Topical Encyclopedia
The term "peck" is not directly found in the Bible; however, it is often associated with ancient measurements of volume, particularly in agricultural contexts. In biblical times, various units of measurement were used to quantify dry goods such as grain, and while "peck" is a more modern term, it can be related to these ancient measures.
Biblical Measurements:In the Bible, measurements such as the ephah, homer, and omer are frequently mentioned. These were used to measure dry commodities, primarily grains. For example, an ephah is a unit of dry measure that is approximately equivalent to 22 liters or about half a bushel. A peck, in more contemporary terms, is a quarter of a bushel, or about 8 dry quarts. Thus, while not directly mentioned, a peck can be conceptually related to these ancient measures.
Scriptural References:1.
Ephah: The ephah is mentioned in several passages, such as in
Leviticus 19:36, which states, "You must maintain honest scales and weights, an honest ephah and an honest hin. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt." This emphasizes the importance of honesty and integrity in trade and commerce, a principle that would extend to any measurement, including what might be considered a "peck."
2.
Omer: The omer is another unit of measure, smaller than the ephah. In
Exodus 16:36, it is noted, "Now an omer is a tenth of an ephah." This provides context for understanding the scale of these measurements.
3.
Homer: The homer is a larger unit of measure, as seen in
Ezekiel 45:11, "The ephah and the bath shall be the same quantity, so that the bath will contain a tenth of a homer, and the ephah a tenth of a homer; their measurement shall be according to the homer." This illustrates the hierarchical structure of these measurements.
Cultural and Theological Significance:The use of precise measurements in the Bible underscores the importance of fairness and justice in economic transactions. The biblical mandate for honest weights and measures reflects God's concern for equity and righteousness in human interactions. This principle is timeless and applicable to all forms of trade and commerce, including the use of modern equivalents like the peck.
Symbolic Interpretations:In a broader sense, the concept of measurement in the Bible can also be seen as a metaphor for God's justice and the divine standard by which human actions are weighed. Just as merchants were expected to use honest measures, believers are called to live lives of integrity and righteousness, measured against the standards set forth in Scripture.
While the term "peck" itself does not appear in the biblical text, understanding the ancient systems of measurement provides valuable insight into the economic and ethical teachings of the Bible.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) The fourth part of a bushel; a dry measure of eight quarts; as, a peck of wheat.
2. (n.) A great deal; a large or excessive quantity.
3. (v.) To strike with the beak; to thrust the beak into; as, a bird pecks a tree.
4. (v.) Hence: To strike, pick, thrust against, or dig into, with a pointed instrument; especially, to strike, pick, etc., with repeated quick movements.
5. (v.) To seize and pick up with the beak, or as with the beak; to bite; to eat; -- often with up.
6. (v.) To make, by striking with the beak or a pointed instrument; as, to peck a hole in a tree.
7. (v. i.) To make strokes with the beak, or with a pointed instrument.
8. (v. i.) To pick up food with the beak; hence, to eat.
9. (n.) A quick, sharp stroke, as with the beak of a bird or a pointed instrument.
Greek
3426. modios -- modius, a dry measure of onepeck... modius, a dry measure of one
peck. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration:
modios Phonetic Spelling: (mod'-ee-os) Short Definition: a dry measure
...4568. saton -- seah, a (Heb.) measure (equiv. to about one and a...
... 4568 -- "a large measure equivalent to nearly three English gallons" (Souter); the
measure for grain, "about apeck and a half or somewhat less than one-half...
Strong's Hebrew
6484. patsar -- to push, press... press, urge, stubbornness. A primitive root; to
peck at, ie (figuratively) stun
or dull -- press, urge, stubbornness. 6483b, 6484. patsar. 6485 .
...Library
Letter P
... Received 1832, Located 1838 * Pease, Hart F. "Received 1834 * Pease, John M. "Received
1834 * Pease, William S. "Received 1821, Died 1825 *Peck, Albert D...
American Baptist Board of Foreign Missions.
... An impression, made, no doubt, by divine influence, of the importance of missions
to this people, led, in 1817, to the appointment of JMPeck and JE Welch to...
Elisha's Way of Treating Enemies
... Why should I put my hope in Jehovah any longer?" But Elisha said, "Hear the word
of Jehovah, for he says, 'To-morrow about this time apeck of fine meal shall...
Foreword
... Lectures previously published: 1913, The Bible and Life, Edwin Holt Hughes; 1914,
The Literary Primacy of the Bible, GeorgePeck Eckman. GEORGE R. GROSE,....
The General Conference of 1836
... Spicer. Oneida Conference: Horace Agard, Elias Bowen, Silas Comfort, George
Gary, George Lane, Zechariah Paddock, GeorgePeck. Genesee...
General Conference of 1824
... Joseph Baker, Israel Chamberlain, Wyatt Chamberlain, George W. Densmoor, Loring
Grant, James Hall, Gideon Lanning, Benjamin Paddock, GeorgePeck, Fitch Reed...
The General Conference of 1840
... Dempster, George Gary. Oneida Conference: Elias Bowen, George Harman Zechariah
Paddock, GeorgePeck, DA Shephard. Michigan Conference...
Bishop Williams's Address.
... Springs; ES Lines, New Haven; TD Martin, Meriden; JJ McCook, Hartford; WH Moreland,
Hartford; WF Nichols, Hartford; JL Parks, Middletown; WLPeck, Windsor Locks...
The General Conference of 1828
... Jonathan Huestis, Josiah Keyes, Gideon Lanning, Ralph Lanning, Seth Mattison, Edmond
O'Fling, Zechariah Paddock, Robert Parker, GeorgePeck, Morgan Sherman...
On the Everlasting Pains of Hell.
... every hundred thousand years, and took from the stone as much as the tenth part
of a grain of millet, so as in ten hundred thousand years topeck away from the...
Thesaurus
Peck (3 Occurrences)... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The fourth part of a bushel; a dry measure
of eight quarts; as, a
peck of wheat.
...Peck (3 Occurrences).
...Way-side (10 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Way-side (10 Occurrences). Matthew 13:4 As he sows, some
of the seed falls by the way-side, and the birds come andpeck it up. (WEY)....
Falls (79 Occurrences)
... (WEB WEY NAS RSV NIV). Matthew 13:4 As he sows, some of the seed falls
by the way-side, and the birds come andpeck it up. (WEY)....
Sows (18 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Sows (18 Occurrences). Matthew 13:4 As he sows, some of
the seed falls by the way-side, and the birds come andpeck it up. (WEY)....
Quart (1 Occurrence)
... 2. (n.) A measure of capacity, both in dry and in liquid measure; the fourth
part of a gallon; the eighth part of apeck; two pints....
Pick (37 Occurrences)
... 2. (v.) Topeck at, as a bird with its beak; to strike at with anything pointed;
to act upon with a pointed instrument; to pierce; to prick, as with a pin....
Pecked (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) ofPeck. Multi-Version Concordance
Pecked (1 Occurrence). Proverbs 30:17 The eye which makes...
Pebbles (1 Occurrence)
Bill (9 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A beak, as of a bird, or sometimes of a turtle or other animal. 2. (vi)
To strike; topeck. 3. (vi) To join bills, as doves; to caress in fondness....
Bushel (6 Occurrences)
... boosh'-el (modios): A dry measure containing about apeck, but as it is used in
the New Testament (Matthew 5:15 Mark 4:21 Luke 11:33) it does not refer to...
Resources
What are the modern equivalents of biblical weights and measures? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean that we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14)? | GotQuestions.orgPeck: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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