Topical Encyclopedia
Measurement in the Bible encompasses a variety of units and methods used to quantify length, weight, capacity, and time. These measurements are integral to understanding the historical and cultural context of biblical narratives, laws, and prophecies.
LengthBiblical measurements of length include the cubit, span, handbreadth, and reed. The cubit, a common unit, is generally considered the distance from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, approximately 18 inches. In
Ezekiel 40:5, the prophet describes a measuring rod "six long cubits, each with a handbreadth," indicating a slightly longer cubit used in temple measurements.
The span, half a cubit, is the distance from the thumb to the little finger when the hand is fully extended. The handbreadth, about 3 inches, is the width of four fingers. These measurements are often used in descriptions of sacred architecture, such as the dimensions of the Tabernacle and Solomon's Temple.
WeightWeights in the Bible are primarily measured in talents, minas, shekels, and gerahs. The shekel, a standard unit of weight, is frequently mentioned in the context of commerce and offerings.
Exodus 30:13 specifies the shekel as "twenty gerahs," establishing a smaller subdivision for precise transactions.
The talent, a much larger unit, is used in describing vast quantities of precious metals. In
1 Kings 10:14, the weight of gold received by Solomon annually is recorded as "six hundred sixty-six talents," illustrating the wealth of his kingdom.
CapacityLiquid and dry measures include the hin, ephah, bath, and omer. The ephah, a dry measure, is approximately equivalent to 22 liters or about half a bushel. In
Ruth 2:17, Ruth gathers "about an ephah of barley," highlighting the abundance of Boaz's provision.
The hin, a liquid measure, is about 3.7 liters or one gallon. It is often used in the context of offerings, as in
Exodus 30:24, where a hin of olive oil is specified for the anointing oil.
TimeTime in the Bible is measured in days, weeks, months, and years, with the Sabbath and Jubilee years marking significant periods. The Hebrew calendar is lunar-based, with months beginning at the new moon.
Leviticus 23 outlines the appointed feasts, each tied to specific times of the year, such as Passover in the first month.
The concept of the Sabbath, a day of rest on the seventh day, is rooted in the creation narrative (
Genesis 2:2-3) and codified in the Ten Commandments (
Exodus 20:8-11). The Jubilee year, occurring every fiftieth year, is a time of liberation and restoration, as described in
Leviticus 25:10.
Symbolic UseMeasurements in the Bible often carry symbolic significance. The dimensions of the New Jerusalem in
Revelation 21:16, described as "twelve thousand stadia" in length, width, and height, symbolize perfection and completeness. Similarly, the precise measurements of the Tabernacle and Temple reflect divine order and holiness.
Understanding biblical measurements enhances the study of Scripture by providing insight into the daily life, religious practices, and theological concepts of ancient Israel.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) The act or result of measuring; mensuration; as, measurement is required.
2. (n.) The extent, size, capacity, amount. or quantity ascertained by measuring; as, its measurement is five acres.
Strong's Hebrew
4060a. middah -- measure,measurement, stature, size, a garment... 4060, 4060a. middah. 4060b . measure,
measurement, stature, size, a garment.
Transliteration: middah Short Definition: measurements. Word Origin fem.
...8506. token -- ameasurement
... 8505, 8506. token. 8507 . ameasurement. Transliteration: token Phonetic
Spelling: (to'-ken) Short Definition: quantity. Word Origin...
8507. Token -- "measurement," a city in Simeon
... 8506, 8507. Token. 8508 . "measurement," a city in Simeon. Transliteration:
Token Phonetic Spelling: (to'-ken) Short Definition: Tochen....
4971. mathkoneth --measurement, tally, proportion
...measurement, tally, proportion. Transliteration: mathkoneth or mathkuneth Phonetic
Spelling: (math-ko'-neth) Short Definition: proportions....
8508. toknith --measurement, proportion
... 8507, 8508. toknith. 8509 .measurement, proportion. Transliteration: toknith
Phonetic Spelling: (tok-neeth') Short Definition: perfection....
4461. memad --measurement
... 4460, 4461. memad. 4462 .measurement. Transliteration: memad Phonetic
Spelling: (may-mad') Short Definition: measurements. Word...
4060. middah -- measure,measurement, stature, size, a garment
... 4059, 4060. middah. 4060a . measure,measurement, stature, size, a garment.
