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1 Kings 7:32 — Word Study

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WLCוְאַרְבַּ֣עַת הָאֽוֹפַנִּ֗ים לְמִתַּ֙חַת֙ לַֽמִּסְגְּר֔וֹת וִיד֥וֹת הָאֽוֹפַנִּ֖ים בַּמְּכוֹנָ֑ה וְקוֹמַת֙ הָאוֹפַ֣ן הָאֶחָ֔ד אַמָּ֖ה וַחֲצִ֥י הָאַמָּֽה׃

BSAThere were fourʼarbaʻ [a quartet, a set of four] wheelsʼôwphân undertachath the panelsmiçgereth [borders, frames] and the axlesyâd [rods, handholds] of the wheelsʼôwphân were attached to the standmᵉkôwnâh [base, pedestal] eachʼechâd wheelʼôwphân [was] a cubitʼammâh [a unit of measurement, about the length of a forearm] and a halfchêtsîy [middle, part of a whole] in diameterqôwmâh [height, circumference]

Word
Listen & take away1 Kings 7
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 32 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (ha.'a.Mah) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
1 Kings 7:32quick helps
In a sentenceThe description details the construction of the wheels and their dimensions in Solomon's temple.
What is being describedThe wheels under the panels of the stands, emphasizing their size and attachment.
Where we areThis verse is part of a detailed account of the furnishings of the temple.
The hard wordמִסְגֶּרֶת
Take awayThe wheels were designed for stability and function, with precise measurements.
7 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them › clause The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — 1 Kings 7:32

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — The Construction of the Templegenerated

31The opening to each stand inside the crown at the top was one cubit deep, with a round opening like the design of a pedestal, a cubit and a half wide. And around its opening were engravings, but the panels of the stands were square, not round.
32There were four wheels under the panels, and the axles of the wheels were attached to the stand; each wheel was a cubit and a half in diameter.
33The wheels were made like chariot wheels; their axles, rims, spokes, and hubs were all of cast metal.
34Each stand had four handles, one for each corner, projecting from the stand.

1 Kings 7:32 describes the wheels that were part of the stands in Solomon's temple. This verse highlights the meticulous design and dimensions of the wheels, which were essential for the functionality of the temple's furnishings. The surrounding verses provide additional details about the construction and purpose of these elements, illustrating the grandeur of the temple built by Solomon.


Cross References


The Key Word אַרְבַּע, ve.'ar.Ba.'atgenerated

The word אַרְבַּע (arba') means 'four' in Hebrew. It is a masculine noun derived from the root associated with the number four. This word is used to indicate a specific quantity, in this case, the number of wheels under the panels.

In this verse, it emphasizes the total count of wheels, which is significant for understanding the construction and stability of the temple's stands.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The verse is presented in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses four to translate אַרְבַּע.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main clause is governed by the subject הָאֽוֹפַנִּ֗ים, the wheels, followed by a series of prepositional phrases that describe their position and relationship to the stands.

The structure emphasizes the wheels' placement and their connection to the overall design of the temple's furnishings.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

1 Kings 7:32 describes the wheels beneath the panels of the temple stands. It states there were four wheels, each with specific measurements, indicating the careful planning involved in the temple's construction.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What is the significance of the number of wheels?

The four wheels provide stability and support for the stands, reflecting the careful design of the temple's furnishings.

How does this verse connect to the overall description of the temple?

This verse contributes to the detailed account of the temple's construction, highlighting the importance of each element in the overall design.

What does the term 'cubit' refer to in this context?

A cubit is a unit of measurement, approximately the length of a forearm, used to describe the dimensions of the wheels.

Why is the design of the wheels important?

The design of the wheels is crucial for understanding how the temple's furnishings were intended to function and their stability.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What does the construction of the temple teach us about the importance of detail in our own lives?
  2. How can we apply the principles of careful planning and design to our own projects?
  3. In what ways does understanding the measurements enhance our appreciation of the temple's significance?
  4. How do the physical elements of the temple reflect spiritual truths in our lives?

Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on 1 Kings 7:32 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And under the borders were four wheels,.... Not under the borders last mentioned, but those in 1 Kings 7:29, and the axle trees of the wheels [were] joined to the base; to the four sides of it: and

Read John Gill on 1 Kings 7 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And the work of the bases was on this manner: they had borders, and the borders were between the ledges: No JFB commentary on these verses.

Read Robert Jamieson on 1 Kings 7 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

1 Kings 7:32 And under the borders [were] four wheels; and the axletrees of the wheels [were joined] to the base: and the height of a wheel [was] a cubit and half a cubit.Ver. 32. And under the borders were four wheels.] Whereby the laver was trusatile sive ambulatorium. See 1 Kings 7:30.

