Lexical Summary
zereth: Span
Original Word:זֶרֶת
Part of Speech:Noun Feminine
Transliteration:zereth
Pronunciation:zeh-reth
Phonetic Spelling:(zeh'-reth)
KJV: span
NASB:span
Word Origin:[fromH2219 (זָרָה - scatter)]
1. the spread of the fingers, i.e. a span
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
span
Fromzarah; the spread of the fingers, i.e. A span -- span.
see HEBREWzarah
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originof uncertain derivation
Definitiona span
NASB Translationspan (7).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
(Late Hebrew
id. ( , Syriac
; apparently from Hebrew), etymology dubious; Thes and most derive from √ , see Ol
§ 146 b but also Sta
§ 187 a; Ba
ZMG 1887, 607 proposes √
measure off, determine, compare p. 280) —
span, as standard of measurement,
Isaiah 40:12; elsewhere of actual size,
a span, distance between ends of thumb and little finger of spread hand; = 1/2 cubit (see & references; compare
Exodus 25:10 with Joseph
Ant. iii. 6, 5),
Exodus 28:16 (twice in verse);
Exodus 39:9 (twice in verse) (all P)
Ezekiel 43:13;
1 Samuel 17:4 six cubits and
a span. See Hultsch
Metrol. 1882, 443 Benz
Archäol. 179.
Topical Lexicon
Overview and Measurement Significanceזֶרֶת designates the “span,” the distance from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger when the hand is fully out-stretched. In Scripture the span functions as a practical unit of length, roughly half a cubit. Its presence in key passages ties daily human experience to divine revelation, reminding readers that God communicates in concrete terms that His people can grasp.
The High Priest’s Breastpiece (Exodus 28:16; 39:9)
The first two occurrences fix the dimensions of the Breastpiece of Judgment: “a span long and a span wide.” By specifying a square equal on every side, the Lord establishes perfect symmetry over the heart of the High Priest. The span therefore frames a visible symbol of balance, equity, and completeness in intercession. No tribe is closer or farther from the mediator’s heart; each gem, engraved with a name of Israel, fits within the measured square. The span here thus becomes a reminder that God’s justice is exact and impartial, and that the priestly ministry is governed by the precise standards of the Lord, not by human preference.
Goliath’s Height (1 Samuel 17:4)
Goliath’s stature—“six cubits and a span”—conveys intimidation. The unit that once defined priestly order now underscores human arrogance. The narrative contrasts the giant’s towering measure with David’s faith. By adding the span after six full cubits, Scripture subtly hints that even the greatest earthly strength is still measured and limited. The God who sets the span on the breastpiece also sets a limit to the Philistine’s height and, ultimately, to his power.
Divine Sovereignty Over Creation (Isaiah 40:12)
“Who has… marked off the heavens with a span?” In the prophetic context the span magnifies God’s transcendence. What is a full measure for humanity is but a convenience for the Almighty. The same unit that holds the gemstones of Israel and defines Goliath’s excess is effortlessly wielded by the Creator to lay out the cosmos. The prophet’s rhetorical question crushes idolatry and calls God’s people to trust the One whose hand alone sets the boundaries of sea and sky.
Eschatological Worship and the Millennial Altar (Ezekiel 43:13)
In Ezekiel’s temple vision, “a rim of one span” surrounds the altar. The measurement reappears in a future context, linking past worship patterns to promised restoration. The span-sized rim protects sacrificial blood from spilling and delineates sacred space. Thus the span frames both the atoning work of the past and the foretold renewal of worship under Messiah’s reign, assuring continuity in God’s redemptive plan.
Theological Threads
1. Measured Mercy: The span on the breastpiece illustrates that intercession is neither haphazard nor incomplete; God’s covenant love is precisely ordered.
2. Measured Pride: Goliath’s added span shows that human strength, however impressive, cannot exceed limits set by God.
3. Measured Cosmos: Isaiah teaches that the universe itself lies within the reach of God’s hand; He is simultaneously immanent and transcendent.
4. Measured Worship: Ezekiel confirms that future worship will still reflect God-given proportions, uniting past, present, and future in one coherent economy of grace.
Practical Ministry Applications
• Teaching Accuracy: Leaders can emphasize that biblical faith is rooted in revealed specifics—dimensions, names, dates—underscoring the reliability of Scripture.
• Pastoral Counseling: The span warns against overestimating human ability; it invites believers to rest in God’s boundaries rather than striving for self-exalting “extra inches.”
• Worship Planning: Just as the span ordered Israel’s garments and altar, thoughtful structure and balance should characterize corporate worship today.
• Apologetics:Isaiah 40:12 offers a concise argument for the greatness of God over creation, suitable for engaging secular worldviews that limit the divine.
Conclusion
Wherever it appears, זֶרֶת testifies that everything—from priestly garments to cosmic dimensions—falls within the purposeful measure of the Lord. The unit is small, yet its theological reach spans redemption history, pointing believers to a God who numbers the stars, fashions garments of mediation, topples proud giants, and secures future worship, all with the precise breadth of His hand.
Forms and Transliterations
בַּזֶּ֣רֶת בזרת וְזֶ֥רֶת וָזָֽרֶת׃ וזרת וזרת׃ זֶ֣רֶת זֶ֥רֶת זֶ֧רֶת זרת baz·ze·reṯ bazZeret bazzereṯ vaZaret veZeret wā·zā·reṯ wāzāreṯ wə·ze·reṯ wəzereṯ ze·reṯ Zeret zereṯ
Links
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