Topical Encyclopedia
The term "hand-breadth" refers to an ancient unit of measurement used in biblical times, equivalent to the width of a human hand. This measurement is approximately four inches or about 10 centimeters. The hand-breadth is one of several anthropometric units used in the Bible, alongside others such as the cubit and the span, which were based on the dimensions of the human body.
In the Scriptures, the hand-breadth is often used to convey the idea of smallness or brevity, emphasizing the transient nature of human life and the insignificance of earthly things in comparison to the eternal. The use of such measurements underscores the tangible and relatable aspects of biblical teachings, grounding spiritual truths in everyday experiences.
Biblical References:1.
Psalm 39:5 : "You, indeed, have made my days as handbreadths, and my lifetime as nothing before You. Truly each man at his best exists as but a breath." This verse uses the hand-breadth to illustrate the brevity and fleeting nature of human life. The psalmist reflects on the shortness of life, urging believers to recognize their dependence on God and the importance of living with an eternal perspective.
2.
Ezekiel 40:5 : "And behold, there was a wall surrounding the temple area. The measuring rod in the man’s hand was six cubits long, each of which was a cubit and a handbreadth." In this passage, the hand-breadth is part of the measurement used to describe the dimensions of the temple in Ezekiel's vision. The inclusion of the hand-breadth in the measurement of the cubit highlights the precision and care in the construction of sacred spaces, reflecting God's order and attention to detail.
3.
Exodus 25:25 : "And make a rim around it a handbreadth wide and put a gold molding on the rim." Here, the hand-breadth is used to specify the width of the rim around the table for the Bread of the Presence in the Tabernacle. This detail signifies the importance of following God's instructions meticulously in the construction of the Tabernacle, which served as the dwelling place of God's presence among His people.
The use of the hand-breadth in these contexts serves as a reminder of the importance of precision and obedience in the worship and service of God. It also calls believers to reflect on the temporal nature of life and the need to focus on eternal truths. The hand-breadth, as a unit of measure, thus carries both practical and symbolic significance in the biblical narrative.
Strong's Hebrew
2947. tephach -- a span,handbreadth, coping... Word Origin from taphach Definition a span,
handbreadth, coping NASB Word Usage
coping (1),
handbreadth (2), handbreadths (1). coping,
hand-
breadth.
...2948. tophach -- a span,handbreadth
... Definition:handbreadth. Word Origin from taphach Definition a span,handbreadth
NASB Word Usagehandbreadth (5).hand-breadth broad. From...
Library
The Want of Power to Believe
... but no so absolutely close as to be in actual contact with you as you are; not so
entirely close but that there is a little space, just ahand breadth or a...
The Bitterness and Blessedness of the Brevity of Life
... than petition"and which is absorbed in the contemplation of the manifest melancholy
facts of human life"'Thou hast made my days as anhandbreadth; and mine...
God's Waiting and Man's
... short. And when the perfect fruition is come, and we enter into the great
spaces of Eternity, it will seem as anhandbreadth. 'Take...
Whether the Whole Good of Human Nature Can be Destroyed by Sin
... text 37, any finite magnitude will at length be exhausted if the same quantity is
repeatedly taken from it"if I were to subtract ahandbreadth from a finite...
Psalm 39
... What is the same; that I thereby. my frailty well may know. ^5Lo, thou my days an
handbreadth mad'st; mine age is in thine eye. As nothing: sure each man at best...
Chastisements.
... Not only he himself, with hishandbreadth of days, that shrink into absolute
nothingness when brought into contrast with the life of God, but "every man," even...
Clairvoyance
... And even to convey the simpler truth that life is short, we find only references
to short things that are seen"ahandbreadth, a pilgrimage, a flower, a...
"What is Your Life?"
... It is ahandbreadth; a weaver's shuttle; nothing; an eagle hasting to the prey;
a swift post; a swift ship.... "My days are as anhandbreadth."....
In Death and after Death
... standing, and in front; it is generally about ahand-breadth in length.... be contiguous,
only separated"it was said, perhaps allegorically"by anhandbreadth....
Second Great Group of Parables.
... Lightfoot, a wall and not a gulf separated between the just and the unjust, and
they were not "afar off" from each other, the distance being but ahandbreadth....
Thesaurus
Handbreadth (9 Occurrences)... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
HANDBREADTH.
...Handbreadth (9 Occurrences).
Exodus 25:25 You shall make a rim of a
handbreadth around it.
...Hand-breadth (7 Occurrences)
Hand-breadth.Handbreadth,Hand-breadth. Handbreadths . Multi-Version Concordance...
(WBS).Handbreadth,Hand-breadth. Handbreadths . Reference Bible.
Rim (18 Occurrences)
... Rim (18 Occurrences). Exodus 25:25 You shall make a rim of ahandbreadth around
it. You shall make a golden molding on its rim around it. (WEB NAS NIV)....
Thickness (12 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 7:26 And its thickness was ahand-breadth, and its brim was like the work...
2 Chronicles 4:5 And the thickness of it was anhandbreadth, and the brim of...
Measuring (42 Occurrences)
... The reed is described as 6 cubits long, "of a cubit and ahandbreadth each," ie
the cubit used was ahandbreadth longer than the common cubit (see CUBIT...
Lilies (15 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 7:26 And it was anhandbreadth thick, and the brim thereof was wrought... 2
Chronicles 4:5 And the thickness of it was anhandbreadth, and the brim of it...
Lily-blossoms (2 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 7:26 And its thickness was ahand-breadth, and its brim was like the work
of the brim of a cup, with lily-blossoms; it held two thousand baths. (DBY)....
Molding (10 Occurrences)
... (WEB RSV NIV). Exodus 25:25 You shall make a rim of ahandbreadth around it. You
shall make a golden molding on its rim around it. (WEB RSV NIV)....
Margin (4 Occurrences)
... Exodus 25:25 And thou shalt make for it a margin of ahandbreadth round about, and...
Exodus 37:12 And he made for it a margin of ahand-breadth round about; and...
Brim (9 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 7:26 It was ahandbreadth thick: and its brim was worked like the brim
of a cup, like the flower of a lily: it held two thousand baths....
Resources
What is Hamartiology? | GotQuestions.orgWhat will we be doing in Heaven? What will we do in Heaven? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean that we should not let our left hand know what our right hand is doing (Matthew 6:3 4)? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