Read John Trapp on 1 Kings 7 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(13-50) The exceedingly graphic and elaborate description of the work of Hiram on the vessels and furniture of the Temple, and on the great pillars, bears on the very face of it the most evident marks of historical accuracy and of the use of contemporary documents, and it has, moreover, great antiquarian interest. Looked at in itself, it shows that the Temple (like many other buildings in the comparative infancy of architecture) depended for its effect, not so much on size or proportion, as on rich material, elaborate decoration, and costly furniture, on which all the resources both of treasure and art were lavished. But besides this, the sense of the especial sacredness attached to all the…

Read Charles John Ellicott on 1 Kings 7 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

32. And under the borders [panels] were four wheels] Better, ‘the four wheels.’ They were so fixed that they might not hide by their upper part any portion of the ornamental panels. and the axletrees of the wheels were joined to the base] More literally, were in the base. That is they formed a portion of the casting. The Hebrew word here is different from that rendered ‘axles’ in 1 Kings 7:30. This word is literally ‘hands’ and no doubt signifies some kind of ‘holder’ or support by which the wheels were kept in place. If the ‘shoulders’ of 1 Kings 7:30 also belong to the wheels they must have been made doubly secure.

Read Cambridge on 1 Kings 7 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

With the diameter (2 14 ft.) of the wheel here, may be compared that of the earliest Assyrian chariot-wheels, which was under 3 feet; and that of the front wheels seen in representations of Assyrian

Read Albert Barnes on 1 Kings 7 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

32. Axletrees of the wheels — Rather, hands, or supports of the wheels, (e e in figure,) which fastened their axles to the base; the same as the undersetters. 1 Kings 7:30.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on 1 Kings 7 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

There were four wheels under the panels, and the axles of the wheels were attached to the stand; each wheel was a cubit and a half in diameter.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

The four wheels were underneath the panels; and the axles of the wheels were in the base. The height of a wheel was a cubit and half a cubit.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

There were four wheels under the panels, and the axles of the wheels were attached to the stand; each wheel was a cubit and a half in diameter.

NETBNew English Translation2006

The four wheels were under the frames and the crossbars of the axles were connected to the stand. Each wheel was two and one-quarter feet high.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And under the borders were four wheels; and the axletrees of the wheels were joined to the base: and the height of a wheel was a cubit and half a cubit.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And the four wheels were underneath the panels; and the axletrees of the wheels were in the base: and the height of a wheel was a cubit and half a cubit.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And the four wheels were underneath the borders; and the axletrees of the wheels were in the base: and the height of a wheel was a cubit and half a cubit.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And under the borders were four wheels; and the axletrees of the wheels were joined to the base: and the hight of a wheel was a cubit and half a cubit.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And vnder the borders were foure wheeles, and the axeltrees of the wheeles ioyned to the base: and the height of a wheele was a cubite and halfe a cubite.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And the four wheels were under the panels; and the supports of the wheels were in the base; and the height of a wheel was a cubit and half a cubit.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And the four wheels [are] under the borders, and the spokes of the wheels [are] in the base, and the height of the one wheel [is] a cubit and half a cubit.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And the four wheels [are] under the borders, and the spokes of the wheels [are] in the base, and the height of the one wheel [is] a cubit and half a cubit.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And the four wheels were under the borders; and the axletrees of the wheels were joined to the base: and the height of each one wheel was a cubit and a half cubit.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

The four wheels were underneath the panels, and the axles of the wheels and their housings were in the stand. The height of a wheel was a cubit and a half.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And the four wheels, which were at the four corners of the base, were joined one to another under the base: the height of a wheel was a cubit and a half.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

The four wheels were under the panels, and the axles of the wheels were attached to the cart. Each wheel measured one and a half cubits in diameter.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

The four wheels were under the frames, and the rods on which the wheels were fixed were in the base; the wheels were a cubit and a half high.

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

וְandclausenoun phrase · subjectאַרְבַּ֣עַתthe.fournoun phraseהָtheאֽוֹפַנִּ֗יםwheelsprepositional phrase · predicateלְ[were].toprepositional phraseמִfromprepositional phraseתַּ֨חַת֙underprepositional phraseלַֽtonoun phrasetheמִּסְגְּר֔וֹתrimsוִandclausenoun phrase · subjectיד֥וֹתthe.handsnoun phraseהָofאֽוֹפַנִּ֖יםthe.wheelsprepositional phrase · predicateבַּ[were].onnoun phrasetheמְּכוֹנָ֑הstandוְandclausenoun phrase · subjectקוֹמַת֙the.heightnoun phraseהָofnoun phraseאוֹפַ֣ןthe.wheelnumeral phraseהָ(the)אֶחָ֔דonenoun phrase · predicateאַמָּ֖ה[was].a.cubitוַand.(the)noun phraseחֲצִ֥יhalfnoun phraseהָof.(the)אַמָּֽהcubit

