Bible Dictionary
Charger
A charger was a flat dish, platter, basin, or bowl used for offerings, liquids, or food. John the Baptist’s head was presented on one.
Definition
A charger was a flat dish, platter, bowl, basin, or similar vessel. It could receive water, blood, offerings, flour mixed with oil, food, or liquids. In the account of John the Baptist, it was the platter on which his head was presented.
Biblical Usage
The tabernacle offerings of the tribal princes were placed in chargers. Temple vessels called chargers were probably basins or libation bowls for sacrificial blood. Herodias’s daughter received John the Baptist’s head on a charger.
Historical Background
The older English word meant a flat dish or platter. The vessels translated charger represent several Hebrew and Greek terms, including a platter, libation bowl, and dish.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
A bowl or deep dish. The silver vessels given by the heads of the tribes for the services of the tabernacle are so named (Num. 7:13, etc.). The “charger” in which the Baptist’s head was presented was a platter or flat wooden trencher (Matt. 14:8, 11; Mark 6:25, 28). The chargers of gold and silver of Ezra 1:9 were probably basins for receiving the blood of sacrifices.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
a shallow vessel for receiving water or blood, also for presenting offerings of fine flour with oil. (Numbers 7:79) The daughter of Herodias brought the head of St. John the Baptist in a charger, (Matthew 14:8) probably a trencher or platter. [Basin]
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>char'-jer (the American Standard Revised Version "platter"): A word which meant in the older English speech a flat dish or platter. It is used in the Bible as the translation:</p><p>(1) of qe`arah, which in Nu 7:19 the King James Version (the Revised Version (British and American) "platter") and repeatedly in that chapter denotes one of the gifts made by the several princes at the dedication of the tabernacle;</p><p>(2) of 'agharTal, a word of uncertain derivation used in Ezr 1:9 (the King James Version) twice to designate certain temple vessels which might better be called "libation bowls";</p><p>(3) of pinax, used Mt 14:8,11; Mr 6:25,28 (EV) for the dish in which the head of John the Baptist was presented.</p><p>David Foster Estes</p>