UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

Sense 1: mud, clay

Semantic entry: 2.18

Semantic domains: Natural Substances

Subdomains: Earth, Mud, Sand, Rock

Definition: moistened earth of a clay consistency

Notes: πηλός contrasts with βόρβορος ‘watery mud’ (2.17: βόρβορος) and refers to moist earth with a consistency of clay. It may be translated in some languages as ‘sticky soil’ or ‘clay-like mud’ or ‘moist dirt.’|In RV ROM 9:21 · LV ROM 9:21 · Read together ROM 9:21 (ἢ οὐκ ἔχει ἐξουσίαν ὁ κεραμεὺς τοῦ πηλοῦ ‘or doesn’t the man who makes the pots have the right to use the clay as he wishes’) the reference is specifically to potter’s clay. The meaning of πηλός, therefore, may be defined as any kind of moist earth with clay consistency. πηλός includes the area of meaning of κέραμος ‘potter’s clay’ (a meaning not occurring in the NT).|Since pottery is so widely known throughout the world, there is normally no difficulty in obtaining a term which refers to potter’s clay. Even when the making of pottery is not known, it is usually possible to obtain a satisfactory term for such clay, for example, ‘mud that can be molded’ or ‘mud for shaping pots.’