Greek word · G5357

φιάλη

phialē

bowl

A wide, flat or shallow bowl or dish, often of precious metal, used above all in worship. In the Greek world it was the standard bowl for pouring libations (drink offerings) to the gods.

Appears 12 times in 12 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated October 31, 2026

What it means

φιάλη, -ης, ἡ

[in LXX chiefly for מִזְרָק ;]

a shallow bowl (= Lat. patera), used for pouring libations, etc.: Revelation 5:8 15:7 16:1-17 17:1 21:9.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Revelation 16:1

Range of meaning: A wide, flat or shallow bowl or dish, often of precious metal, used above all in worship. In the Greek world it was the standard bowl for pouring libations (drink offerings) to the gods. In the Greek Old Testament it names the bowls of the tabernacle and temple altar that held blood, wine or flour for offerings.
Against the English: The KJV's "vials" (YLT also has "vials") makes modern readers picture a small narrow bottle or test tube, something you would dab or sprinkle from. Modern versions' "bowls" is correct. The shape matters: a shallow bowl tipped over empties all at once.
How it drifted: English "vial/phial" comes from Latin phiala, which comes from this Greek word. Over time the English word narrowed to mean a small glass bottle, while the Greek word kept meaning a broad bowl.
Used elsewhere in the period: In the Greek Old Testament (LXX), φιάλαι are the altar bowls in Exodus 27:3 and 38:23, and the silver bowls the tribal leaders presented in Numbers 7. In Greek literature and art (LSJ; vase paintings and coins), the phialē is the libation bowl held out by gods, priests and rulers, emperors included. In Revelation 5:8 the elders hold "golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints". In 15:7 one of the living creatures gives the seven angels "seven golden bowls full of the fury of God".

From the study of Revelation 16:2

Range of meaning: A broad, flat, shallow bowl or saucer. In the Greek world it was the standard vessel for pouring libations to the gods and was often made of precious metal. In the Greek Old Testament it translates Hebrew mizraq, the sprinkling or tossing bowls of the tabernacle and temple altar (Exod 27:3; 38:3; Num 7:13 and following, where each tribal leader brings a silver phialē).
Against the English: KJV renders it 'vial'. In 1611 'vial/phial' could still mean a vessel in general. Modern readers picture a small, narrow glass bottle, which is nearly the opposite shape. Modern versions say 'bowl'.
How it drifted: English 'phial' comes from this Greek word through Latin phiala. Over time it narrowed to mean a small medicine or perfume bottle, so the KJV's word now suggests the wrong object.
Used elsewhere in the period: Libation phialai are common in Greek vase painting and temple inventories. Greek Old Testament: Exod 27:3; Num 4:14; 7:13–85; 1 Kgs 7:36 (7:50 in English); Zech 9:15 ('filled like a bowl, drenched like the corners of the altar'). Josephus also uses phialai for temple vessels.

From the study of Revelation 17:1

Range of meaning: A broad, shallow bowl or saucer without handles. It was used across the Greek world and in Israel's sanctuary for pouring out liquid offerings and for sprinkling. In the Greek Old Testament it renders mizraq, the sprinkling basin of the tabernacle and temple (Exodus 27:3; Numbers 7:13; 1 Kings 7:50).
Against the English: BSB, WEB and the modern versions say 'bowls'. KJV and YLT say 'vials'.
How it drifted: 'Vial' came into English from Latin phiala through Old French fiole. Today it means a small, narrow glass tube or bottle. That picture is close to the opposite of a wide temple bowl, which empties all at once when tipped.
Used elsewhere in the period: Revelation 5:8: golden bowls full of incense, 'which are the prayers of the saints.' 15:7: 'seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God.' 16:1–21: the bowls are 'poured out.' Greek inscriptions and temple inventories regularly list gold and silver phialai as dedicated temple vessels.

Where it appears

Revelation · 12

Revelation 5:8 φιάλας bowls

When He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

Here: Wide, shallow bowls of the kind used for offerings in temples. The same vessels are later poured out as the bowls of God's wrath (15:7; 16:1).
Revelation 15:7 φιάλας bowls

Then one of the four living creatures gave the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever.

Here: A wide, shallow bowl used in worship for pouring offerings and for the altar service. It is the same vessel that held incense, 'the prayers of the saints', in 5:8. Its contents are meant to be poured out, as happens in chapter 16.
Revelation 16:1 φιάλας bowls

Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go, pour out on the earth the seven bowls of God’s wrath.”

Here: A broad, shallow bowl of the kind used in worship for libations and at the altar. Tipped over, it empties all at once. These are the same kind of golden bowls that hold the prayers of God's people in 5:8.
Revelation 16:2 φιάλην bowl

So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and loathsome, malignant sores broke out on those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.

Here: A wide, shallow libation or temple bowl, not a narrow 'vial'. In 15:7 these are golden bowls 'full of the wrath of God'. They match the golden bowls of incense, the prayers of the saints, in 5:8.
Revelation 16:3 φιάλην bowl

And the second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it turned to blood like that of the dead, and every living thing in the sea died.

Here: A wide, shallow bowl of the kind used for pouring offerings and in temple service. It is not a small bottle. Tipped over, it empties all at once.
Revelation 16:4 φιάλην bowl

And the third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and springs of water, and they turned to blood.

Here: A wide, shallow dish used for offerings and for pouring drink-offerings, not a small bottle. Its whole contents can be thrown out in a single motion.
Revelation 16:8 φιάλην bowl

Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was given power to scorch the people with fire.

Here: A wide, shallow bowl used in worship for offerings and libations (drink-offerings poured out to a god). It is not a narrow bottle. A shallow bowl empties all at once when tipped.
Revelation 16:10 φιάλην bowl

And the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness, and men began to gnaw their tongues in anguish

Here: A broad, shallow bowl used in temple service for pouring offerings. It is not a narrow bottle. Its contents come out all at once.
Revelation 16:12 φιάλην bowl

And the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings of the East.

Here: A wide, shallow bowl of the kind used for drinking and for pouring offerings at an altar. Here it is one of the seven golden bowls "full of the wrath of God" (15:7). It is not a small bottle.
Revelation 16:17 φιάλην bowl

Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came from the throne in the temple, saying, “It is done!”

Here: A wide, shallow bowl of the kind used in temples for offerings and libations (drink offerings poured out to a god). These are golden bowls 'full of the wrath of God' (15:7). It is not a small bottle.
Revelation 17:1 φιάλας bowls

Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters.

Here: A wide, shallow bowl used in temples for pouring out offerings. The angel who poured out wrath from one now shows what that wrath means for Babylon.
Revelation 21:9 φιάλας bowls

Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls full of the seven final plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”

Here: Wide, shallow bowls used in worship to pour offerings. They are not small bottles. The worship image is deliberate: the same kind of bowl holds the prayers of the saints in 5:8.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.