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text and the Dead Sea Scrolls both agree on the wording of this verse, although the scrolls contain some restored words due to damage. The essential meaning and structure remain consistent across these texts.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

וְאַרְבַּ֣עַת הָאֽוֹפַנִּ֗ים לְמִתַּ֙חַת֙ לַֽמִּסְגְּר֔וֹת וִיד֥וֹת הָאֽוֹפַנִּ֖ים בַּמְּכוֹנָ֑ה וְקוֹמַת֙ הָאוֹפַ֣ן הָאֶחָ֔ד אַמָּ֖ה וַחֲצִ֥י הָאַמָּֽה׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וְאַרְבַּ֣עַת’’הָאֽוֹפַנִּ֗ים’’לַֽמִּסְגְּר֔וֹת’’וִיד֥וֹתξεῖρεςהָאֽוֹפַנִּ֖יםτροξοῖςבַּמְּכוֹנָ֑הἐνוְקוֹמַת֙ὕψοςהָאוֹפַ֣ןτροξοῦהָאֶחָ֔דἑνὸςאַמָּ֖הπήξεοςוַחֲצִ֥יἡμίσους

11 of the 13 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q54a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[וארבעת] [האופנים] [למתחת] [למסגרות] [וידות] [האופנים] [במכונה] [וקומת] [האופן] [האחד] אמה וחצי [האמה]

2 words on the leather — 11 supplied entire by an editor.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

1 Kings 7:32אַרְבַּעand [the] fand [the] fourאַרְבַּעאוֹפַןthe wheelsthe wheelsאוֹפַןתַּחַת[were] to f[were] to from תַּחַתמִסְגֶּ֫רֶתto the rimsto the rimsמִסְגֶּ֫רֶתיָדand [the] hand [the] handsיָדאוֹפַןthe wheelsthe wheelsאוֹפַןמְכוֹנָה[were] on t[were] on the sמְכוֹנָהקוֹמָהand [the] hand [the] heighקוֹמָהאוֹפַןthe wheelthe wheelאוֹפַןאֶחָדoneoneאֶחָדאַמָּה[was] a cub[was] a cubitאַמָּהחֲצִיand [the] hand [the] half חֲצִיאַמָּהcubitcubitאַמָּהאֵםmothermotherאֵםרָבַעto squareto squareרָבַעסָגַרto shutto shutסָגַרכַּףpalmpalmכַּףלֵב(Leb)-kama(Leb)-kamaiלֵבחָדַדto go eithto go either waחָדַדחָצָהto divideto divideחָצָהתּוֹחַתּוֹחַמָכוֹןfoundationfoundationמָכוֹןאֵ֫צֶלbesidebesideאֵ֫צֶלרֹ֫חַבwidthwidthרֹ֫חַבאֹ֫רֶךְlengthlengthאֹ֫רֶךְעָשָׂרtentenעָשָׂראֶ֫דֶןsocketsocketאֶ֫דֶןשֶׁ֫מֶשׁsunsunשֶׁ֫מֶשׁשַׁלָבִּיםframeframeשַׁלָבִּיםטֹ֫פַחhandbreadthandbreadthטֹ֫פַחחָזָקstrongstrongחָזָק
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in 1 Kings 7:32

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

and [the] four the wheels [were] to from under to the rims and [the] hands of the wheels [were] on the stand and [the] height of the wheel one [was] a cubit and [the] half of cubit
וְאַרְבַּ֣עַתve.'ar.Ba.'at and [the] four H702 Conjunction · noun common both singular construct
318× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The number four is a simple counting number in Hebrew, used to describe quantities of things, such as people, objects, or groups.
Amplified meaning
a quartet, a set of four
Tyndale gloss
four
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַרְבַּע (arba) means 'four' in Hebrew. It is a masculine noun derived from the root associated with the number four. The entries consistently affirm this meaning without any significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַרְבַּע, אַרְבָּעָה four

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H702 אַרְבַּע, אַרְבָּעָה four

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

702 'arba` ar-bah'

masculine oarbaah {ar-baw-aw'}; from 7251; four:--four.

see HEBREW for 07251

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַרְבַּע (ar.ba) — four.

four

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Adj — Conjunction · noun common both singular construct
HC/Ncbsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

for ('arba`; tessares): "Four" (cardinal number) was a sacred and complete number with the Hebrews, as well as with several other peoples. It occurs very frequently in the Old Testament and the New Testament.

