a vessel made of skins for holding wine ( Joshua 9:4 . 13 ; 1 Samuel 16:20 ; Matthew 9:17 ; Mark 2:22 ; Luke 5:37 Luke 5:38 ), or milk (Judg. 4:19 ), or water ( Genesis 21:14 Genesis 21:15 Genesis 21:19 ), or strong drink ( Habakkuk 2:15 ).

Earthenware vessels were also similarly used ( Jeremiah 19:1-10 ; 1 Kings 14:3 ; Isaiah 30:14 ). In Job 32:19 (Compare Matthew 9:17 ; Luke 5:37 Luke 5:38 ; Mark 2:22 ) the reference is to a wine-skin ready to burst through the fermentation of the wine. "Bottles of wine" in the Authorized Version of Hosea 7:5 is properly rendered in the Revised Version by "the heat of wine," i.e., the fever of wine, its intoxicating strength.

The clouds are figuratively called the "bottles of heaven" ( Job 38:37 ). A bottle blackened or shrivelled by smoke is referred to in Psalms 119:83 as an image to which the psalmist likens himself.

These dictionary topics are from
M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition,
published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain, copy freely.