Measures of length in the Bible
The cubit — from the elbow to the fingertips — is the root of the Old Testament measures: the ark, the tabernacle and the temple are measured in it. The New Testament adds Greek and Roman measures: the stadion and the Roman mile.
Converter
Length
| Unit | Equals | Size | Scripture |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Cubit
OT
אַמָּה ammah
The length from the elbow to the fingertips, the basic measure of length. The common cubit is about 45 cm: the Siloam tunnel inscription gives 1200 cubits for about 533 m.
|
≈ 0.44–0.525 m typically 0.445 m
[1][2]
|
Genesis 6:15, Exodus 25:10, Deuteronomy 3:11 | |
|
Long cubit
OT
אַמָּה וָטֹפַח ammah va-tofah
A cubit and a handbreadth, seven handbreadths instead of six: the measure of Ezekiel's temple vision.
|
= 1 1/6 × Cubit |
≈ 0.513–0.613 m typically 0.519 m
|
Ezekiel 40:5, Ezekiel 43:13 |
|
Span
OT
זֶרֶת zeret
The spread of the hand from thumb to little finger, half a cubit.
|
= 1/2 × Cubit |
≈ 0.22–0.263 m typically 0.223 m
|
Exodus 28:16, 1 Samuel 17:4 |
|
Handbreadth
OT
טֶפַח tefah
The width of four fingers, a sixth of a cubit.
|
= 1/6 × Cubit |
≈ 0.0733–0.0875 m typically 0.0742 m
|
Exodus 25:25, 1 Kings 7:26 |
|
Finger
OT
אֶצְבַּע etsba
The width of a finger, the smallest measure of length, a quarter of a handbreadth.
|
= 1/4 × Handbreadth |
≈ 0.0183–0.0219 m typically 0.0185 m
|
Jeremiah 52:21 |
|
Reed
OT
קָנֶה qaneh
A measuring reed of six long cubits, about 3 m.
|
= 6 × Long cubit |
≈ 3.08–3.68 m typically 3.12 m
|
Ezekiel 40:5, Ezekiel 42:16 |
|
Gomed
OT
גֹּמֶד gomed
The length of Ehud's sword; the word occurs once, and its value is unknown. Translations render it as a cubit or a short cubit.
|
value unknown | Judges 3:16 | |
|
Day's journey
OT
דֶּרֶךְ יוֹם derekh yom
The distance walked in a day. Not a fixed measure: estimates run from about 25 to 40 km.
|
≈ 25–40 km typically 32 km
[3]
|
Genesis 30:36, Numbers 11:31, 1 Kings 19:4, Luke 2:44 | |
|
Sabbath day's journey
NT
σαββάτου ὁδός sabbatou hodos
The distance one may walk on the Sabbath: by Jewish tradition 2000 cubits, after the space between the ark and the people in Joshua 3:4.
|
= 2 000 × Cubit |
≈ 880–1 050 m typically 890 m
|
Acts 1:12 |
|
Cubit (Greek pechys)
NT
πῆχυς pēchys
The cubit of the New Testament; the Greek and the Hebrew cubit were close, but not identical.
|
≈ 1 × Cubit |
≈ 0.44–0.525 m typically 0.445 m
|
Matthew 6:27, John 21:8, Revelation 21:17 |
|
Fathom
NT
ὀργυιά orguia
The span of outstretched arms, four cubits, about 1.8 m; used for sea depth.
|
= 4 × Cubit (Greek pechys) |
≈ 1.76–2.1 m typically 1.78 m
|
Acts 27:28 |
|
Stadion
NT
στάδιον stadion
A hundred fathoms, the length of a Greek race course, about 180 m.
|
= 100 × Fathom |
≈ 176–210 m typically 178 m
|
Luke 24:13, John 6:19, Revelation 21:16 |
|
Mile
NT
μίλιον milion
The Roman mile of a thousand paces, reckoned as eight stadia, about 1.5 km.
|
≈ 8 × Stadion |
≈ 1.41–1.68 km typically 1.42 km
|
Matthew 5:41 |
Sums and measures in Scripture
| Passage | Scripture | Amount | Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| The length of the ark | Genesis 6:15 | 300 × Cubit | ≈ 132–158 m |
| Goliath's height: six cubits and a span | 1 Samuel 17:4 | 6 1/2 × Cubit | ≈ 2.86–3.41 m |
| Og's bed | Deuteronomy 3:11 | 9 × Cubit | ≈ 3.96–4.73 m |
| Two hundred cubits from the shore | John 21:8 | 200 × Cubit (Greek pechys) | ≈ 88–105 m |
| Twenty fathoms of depth | Acts 27:28 | 20 × Fathom | ≈ 35.2–42 m |
| Twenty-five stadia across the sea | John 6:19 | 25 × Stadion | ≈ 4.4–5.25 km |
| Emmaus, sixty stadia from Jerusalem | Luke 24:13 | 60 × Stadion | ≈ 10.6–12.6 km |
| The city of twelve thousand stadia | Revelation 21:16 | 12 000 × Stadion | ≈ 2 112–2 520 km |
| Go one mile | Matthew 5:41 | 1 × Mile | ≈ 1.41–1.68 km |
| The Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day's journey | Acts 1:12 | 1 × Sabbath day's journey | ≈ 880–1 050 m |
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)
- Weights and Measures; Money // The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, rev. ed., ed. G. W. Bromiley. Vol. 3–4. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1986–1988