Transliteration: middah Phonetic Spelling: (mid-daw') Short Definition: garment...
2256a. chebel -- cord, territory, band
... Definition cord, territory, band NASB Word Usage allotment (1), coast (1), cord
(2), cords (13), group (2), line (4), lines (2),measurement (1), measuring...
5432. sese -- to drive away
... root Definition to drive away NASB Word Usage banishing (1). measure. For c'ah;
measurement, ie Moderation -- measure. see HEBREW c'ah. 5431, 5432....
Library
The Unjust Steward - Dives and Lazarus - Jewish Agricultural Notes...
... of oil,' in the second as a hundred Cor of wheat.' In regard to these quantities
we have the preliminary difficulty, that three kinds ofmeasurement were in...
Prayer and a Definite Religious Standard
... Paul gives the following caution about making for ourselves the jolly,
pleasure-seeking religious company all about us the standard of ourmeasurement:...
The Friend Whose Years do not Fail. Rev. W. Arthur, MA
... We are launched in the midst of a sea of eternity, and all the time that comes to
us comes by solemn publicmeasurement,measurement conducted in the most...
The Meaning
... Of the Outer Court with the Holy City trodden under foot by the Gentiles, and
on that account to be omitted and rejected frommeasurement....
Finally, we have the Promise of the Lord Given from the Throne.
... When the Lord Jesus said, "Surely I come quickly," He spoke from Heaven, and
Heaven'smeasurement of time is very different from earth's....
Of the Measure of the Interior Court by the Reed of God, with the...
... Because this vision of themeasurement of the court of the temple and altar, or
of the inner court, is the beginning of a repeated prophecy, which, indeed, (as...
That it was Previously Foretold that they Would Neither Know the...
... The falsemeasurement [3834] has been made vain; the scribes are confounded; the
wise men have trembled, and been taken, because they have rejected the word of...
'Many Mansions'
... brethren, if we could only widen ourmeasurement of the walls of the New Jerusalem
to themeasurement of that 'golden rod which the man, that is the angel,' as...
The People of the New Earth
... same. In Ezekiel 48:16 we first have themeasurement of each side 4,500.
In verse 35 we have the total of the circumference 18,000....
The Sixth Ennead Cfirst Tractate. On the Kinds of Being (1).
... If however their existence is independent, and they do not inhere in the objects,
but are simply called in for the purpose ofmeasurement, the objects will be...
Thesaurus
Measurement (14 Occurrences)... 1. (n.) The act or result of measuring; mensuration; as,
measurement is required.
... or quantity ascertained by measuring; as, its
measurement is five acres.
...Depth (22 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The quality of being deep; deepness; perpendicularmeasurement downward
from the surface, or horizontalmeasurement backward from the front; as, the...
Measure (269 Occurrences)
... 16. (n.) The act of measuring;measurement. 17. (a.) Beds or strata; as, coal measures;
lead measures. 18.... 23. (vi) To make ameasurement or measurements. 24....
Number (2370 Occurrences)
... system, which seems to have been introduced into Babylonia by the Sumerians and
which, through its development there, has influenced themeasurement of time...
Time (7245 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) Duration, considered independently of any system ofmeasurement or any
employment of terms which designate limited portions thereof....
Line (131 Occurrences)
... 21 1 Kings 7:15 Ezekiel 40:3). In Psalm 19:4 (qaw, "Their line is gone out through
all the earth"), the reference is probably still tomeasurement (the heaven...
Measurements (20 Occurrences)
Unit (7 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) Any determinate amount or quantity (as of length, time, heat, value) adopted
as a standard ofmeasurement for other amounts or quantities of the same...
Outlets (3 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 43:11 And since they have been ashamed of all that they have done, The form
of the house, and itsmeasurement, And its outlets, and its inlets, and all...
Over (11971 Occurrences)
... 7. (prep.) Above the perpendicular height or length of, with an idea ofmeasurement;
as, the water, or the depth of water, was over his head, over his shoes....
Resources
How did Noah fit all the animals on the Ark? | GotQuestions.orgWill we experience time in heaven? | GotQuestions.orgWhat was the significance of the temple veil being torn in two when Jesus died? | GotQuestions.orgMeasurement: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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