Ancient Hebrew units of measurement

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Contents 1 Introduction 2 Length 3 Area 4 Volume, Dry 5 Volume, Liquid 6 Weight 7 Sources 8 External links

[edit] Introduction

The Mishna and Talmud are replete with detailed instructions concerning weights and measures.

The bases for many of these units are natural units, such as the various span measurements for length.

Unfortunately, there is disagreement over the precise modern equivalents for some of these units. Notable examples are the Bezah and Zayit volume measurements which regulate consumption of matzah and wine at the Passover Seder, leading some Jews to consume vastly more of each item than the standard custom dictates.

[edit] Length

Etzbah (finger, meaning the width of a finger) ≈ 1.905cm

Tefach (hand's breadth) = 4 Etzbah ≈ 7.62cm

Zeret (distance between tip of thumb and tip of the little finger when fully extended, also known as a span) = 3 Tefach ≈ 22.86cm

Amma (often translated as a cubit)(tip of hand to elbow) = 2 Zeret ≈ 45.72cm

[edit] Area

Samples of area measurements using cubits (per 1Kings 7:2):

• The Hall of the Forest of Lebanon; 100 long x 50 wide (x 30 high) = 7500 SF or about 1/6 acre
• The Hall of Pillars; 50 long x 30 wide = 1500 SF or about 1/30 acre

[edit] Volume, Dry

Homer or Cor = 10 epah = 12.5 bu

Lethech = 5 epah = 6.25 bu

Ephah = 1 epah = 1.25 bu

Seah = ⅓ epah = 3⅓ BIG = 4 US gallons

Issaron = 1/10 epah = 1 BIG = 1.25 US gallons

there is close agreement to the British Imperial System

[edit] Volume, Liquid

Cor = 10 baths = 100 BIG = 120 US gallons = 4800 liters

Bath = 1 bath = 10 BIG = 12 US gallons = 48 liters

Hin = 1/6 bath = 1⅔ BIG = 2 US gallons = 8 liters

Kab = 1/18 bath = 4½ pints = 2½ US quarts = 2.5 liters

Log = 1/72 bath = 1 = 20 fl oz = 2.5 cups = 600 mL

[edit] Weight

Reduced to English troy-weight, the Hebrew weights were:

• 1 Shekel
  • equal to 10 pennyweight (0.39 oz; 11.5 g)
  • Hebrew word means a "weight"
  • see Gen. 23:15, 16; Ex. 21:32; 30:13, 15; 38:24-29

• 1 Bekah = ½ shekel
  • equal to 5 pennyweight (0.19 oz; 5.7 g)
  • Hebrew word means a "half"
  • see Ex. 38:26

• 1 Pim = ⅔ shekel
  • equal to 7.6g
  • see 1Samuel 13:21

• 1 Gerah = 1/20 shekel
  • equal to 12 grains (0.02 oz; 600 mg)
  • Hebrew word means a "grain" or "kernel"; hence, a small weight
  • see Ex. 30:13; Lev. 27:25; Num. 3:47

• 1 ordinary Ma'neh = 50 shekels
  • equal to 1¼ lb (571 g)
  • Hebrew word means a "part" or "portion"

• 1 sacred Ma'neh = 60 shekels
  • equal to 1½ lb (685 g)
  • see Ezek. 45:12

• 1 Talent or kikkar = 3,000 shekels
  • monetary value between 46.7 kg (75 lb) to 56.7 kg (125 lb) of silver or gold
  • see Ex. 25:39; 2Kings 5:22

[edit] Sources

• The Jerusalem Bible
• "The World of Measurements" H. Arthur Klein

[edit] External links

• Bible Resource Center

This entry incorporates text from the public domain Easton's Bible Dictionary, originally published in 1897.