(1) It indicates completeness. We have the four rivers of Paradise (Ge 2:10); the four winds of heaven (Eze 37:9; Da 7:2; 8:8; 11:4; Zec 6:5, the Revised Version, margin "spirits"; /APC 2Esdras 13:5); "the four winds" (Mt 24:31; Mr 13:27); "the four corners of the earth" (Isa 11:12;

and [the] four the wheels [were] to from under to the rims and [the] hands of the wheels [were] on the stand and [the] height of the wheel one [was] a cubit and [the] half of cubit
הָאֽוֹפַנִּ֗יםha.'o.fa.Nim the wheels H212 Particle · noun common masculine plural absolute
35× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Refers to a wheel, like a chariot wheel or the wheels in Ezekiel's vision. It is also used to describe the wheels on the bases beneath the lavers in Solomon's temple, as mentioned in the Bible.
Tyndale gloss
wheel
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אוֹפַן (o.fan) means 'wheel' and is derived from a root meaning to revolve. It specifically refers to wheels in various contexts, including chariot wheels, the wheels in Ezekiel's vision, and those found in Solomon's temple. The entries consistently emphasize its association with circular objects used for movement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אוֹפַן, אוֹפָן n.m. wheel

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H212 אוֹפַן, אוֹפָן wheel

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

212 'owphan o-fawn'

or (shortened) pophan {o-fawn'}; from an unused root meaning

to revolve; a wheel:--wheel.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אוֹפָן (o.phan) — wheel.

1) wheel

1a) chariot wheel

1b) wheel in Ezekiel's vision

1c) wheels of the ten bases beneath the lavers in Solomon's temple

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-mp — Particle · noun common masculine plural absolute
HTd/Ncmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Thompson Chain Reference topics

Jer 18:3; Eze 1:15; 3:13; 10:9

and [the] four the wheels [were] to from under to the rims and [the] hands of the wheels [were] on the stand and [the] height of the wheel one [was] a cubit and [the] half of cubit
לְמִתַּ֙חַת֙le.mi.Ta.chat [were] to from under H8478 Preposition · preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
505× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means underneath or below, often used to describe physical locations or positions. It appears in various books, including Genesis, Exodus, and Psalms, to indicate something is under or beneath something else. The word has several related meanings.
Tyndale gloss
underneath: under
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

תַּחַת (tachath) refers to the concept of being underneath or below. It can function as a noun meaning 'the under part,' or as an adverb and preposition indicating position or substitution, such as 'instead of' or 'for the sake of.' The word encompasses various uses, including physical placement and metaphorical meanings related to subjection or exchange.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

תַּחַת n.[m.] the under part, hence as adv. accus. and prep. underneath, below, instead of

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8478 תַּחַת the under part, hence as adv. accus. and prep. underneath, below, instead of

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8478 tachath takh'-ath

from the same as 8430; the bottom (as depressed); only

adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix

underneath), in lieu of, etc.:--as, beneath, X flat,

in(-stead), (same) place (where...is), room, for...sake, stead

of, under, X unto, X when...was mine, whereas, (where-)fore,

with.

see HEBREW for 08430

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

תַּחַת (ta.chat) — underneath: under.

: under/below

1) the under part, beneath, instead of, as, for, for the sake of, flat, unto, where, whereas n m

1a) the under part adv accus

1b) beneath prep

1c) under, beneath

1c1) at the foot of (idiom)

1c2) sweetness, subjection, woman, being burdened or oppressed (fig)

1c3) of subjection or conquest

1d) what is under one, the place in which one stands

1d1) in one's place, the place in which one stands (idiom with reflexive pronoun)

1d2) in place of, instead of (in transferred sense)

1d3) in place of, in exchange or return for (of things mutually interchanged)

conj

1e) instead of, instead of that

1f) in return for that, because that in compounds

1g) in, under, into the place of (after verbs of motion)

1h) from under, from beneath, from under the hand of, from his place, under, beneath

תַּחַת (ta.chat) — underneath: instead.

: instead/in_place/exchange

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Prep | Prep — Preposition · preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HR/R/Ncmsa
and [the] four the wheels [were] to from under to the rims and [the] hands of the wheels [were] on the stand and [the] height of the wheel one [was] a cubit and [the] half of cubit
לַֽמִּסְגְּר֔וֹתla.mis.ge.Rot to the rims H4526 Preposition · noun common feminine plural absolute
17× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means a border or perimeter of a region, like the edge of a city or a mountain. It is used in the Bible to describe the borders of Israel in Numbers 34:7-12 and the strongholds of God in Psalm 31:2-4. The word can also refer to a secure or fortified place.
Amplified meaning
borders, frames
Tyndale gloss
perimeter
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מִסְגֶּ֫רֶת (misgereth) refers to a border or rim, as well as a fastness or stronghold. It is derived from the root meaning to enclose, indicating something that serves as a margin or boundary. The term appears in contexts related to borders and strongholds, highlighting its use in describing enclosed spaces.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִסְגֶּ֫רֶת n.f. 1. border, rim. 2. fastness

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4526 מִסְגֶּ֫רֶת 1. border, rim. 2. fastness

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4526 micgereth mis-gheh'-reth

from 5462; something enclosing, i.e. a margin (of a region,

of a panel); concretely, a stronghold:--border, close place,

hole.

see HEBREW for 05462

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִסְגֶּ֫רֶת (mis.ge.ret) — perimeter.

