σκεῦος

σκεύους, τό (probably from the root, sku, 'to cover'; cf. Latinscutum, cutis, obscurus; Curtius, § 113; Vanicek, p. 1115), from (Aristophanes), Thucydides down; the Sept. for כְּלִי;
1. a vessel: Mk 11:16; Lk 8:16; Jn 19:29; Acts 10:11, Acts 10:16; Acts 11:5; 2 Tim 2:20; Rev 2:27; Rev 18:12; τά Σκευᾶ τῆς λειτουργίας, to be used in performing religious rites, Heb 9:21; σκεῦος εἰς τιμήν, unto honor, i. e. for honorable use, Rom 9:21; 2 Tim 2:21 (καθαρῶν ἔργων δοῦλα σκεύη, Wis. 15:7); εἰς ἀτιμίαν, unto dishonor, i. e. for a low use (as, a urinal), Rom 9:21; σκεύη ὀργῆς, into which wrath is emptied, i. e. men appointed by God unto woe, hence, the addition κατηρτισμένα εἰς ἀπώλειαν, Rom 9:22; σκεύη ἐλέους, fitted to receive mercy — explained by the words ἅ προητοίμασεν εἰς δόξαν, Rom 9:23; τό σκεῦος is used of a woman, as the vessel of her husband, 1 Thess 4:4 (see κτάομαι; (others take it here (as in 2 Cor 4:7 below) of the body)); the female sex, as being weaker than the male, is likened to a σκεῦος ἀσθενεστερον, in order to commend to husbands the obligations of kindness toward their wives (for the weaker the vessels, the greater must be the care lest they be broken), 1 Pet 3:7; ὀστράκινα σκεύη is applied to human bodies, as frail, 2 Cor 4:7.
2. an implement; plural household utensils, mestic gear: Mt 12:29; Mk 3:27 (Lk 17:31 (in these passages R. V. has goods); as the plural often in Greek writings denotes the tackle and armament of vessels (Xenophon, oec. 8, 12; Plato, Critias, p. 117 d.; Lach., p. 183 e.; Polyb 22, 26, 13), so the singular τό σκεῦος seems to be used specifically and collectively of the sails and ropes (R. V. gear) in Acts 27:17. metaphorically, of a man: σκεῦος ἐκλογῆς (genitive of quality), a chosen instrument (or (so A. V.) 'vessel'), Acts 9:15; in a base sense, an assistant in accomplishing evil deeds (cf. English 'tool'), σκεῦος ὑπηρετικον, Polybius 13, 5, 7; 15, 25, 1.