

Range of meaning

A wicker basket, fairly stiff and of moderate size, used for carrying food and goods. Distinct from the spyris (G4711) of v.10, which seems to be a larger, more flexible plaited basket or hamper (big enough to lower Paul over a wall in Acts 9:25).

Against the English

KJV, WEB, ESV: 'baskets' in both v.9 and v.10, so the reader cannot tell two different words were used. BSB 'basketfuls' (both verses). YLT alone marks the difference with 'hand-baskets' here.

Used elsewhere in the period

The Roman satirist Juvenal twice links the cophinus with Jews (Satires 3.14; 6.542), apparently because Jews carried their own food to keep the food laws. In the Gospels kophinos is used for the twelve baskets after the 5,000 (Matthew 14:20; Mark 6:43; Luke 9:17; John 6:13), and spyris for the seven after the 4,000 (Matthew 15:37; Mark 8:8). Matthew 16:9–10 and Mark 8:19–20 keep the distinction exactly.