1) border, fastness, rim

1a) border, rim

1b) fastness

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-fp — Preposition · noun common feminine plural absolute
HRd/Ncfpa
and [the] four the wheels [were] to from under to the rims and [the] hands of the wheels [were] on the stand and [the] height of the wheel one [was] a cubit and [the] half of cubit
וִיד֥וֹתvi.Dot and [the] hands of H3027 Conjunction · noun common both plural construct
1,619× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, 'yad' refers to an open hand, symbolizing power or direction. It can also mean strength or a part of something, like a side or a share. The word is used in many contexts, including anatomy and everyday life.
Amplified meaning
rods, handholds
Tyndale gloss
hand
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָד (yad) means 'hand' and can also refer to strength or power in a figurative sense. It encompasses various technical uses, such as a sign or monument, parts or shares, and even specific components in construction, like axle-trees and supports for the laver. The word is versatile, appearing in both literal and metaphorical contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָד 1604 n.f. hand

hand

Fig. = strength, power

Fig. = side

יָד is used in various special, technical senses:—

sign, monument

part, fractional part or share

time, repetition

axle-trees

stays, supports for laver

tenons on sides of boards of tabernacle

a (beckoning) hand

יַד with prep.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3027 יָד hand . hand

. Fig. = strength, power

. Fig. = side

. יָד is used in various special, technical senses:— . sign, monument

. part, fractional part or share

. time, repetition

. axle-trees

. stays, supports for laver

. tenons on sides of boards of tabernacle

. a (beckoning) hand

. יַד with prep.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3027 yad yawd

a primitive word; a hand (the open one (indicating power,

means, direction, etc.), in distinction from 3709, the closed

one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of

applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate

and remote (as follows):--(+ be) able, X about, + armholes,

at, axletree, because of, beside, border, X bounty, + broad,

(broken-)handed, X by, charge, coast, + consecrate, +

creditor, custody, debt, dominion, X enough, + fellowship,

force, X from, hand(-staves, -y work), X he, himself, X in,

labour, + large, ledge, (left-)handed, means, X mine,

ministry, near, X of, X order, ordinance, X our, parts, pain,

power, X presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay,

draw with strength, stroke, + swear, terror, X thee, X by

them, X themselves, X thine own, X thou, through, X throwing,

+ thumb, times, X to, X under, X us, X wait on, (way-)side,

Read the full entry →
Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָד (yad) — hand.

: hand/arm[anatomy]

1) hand

1a) hand (of man)

1b) strength, power (fig.)

1c) side (of land), part, portion (metaph.) (fig.)

1d) (various special, technical senses)

1d1) sign, monument

1d2) part, fractional part, share

1d3) time, repetition

1d4) axle-trees, axle

1d5) stays, support (for laver)

1d6) tenons (in tabernacle)

1d7) a phallus, a hand (meaning unsure)

1d8) wrists

יָד (yad) — hand: power.

: hand/arm[anatomy]

1) hand

1a) hand (of man)

1b) strength, power (fig.)

1c) side (of land), part, portion (metaph.) (fig.)

1d) (various special, technical senses)

1d1) sign, monument

1d2) part, fractional part, share

1d3) time, repetition

1d4) axle-trees, axle

1d5) stays, support (for laver)

1d6) tenons (in tabernacle)

1d7) a phallus, a hand (meaning unsure)

1d8) wrists

יָד (yad) — hand: themselves.

: hand/arm[anatomy]

1) hand

1a) hand (of man)

1b) strength, power (fig.)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-cp — Conjunction · noun common both plural construct
HC/Ncbpc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

and [the] four the wheels [were] to from under to the rims and [the] hands of the wheels [were] on the stand and [the] height of the wheel one [was] a cubit and [the] half of cubit
הָאֽוֹפַנִּ֖יםha.'o.fa.Nim the wheels H212 Particle · noun common masculine plural absolute
35× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Refers to a wheel, like a chariot wheel or the wheels in Ezekiel's vision. It is also used to describe the wheels on the bases beneath the lavers in Solomon's temple, as mentioned in the Bible.
Tyndale gloss
wheel
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אוֹפַן (o.fan) means 'wheel' and is derived from a root meaning to revolve. It specifically refers to wheels in various contexts, including chariot wheels, the wheels in Ezekiel's vision, and those found in Solomon's temple. The entries consistently emphasize its association with circular objects used for movement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אוֹפַן, אוֹפָן n.m. wheel

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H212 אוֹפַן, אוֹפָן wheel

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

212 'owphan o-fawn'

or (shortened) pophan {o-fawn'}; from an unused root meaning

to revolve; a wheel:--wheel.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אוֹפָן (o.phan) — wheel.

