Measures of capacity in the Bible

Grain was measured by the ephah and the homer, oil and wine by the bath and the hin; the ephah and the bath are the same size. The New Testament adds the Greek and Roman measures: the choinix, the modius and the metretes.

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= 1 Bath

In metric units: ≈ 21–40 l, typically 22 l

Capacity

Unit	Equals	Size	Scripture
Ephah OT אֵיפָה eyfah The basic dry measure, equal to the liquid bath. About 22 l by jars marked «bath»; Josephus gives a larger value, about 39 l.		≈ 21–40 l typically 22 l ^[1][2]	Exodus 16:36, Ruth 2:17, Ezekiel 45:11
Bath OT בַּת bat The basic liquid measure, equal to the ephah (Ezekiel 45:11).	= 1 × Ephah	≈ 21–40 l typically 22 l	1 Kings 7:26, Isaiah 5:10, Ezekiel 45:14
Homer OT חֹמֶר homer Ten ephahs, a donkey's load.	= 10 × Ephah	≈ 210–400 l typically 220 l	Leviticus 27:16, Ezekiel 45:11, Hosea 3:2
Kor OT כֹּר kor Equal to the homer, ten baths (Ezekiel 45:14).	= 1 × Homer	≈ 210–400 l typically 220 l	Ezekiel 45:14, Ezra 7:22
Lethek OT לֶתֶךְ letekh Traditionally half a homer; the word occurs once.	≈ 1/2 × Homer	≈ 105–200 l typically 110 l	Hosea 3:2
Seah OT סְאָה seah A third of an ephah.	= 1/3 × Ephah	≈ 7–13.3 l typically 7.33 l	Genesis 18:6, 1 Samuel 25:18, 2 Kings 7:1
Omer OT עֹמֶר omer A tenth of an ephah, the daily portion of manna for one person.	= 1/10 × Ephah	≈ 2.1–4 l typically 2.2 l	Exodus 16:16, Exodus 16:36
Tenth deal OT עִשָּׂרוֹן issaron A tenth of an ephah, the measure of flour for offerings; the same amount as the omer.	= 1/10 × Ephah	≈ 2.1–4 l typically 2.2 l	Exodus 29:40, Numbers 15:4
Kab OT קַב qav A sixth of a seah, about 1.2 l.	= 1/6 × Seah	≈ 1.17–2.22 l typically 1.22 l	2 Kings 6:25
Hin OT הִין hin A sixth of a bath, the measure of wine and oil for offerings.	= 1/6 × Bath	≈ 3.5–6.67 l typically 3.67 l	Exodus 29:40, Ezekiel 45:24
Log OT לֹג log The smallest liquid measure, a twelfth of a hin, about 0.3 l.	= 1/12 × Hin	≈ 0.292–0.556 l typically 0.306 l	Leviticus 14:10
Pot (xestes) NT ξέστης xestēs The Roman sextarius, about half a litre; also a jug of that size.		≈ 0.5–0.55 l typically 0.54 l ^[1]	Mark 7:4
Choinix NT χοῖνιξ choinix Two xestai, about a litre of grain, a day's ration for a man.	= 2 × Pot (xestes)	≈ 1–1.1 l typically 1.08 l	Revelation 6:6
Bushel (modios) NT μόδιος modios The Roman modius of sixteen sextarii, about 8.7 l; the «bushel» under which no one puts a lamp.	= 16 × Pot (xestes)	≈ 8–8.8 l typically 8.64 l	Matthew 5:15, Mark 4:21, Luke 11:33
Measure (metretes) NT μετρητής metrētēs The Attic liquid measure of 72 xestai, about 39 l.	= 72 × Pot (xestes)	≈ 36–39.6 l typically 38.9 l	John 2:6
Measure (saton) NT σάτον saton The Hebrew seah in Greek form.	= 1 × Seah	≈ 7–13.3 l typically 7.33 l	Matthew 13:33, Luke 13:21
Measure (batos) NT βάτος batos The Hebrew bath in Greek form, a measure of oil.	= 1 × Bath	≈ 21–40 l typically 22 l	Luke 16:6
Measure (koros) NT κόρος koros The Hebrew kor in Greek form, a measure of wheat.	= 1 × Kor	≈ 210–400 l typically 220 l	Luke 16:7

Sums and measures in Scripture

Passage	Scripture	Amount	Equivalent
An omer of manna for each person	Exodus 16:16	1 × Omer	≈ 2.1–4 l
Ruth's ephah of barley	Ruth 2:17	1 × Ephah	≈ 21–40 l
A quarter of a kab in the siege of Samaria	2 Kings 6:25	1/4 × Kab	≈ 0.292–0.556 l
The bronze sea	1 Kings 7:26	2 000 × Bath	≈ 42 000–80 000 l
The water jars at Cana, two or three measures each	John 2:6	2 × Measure (metretes)	≈ 72–79.2 l
Leaven in three measures of flour	Matthew 13:33	3 × Measure (saton)	≈ 21–40 l
A hundred measures of oil	Luke 16:6	100 × Measure (batos)	≈ 2 100–4 000 l
A hundred measures of wheat	Luke 16:7	100 × Measure (koros)	≈ 21 000–40 000 l

Sources

Marvin A. Powell. Weights and Measures // The Anchor Bible Dictionary, ed. D. N. Freedman. Vol. 6. New York: Doubleday, 1992
R. B. Y. Scott. Weights and Measures of the Bible // The Biblical Archaeologist 22, no. 2 (1959)