These terms were based on natural units of measurement that could be easily applied. Measures are given in ascending order, with their approximate imperial and metric equivalents.

Jeremiah 52:21

Finger (1/4 handbreadth): about 3/4 inch (about 1.85 centimetres)

The finger was 1/4 handbreadth and was the smallest subdivision of the cubit. This is its only mention in Scripture.

Exodus 25:25

Handbreadth (4 fingers): about 3 inches (about 8 centimetres)

See also

pp Ex 37:12

1 Kings 7:26

The handbreadth was the width of the hand at the base of the four fingers.

Psalms 39:5

pp 2Ch 4:5

Ezekiel 40:5

The handbreadth is here used figuratively of the shortness of human life

Exodus 28:16

Span (half a cubit): about 9 inches (about 23 centimetres)

See also

pp Ex 39:9

1 Samuel 17:4

The span was the width of the outstretched hand from thumb to little finger.

Psalms 90:10

Goliath's height is given in the Hebrew as "six cubits and a span"

Ezekiel 43:13

The span is here used figuratively of the shortness of human life

Exodus 25:10

Cubit (2 spans): about 18 inches (about 0.5 metre)

See also

pp Ex 37:1

Genesis 7:20

The cubit was the distance from the fingertip to the elbow, and was used to measure height, size, depth and distance.

Exodus 27:9-18

The Hebrew describes the depth of the water as "fifteen cubits"

1 Kings 6:2-3

pp Ex 38:9-15

1 Chronicles 11:23

pp 2Ch 3:3-4

Ezekiel 40:5; 45:1-6; 47:3-5
John 21:8

The Hebrew describes the man as "five cubits tall"

Revelation 21:17

The Greek text describes the distance as "about two hundred cubits"

Ezekiel 41:8

Reed (6 cubits): about 10 feet (about 3 metres)

See also

Ezekiel 40:3,5-7

Originally a measuring instrument, the reed became a recognised measure of six cubits (the rod).

Revelation 11:1; 21:15-16
Matthew 5:41

Mile

See also

Luke 24:13

The Greek word for "mile" here is "milion", a transliteration of the Roman measurement "mille passuum", "a thousand paces".

John 6:19

The measurement in the Greek is "sixty stadia". Eight stadia were about one mile (about 1480 metres)

John 11:18

The measurement in the Greek is "twenty-five or thirty stadia"

See also

The measurement in the Greek is "fifteen stadia".

4804 breath
4815 drought
4832 length
4833 light
4842 north
4848 smoke
4903 time
5153 foot-washing
7257 promised land