1) wheel

1a) chariot wheel

1b) wheel in Ezekiel's vision

1c) wheels of the ten bases beneath the lavers in Solomon's temple

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-mp — Particle · noun common masculine plural absolute
HTd/Ncmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Thompson Chain Reference topics

Jer 18:3; Eze 1:15; 3:13; 10:9

and [the] four the wheels [were] to from under to the rims and [the] hands of the wheels [were] on the stand and [the] height of the wheel one [was] a cubit and [the] half of cubit
בַּמְּכוֹנָ֑הba.me.kho.Nah [were] on the stand H4350 Preposition · noun common feminine singular absolute
24× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word refers to a base or a pedestal, providing a foundation for something. It is used in the Bible to describe the base of the altar or other structures, emphasizing stability and strength. This concept is crucial in understanding the design of the tabernacle.
Amplified meaning
base, pedestal
Tyndale gloss
base
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word מְכוֹנָה (*mkownah*) is a feminine noun meaning 'base' or 'pedestal.' It is derived from the root of another word, מָכַן (*makhan*), and refers to a fixed resting place. The entries consistently emphasize its meaning related to a foundational support.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מְכוֹנָה, מְכֹנָה 25 n.f. fixed resting-place, base

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4350 מְכוֹנָה, מְכֹנָה, מְכֻנָה

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4350 mkownah mek-o-naw'

or mkonah {mek-o-naw'}; feminine of 4349; a pedestal, also a

spot:--base.

see HEBREW for 04349

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מְכוֹנָה (me.kho.nah) — base.

fixed resting place, base, pedestal

Also means: me.khu.nah (מְכֻנָה "base" H4369)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-fs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular absolute
HRd/Ncfsa
and [the] four the wheels [were] to from under to the rims and [the] hands of the wheels [were] on the stand and [the] height of the wheel one [was] a cubit and [the] half of cubit
וְקוֹמַת֙ve.ko.Mat and [the] height of H6967 Conjunction · noun common feminine singular construct
45× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Qomah refers to height or stature, describing how tall someone or something is, like the height of a person or a building in the book of Ezekiel.
Amplified meaning
height, circumference
Tyndale gloss
height
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

קוֹמָה (qowmah) means 'height' and refers to stature or tallness. It is derived from the root word קוּם (qum), which relates to standing or rising. The entries consistently emphasize its meaning related to physical height.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

קוֹמָה, קֹמָה 45 n.f. height

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6967 קוֹמָה, קֹמָה height

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6967 qowmah ko-maw'

from 6965; height:--X along, height, high, stature, tall.

see HEBREW for 06965

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קוֹמָה (qo.mah) — height.

1) height

1a) height, stature

1b) height

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-fs — Conjunction · noun common feminine singular construct
HC/Ncfsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

and [the] four the wheels [were] to from under to the rims and [the] hands of the wheels [were] on the stand and [the] height of the wheel one [was] a cubit and [the] half of cubit
הָאוֹפַ֣ןha.'o.Fan the wheel H212 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
35× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Refers to a wheel, like a chariot wheel or the wheels in Ezekiel's vision. It is also used to describe the wheels on the bases beneath the lavers in Solomon's temple, as mentioned in the Bible.
Tyndale gloss
wheel
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אוֹפַן (o.fan) means 'wheel' and is derived from a root meaning to revolve. It specifically refers to wheels in various contexts, including chariot wheels, the wheels in Ezekiel's vision, and those found in Solomon's temple. The entries consistently emphasize its association with circular objects used for movement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אוֹפַן, אוֹפָן n.m. wheel

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H212 אוֹפַן, אוֹפָן wheel

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

212 'owphan o-fawn'

or (shortened) pophan {o-fawn'}; from an unused root meaning

to revolve; a wheel:--wheel.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אוֹפָן (o.phan) — wheel.

1) wheel

1a) chariot wheel

1b) wheel in Ezekiel's vision

1c) wheels of the ten bases beneath the lavers in Solomon's temple

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
HTd/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hwel:

(1) 'ophan, is the usual word (Ex 14:25, etc.). In Pr 20:26; Isa 28:27 the rollers of a threshing wagon are meant (see AGRICULTURE).

