Bible Lexicons

This out-of-the-way-looking word proves to be decidedly vernacular, and quite in place in John 12:6; John 13:29, where it is ";money-box"; (cf. RV marg.) : its original meaning, as ";receptacle"; (κομίζω ) for the ";tongues"; or mouthpieces of flutes, had been long forgotten, and influenced it only by stamping on it generally the sense of small size and portability. Phrynichus, who mentions γλώττας αὐλῶν (Rutherford NP, p. 308), defines the word thus (ib. p. 181) γλωττοκομεῖον · ἐπὶ μόνου τοῦ τῶν αὐλητικῶν γλωττῶν ἀγγείου . ὕστερον δὲ καὶ εἰς ἑτέραν χρῆσιν κατεσκευάζετο , βιβλίων ἢ ἱματίων ἢ ὁτουοῦν ἄλλου · καλοῦσι δ᾽ αὐτὸ οἱ ἀμαθεῖς γλωσσόκομον . This shorter form was perhaps really shortened from the Attic compound : we think of words like ἀγάπη from ἀγάπησις , συνάντη from συνάντησις , and οἰκοδομή from οἰκοδόμημα . In any case it spread while the dialects were still in full vigour, as is proved by its occurring twice in the long Doric inscr. from Thera, Epicteta’s Will, Michel 1001viii. 25, .31 (c. B.C. 200) : τὸ γλωσσόκομον καὶ τὰ ἐν αὐτῶι βυβλία are to be in charge of a γραμματοφύλαξ . From the papyri may be cited P Ryl II. 127.25 (A.D. 29) ἃς (sc. 120 drachmae) εἶχον ἐν γλοσσοκόμωι , ";in a casket"; (Edd.). P Grenf I. 14.3 (B.C. 150 or 139) γλωσσόκομα γ ̄. These articles, together with two κίσται and a βῖκος ῥητίνης , etc., were deposited in a temple. Two θίβεις (LXX Exodus 2:3; Exodus 2:5-6) appear in the list. Grenfell cites Hesychius θίβη · πλεκτόν τι κιβωτοειδὲς ὡς γλωσσοκομεῖον . So P Tebt II. 414.21 (ii/A.D.) τὸ γλωσόκομον τὸ μέγα , ";the big case"; (Edd.), P Flor II. 167.15 (iii/A.D.) γλωσσοκόμων in a rather broken context dealing with irrigation, ";(forse le incassature degli assi da far girare (τροπάς ) le macchine?)"; (Ed.), P Lond 122.55 (iv/A.D.) (= I. p. 118) ποίησον . . . ἐκ τοῦ νώτου γλωσόκομον καὶ ἐπίγραφε τὸ (ὄνομα ) τοῦ Ἑρμοῦ εἰς χάρτην καὶ ἐπίθι εἰς τὸ γλωσόκομον , P Leid Wxxiii. 30 (ii/iii A.D.) βάλε αὐτὸ (sc. a metal plate inscribed with ineffable words) εἰς κλοσόκομον καθαρόν , P Oxy III. 521.12 (ii/A.D.) where the word has no context to show its meaning. Add also BGU III. 824.9 (A.D. 55–6) γλοσσοκομῖον ἐπιδέδωκα Στοτοήτει , and P Lond 191.14 (A.D. 103–17) (= II. p. 265) γλωσσοκομῖον , where the Attic form revives : in neither of them is the nature of the vessel defined. Our instances have illustrated the descriptions of vernacular use in Phrynichus, and have disposed of ";bag"; as a rendering.