In biblical times, the term "peck" is not directly mentioned in the Scriptures; however, it is related to measurements of capacity used in ancient Israel and surrounding cultures. The peck is a unit of dry volume that is part of the English system of measurement, equivalent to 8 dry quarts or approximately 9 liters. While the Bible does not specifically reference the peck, understanding ancient measures of capacity can provide insight into biblical texts that discuss quantities of grain, flour, and other dry goods.

Ancient Measurements

The Bible frequently uses terms such as ephah, homer, and seah to describe quantities of dry goods. For example, an ephah is a common unit of measure in the Old Testament, equivalent to about 22 liters or roughly 2.5 pecks. In the book of Ruth, Boaz gives Ruth an ephah of barley: "So she gleaned in the field until evening. Then she threshed the barley she had gathered, and it amounted to about an ephah" (Ruth 2:17). This illustrates the generosity of Boaz and the provision for Ruth and Naomi.

The seah is another unit of measure, approximately one-third of an ephah, or about 7.3 liters, which is close to a peck. In 2 Kings 7:1, the prophet Elisha predicts a miraculous provision during a famine: "Hear the word of the LORD. This is what the LORD says: 'About this time tomorrow, a seah of fine flour will sell for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria'" . This prophecy highlights God's power to provide abundantly even in dire circumstances.

Symbolism and Usage

The use of measurements like the ephah and seah in the Bible often carries symbolic meaning, reflecting themes of provision, abundance, and divine blessing. In the prophetic literature, these measures can also symbolize judgment or restoration. For instance, in Zechariah 5:6-11, the prophet sees a vision of a flying scroll and an ephah, representing the removal of wickedness from the land.

In the New Testament, while specific Old Testament measurements are not as frequently mentioned, the concept of measuring and providing remains significant. Jesus' parables often use agricultural imagery, reflecting the importance of grain and harvest in the daily lives of His audience. For example, in the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-23), the yield of the seed sown on good soil is described in terms of abundance, emphasizing the fruitful outcome of receiving and understanding the word of God.

Cultural Context

Understanding ancient measurements like the ephah and seah helps modern readers grasp the cultural and economic context of biblical narratives. These measures were integral to trade, daily sustenance, and religious offerings. The Law of Moses includes specific instructions regarding fair measurements, underscoring the importance of justice and honesty in economic transactions: "You shall have honest scales, honest weights, an honest ephah, and an honest hin. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt" (Leviticus 19:36).

In summary, while the term "peck" itself does not appear in the Bible, understanding the ancient equivalents provides valuable insight into the biblical world and its teachings on provision, justice, and divine blessing.4568. saton -- seah, a (Heb.) measure (equiv. to about one and a ...
... to about one and a half pecks). Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: saton
Phonetic Spelling: (sat'-on) Short Definition: nearly three English gallons ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4568.htm - 7k

Elisha's Way of Treating Enemies
... Elisha said, "Hear the word of Jehovah, for he says, 'To-morrow about this time
a peck of fine meal shall be sold for a piece of silver and two pecks of barley ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/elishas way of treating enemies.htm

How Jesus Sowed Wheat.
... Jesus came also, and collected the ears which He had scattered, and they made a
hundred pecks [1769] of the best grain; and he called the poor, and the widows ...
/.../unknown/the gospel of thomas/chapter x how jesus sowed wheat.htm

Again, on a Certain Day, He Went Forth into the Field...
... acquaintances. [1680]. Footnotes: [1679] The kor or chomer was, according to
Jahn, equal to 32 pecks 1[pint. [1680] Multiplicibus suis. ...
/.../unknown/the gospel of pseudo-matthew/chapter 34 again on a.htm

On the Contrary, they Deserve the Name of Faction who Conspire to ...
... mountain. No one yet worshipped the true God at Rome, when Hannibal at
Cann?? counted the Roman slain by the pecks of Roman rings. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/apology/chapter xl on the contrary.htm

My First Attempt Therefore, Upon any Man, to Convince Him of the ...
... be seen amongst the home- born animals of this world: the chicken has its birth
from no sin, and therefore it comes forth in beauty; it runs and pecks as soon ...
/.../law/the way to divine knowledge/way-1-60 my first attempt therefore.htm

To the Rev. A. Brandram
... the first place, the original cost of a tolerable one amounts to 30 pounds; and
they, moreover, consume a vast quantity of fodder, at least two pecks of barley ...
/.../borrow/letters of george borrow/to the rev a brandram 19.htm

First Greek Form.
... [1750] Pseudo-Matt. 33. [1751] The kor or chomer was, according to Jahn, 32 pecks
1[pint. [1752] Pseudo-Matt. 34. [1753] Pseudo-Matt. 37. [1754] Pseudo-Matt. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the gospel of thomas/first greek form .htm

Crucified, Dead, and Buried. '
... and, lastly, "shall I reap?" Having each time been answered in the affirmative,
they cut down barley to the amount of one ephah, or about three pecks and three ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xv crucified dead and.htm

Scriptural Poems; Being Several Portions of Scripture Digested ...
The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3. <. ...
/.../scriptural poems being several portions.htm

Pecks (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Pecks (2 Occurrences). Matthew 13:33 He spoke another
parable to them. "The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast ...
/p/pecks.htm - 6k

Peculiar (11 Occurrences)

/p/peculiar.htm - 13k

Homer (6 Occurrences)
... measure, ten baths, equivalent to fifty-five gallons, two quarts, one pint; and,
as a dry measure, ten ephahs, equivalent to six bushels, two pecks, four quarts ...
/h/homer.htm - 9k

Peck (3 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) A great deal; a large or excessive quantity. 3. (v.) To strike with
the beak; to thrust the beak into; as, a bird pecks a tree. ...
/p/peck.htm - 8k

Pecked (1 Occurrence)

/p/pecked.htm - 6k

Bath (13 Occurrences)
... 7. (n.) A Hebrew measure containing the tenth of a homer, or five gallons and three
pints, as a measure for liquids; and two pecks and five quarts, as a dry ...
/b/bath.htm - 22k

Bushel (6 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A dry measure, containing four pecks,
eight gallons, or thirty-two quarts. 2. (n.) A vessel of ...
/b/bushel.htm - 9k

Contain (19 Occurrences)
... to hold. 2. (vt) To have capacity for; to be able to hold; to hold; to
be equivalent to; as, a bushel contains four pecks. 3. (vt ...
/c/contain.htm - 13k

Seah (3 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. SEAH. se'-a (ce'ah): A dry measure equal to about
one and one-half pecks. See WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/s/seah.htm - 7k

Strike (168 Occurrences)
... 37. (n.) A bushel; four pecks. 38. (n.) An old measure of four bushels. 39.
(n.) Fullness of measure; hence, excellence of quality. 40. ...
/s/strike.htm - 46k

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