(2) galgal, "rolling thing," generally in the sense of "wheel" (Isa 5:28, etc.), but the Revised Version (British and American) in Eze 10:2,6,13 has "whirling wheels," an advantageous change. The "wheel .... broken at the cistern" in Ec 12:6 is the windlass for drawing the water, and by the figure the breakdown of the old man's breathing apparatus is probably meant. In Ps…

Wheel

(Heb. galgal; rendered “wheel” in Ps. 83:13, and “a rolling thing” in Isa. 17:13; R.V. in both, “whirling dust”). This word has been supposed to mean the wild artichoke, which assumes the form of a globe, and in autumn breaks away from its roots, and is rolled about by the wind in some places in great numbers.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Ps 83:13, translated "rolling thing" in Isa 17:13. Mr. Thomson, for many years a missionary in Syria, thinks the wild artichoke may here be referred to. This plant sends out numerous stalks or branches of equal length in all directions, forming a globe a foot in diameter. These globes become rigid and light as a feather in autumn, and thousands of them fly rolling and bounding over the plains, the sport of every wind. This "rolling thing" furnishes the modern Arabs with a current proverb and a curse.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Potter' s Jer 18:3

→ FIGURATIVE Pr 20:26; Ec 12:6

→ SYMBOLICAL Eze 1:15-21; 3:13; 10:9-19; 11:22

and [the] four the wheels [were] to from under to the rims and [the] hands of the wheels [were] on the stand and [the] height of the wheel one [was] a cubit and [the] half of cubit
הָאֶחָ֔דha.'e.Chad one H259 Particle · noun common feminine singular absolute
971× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means one or united, and is used to describe something that is single or unique. It is often translated as one, first, or alone. For example, in Genesis 1:5, God calls the light day and the darkness night, and separates them into one thing from another.
Tyndale gloss
one
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֶחָד (echad) means 'one' and is derived from a numeral. It encompasses meanings such as each, every, a certain, and can serve as an indefinite article. It is also used as an ordinal to denote 'first' and appears in various combinations, including eleven. The entries consistently emphasize its numerical and qualitative aspects.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶחָד 972 adj.num. one

one

= each, every

= a certain

= indef. art.

only, & (fem.) once

one … another, one … the other

as ordinal first

in combin.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H259 אֶחָד one . one

. = each, every

. = a certain

. = indef. art.

. only, & (fem.) once

. one … another, one … the other

. as ordinal first

. in combin.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

259 'echad ekh-awd'

a numeral from 258; properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an

ordinal) first:--a, alike, alone, altogether, and,

any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-)ly, each (one), +

eleven, every, few, first, + highway, a man, once, one, only,

other, some, together,

see HEBREW for 0258

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶחָד (e.chad) — one.

1) one (number)

1a) one (number)

1b) each, every

1c) a certain

1d) an (indefinite article)

1e) only, once, once for all

1f) one...another, the one...the other, one after another, one by one

1g) first

1h) eleven (in combination), eleventh (ordinal)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | Adj — Particle · noun common feminine singular absolute
HTd/Ncfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

wun.

See NUMBER.

and [the] four the wheels [were] to from under to the rims and [the] hands of the wheels [were] on the stand and [the] height of the wheel one [was] a cubit and [the] half of cubit
אַמָּ֖ה'a.Mah [was] a cubit H520 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
247× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A cubit is a unit of measurement, about the length of a forearm, used in the Bible to describe the size of objects like the Ark of the Covenant in Exodus. It is also used to describe a foundation or a door-base.
Amplified meaning
a unit of measurement, about the length of a forearm
Tyndale gloss
cubit
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַמָּה (ammah) primarily means 'cubit,' a unit of measure roughly equivalent to 18 inches or 0.5 meters, derived from the word for 'mother' or 'forearm.' It can also refer to a foundation or base, as noted in Isaiah 6:4. The lexicons mention different types of cubits used in the Old Testament, including the common cubit and the legal cubit.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַמָּה 246 n.f. ell, cubit

cubit

† measure, full measure, limit

base

[אַמָּה] n.f. (etym. & mng. dub.; Thes foundation) only Is 6:4.

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H520a אַמָּה ell, cubit H520b אַמָּה

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

520 'ammah am-maw'

prolonged from 517; properly, a mother (i.e. unit of measure,

or the fore-arm (below the elbow), i.e. a cubit; also a

door-base (as a bond of the entrance):--cubit, + hundred (by

exchange for 3967), measure, post.

see HEBREW for 0517

see HEBREW for 03967

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַמָּה (am.mah) — cubit.

cubit-a measure of distance (the forearm), roughly 18 in (. 5m). There are several cubits used in the OT, the cubit of a man or common cubit (De 3:11), the legal cubit or cubit of the sanctuary (Eze 40:5) plus others. See a Bible Dictionary for a complete treatment.

