Bible Lexicons

In an interesting note in JTS x. p. 567 ff. Dr. Hort has shown that the distinction between κόφινος and σπυρίς is one of material rather than of size, for either basket might be of different sizes, to judge by the uses mentioned in classical and patristic writers. This conclusion can now be confirmed from the Κοινή, as when in certain military accounts, P Oxy I. 43 (A.D. 295) we hear of κόφινοι holding 40 λίτραι —iii. 27 ἔσχον παρὰ σοῦ κοφίνους δέκα δύο ἐκ λιτρῶν τεσσαράκοντα, and a little later iv. 16 of—κοφίνους ἀννῶνας, which contained only 20 λίτραι. For the contrast between the two words in Mark 8:19 f. we may quote an ostra-kon-letter from the middle of iii/B.C.—Φίλωνι Νίκωνος κο ̣ϕ ̣ι ̣νοι β ̄ Πτολεμαίωι Ἀσκληπιάδου σφυρίδιον (Archiv vi. p. 220, No. 8.4 f.). Other exx. of κόφινος are—P Petr II. 39(h).6, .14 (taxing accounts) εἰς κοφίνους, where the editor thinks the reference is to a box or basket set on wheels to form a cart, PSI IV. 428.52 (iii/B.C.) ἐν κοφίνωι με [γάλωι, P Oxy IV. 739.8 (c. A.D. I) κοφίνων γ ̄, P Tebt II. 405.8 (iii/A.D.) κόβ (= φ)ινος καινός, BGU II. 417.12 (ii/iii A.D.) περὶ τοῦ κοφίνου τῆς σταφυλῆς, and P Flor II. 269.10 (A.D. 257) ἐντολὰς λαβέτωσαν οἱ ὀνηλάται κομίσαι σοι τοὺς κοφίνους. The word, which is of Semitic origin (cf. Lewy Fremdwörter, p. 115), was used specially by Jews (cf. Juvenal iii. 14, vi. 542), and Hort (l.c.) thinks that it was equivalent to the κάρταλ (λ)ος in which Jews carried first-fruits to Jerusalem. See further s.vv. σαργάνη and σφυρίς. For a form κόφος, which Dr. Hunt suggests may be equivalent to κόφινος, see the verso of a i/A.D. Hawara papyrus reproduced in Archiv v. p. 381, No. 42, and for the dim. κοφίνιον see P Petr III. 53(m).6 (B.C. 224). The widespread use of κόφινος in the Κοινή is fully illustrated by Maidhof p. 308 ff. The word still survives in MGr along with such forms as * κόφα, * κοφοῦνι.