Dictionary of Bible Themes: 5619 weights and measures, distance and area

5619 weights and measures, distance and area

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes » 5000 Humanity » 5200 Human civilisation » 5613 weights and measures » 5619 weights and measures, distance and area

Diverse expressions were used for these measurements, their being determined in the most practical way possible, reckoned by known averages.

Expressions of distance

A bow-shot

Genesis 21:15-16

Some distance

Exodus 33:7 A variety of distance often lies behind this expression, as can be seen in the examples that follow. See also Genesis 35:16; Genesis 36:6; Numbers 2:2; 1 Samuel 26:13; 2 Samuel 15:17; Matthew 8:30

A Sabbath day's journey

Acts 1:12 While this is the only mention of this phrase in Scripture, it was in fact a popular expression, indicating the distance a devout Jew could walk on the Sabbath. It was based on the rabbinical interpretation of Ex 16:29 in the light of Nu 35:5, and was limited to 2,000 cubits.

A day's journey

1 Kings 19:3-4 See also Numbers 11:31

A three-day journey

Genesis 30:36 See also Exodus 3:18; Numbers 10:33; Ezra 10:7-9; Jonah 3:3

Far away

Deuteronomy 28:49 See also 1 Kings 8:46 pp 2 Chronicles 6:36; Isaiah 6:12; Ezekiel 11:15-16; Joel 3:8; Zechariah 6:15; Acts 22:21

Expressions of area

Area expressed by the yoke

1 Samuel 14:14 The area translated “about half an acre” in the Hebrew means “half a yoke”. The yoke was the area of land ploughed by a yoke of oxen in one day, approximately one acre. See also Isaiah 5:10 The Hebrew describes the area as “ten-yoke”, that is, the land ploughed by ten yoke of oxen in one day.

Area expressed by the amount of seed required to sow the land

Leviticus 27:16

Area expressed by its constituent measurements

Ezekiel 40:47 See also Exodus 28:16 pp Exodus 39:9; 1 Kings 7:23; Ezekiel 45:1-6