Aramaic equivalent: am.mah (אַמָּה "cubit" H0521)

אַמָּה (am.mah) — foundation.

foundation

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ku'-bit ('ammah; pechus): The standard for measures of length among the Hebrews. They derived it from the Babylonians, but a similar measure was used in Egypt with which they must have been familiar. The length of the cubit is variously estimated, since there seems to have been a double standard in both countries, and because we have no undisputed example of the cubit remaining to the present time. The original cubit was the length of the forearm, from the elbow to the end of the middle finger, as is implied from the derivation of the word in Hebrew and in Latin (cubitum). It seems to be referred to also in De 3:11: "after the cubit of a man." But this was too indefinite for a scientific standard, and the Babylonians early adopted a more accurate method of measurement which passed to the nations of the West. They had a double…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Cubit

Heb. ‘ammah; i.e., “mother of the arm,” the fore-arm, is a word derived from the Latin cubitus, the lower arm. It is difficult to determine the exact length of this measure, from the uncertainty whether it included the entire length from the elbow to the tip of the longest finger, or only from the elbow to the root of the hand at the wrist. The probability is that the longer was the original cubit. The common computation as to the length of the cubit makes it 20.24 inches for the ordinary cubit, and 21.888 inches for the sacred one. This is the same as the Egyptian measurements.

A rod or staff the measure of a cubit is called in Judg. 3:16 gomed, which literally means a “cut,” something “cut off.” The LXX. and Vulgate render it “span.”

Smith's Bible Dictionary

[WEIGHTS AND MEASURES AND MEASURES]

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A measure used among the ancients. A cubit was originally the distance from the elbow to the extremity of the middle finger, which is the fourth part of a well-proportioned man’s stature. The Hebrew cubit, according to some, is twenty-one inches; but others fix it at eighteen. The Talmudists observe that the Hebrew cubit was larger by one quarter than the Roman.

and [the] four the wheels [were] to from under to the rims and [the] hands of the wheels [were] on the stand and [the] height of the wheel one [was] a cubit and [the] half of cubit
וַחֲצִ֥יva.cha.Tzi and [the] half of H2677 Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct
125× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means half or middle, describing a division or a part of something. It is used to talk about physical things or time, like half of the day. The Bible uses it in various contexts.
Amplified meaning
middle, part of a whole
Tyndale gloss
half
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חֲצִי (chetsiy) means 'half' or 'middle,' referring to a division of something into two parts. It can denote the concept of 'midnight' as well. The word is derived from a root that also relates to 'midst' or 'part.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חֲצִי 123 n.m. half

half of anything

middle … midnight

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2677 חֲצִי half . half of anything

. middle … midnight

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2677 chetsiy khay-tsee'

from 2673; the half or middle:--half, middle, mid(-night),

midst, part, two parts.

see HEBREW for 02673

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חֲצִי (che.tsi) — half.

1) half

1a) half

1b) middle

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct
HC/Ncmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

and [the] four the wheels [were] to from under to the rims and [the] hands of the wheels [were] on the stand and [the] height of the wheel one [was] a cubit and [the] half of cubit
הָאַמָּֽה׃ha.'a.Mah cubit H520 Particle · noun common feminine singular absolute
247× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A cubit is a unit of measurement, about the length of a forearm, used in the Bible to describe the size of objects like the Ark of the Covenant in Exodus. It is also used to describe a foundation or a door-base.
Tyndale gloss
cubit
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַמָּה (ammah) primarily means 'cubit,' a unit of measure roughly equivalent to 18 inches or 0.5 meters, derived from the word for 'mother' or 'forearm.' It can also refer to a foundation or base, as noted in Isaiah 6:4. The lexicons mention different types of cubits used in the Old Testament, including the common cubit and the legal cubit.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַמָּה 246 n.f. ell, cubit

cubit

† measure, full measure, limit

base

[אַמָּה] n.f. (etym. & mng. dub.; Thes foundation) only Is 6:4.

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H520a אַמָּה ell, cubit H520b אַמָּה

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

520 'ammah am-maw'

prolonged from 517; properly, a mother (i.e. unit of measure,

or the fore-arm (below the elbow), i.e. a cubit; also a

door-base (as a bond of the entrance):--cubit, + hundred (by

exchange for 3967), measure, post.

see HEBREW for 0517

see HEBREW for 03967

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַמָּה (am.mah) — cubit.

cubit-a measure of distance (the forearm), roughly 18 in (. 5m). There are several cubits used in the OT, the cubit of a man or common cubit (De 3:11), the legal cubit or cubit of the sanctuary (Eze 40:5) plus others. See a Bible Dictionary for a complete treatment.

Aramaic equivalent: am.mah (אַמָּה "cubit" H0521)

אַמָּה (am.mah) — foundation.

foundation

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTd/Ncfsa — Particle · noun common feminine singular absolute
HTd/Ncfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ku'-bit ('ammah; pechus): The standard for measures of length among the Hebrews. They derived it from the Babylonians, but a similar measure was used in Egypt with which they must have been familiar. The length of the cubit is variously estimated, since there seems to have been a double standard in both countries, and because we have no undisputed example of the cubit remaining to the present time. The original cubit was the length of the forearm, from the elbow to the end of the middle finger, as is implied from the derivation of the word in Hebrew and in Latin (cubitum). It seems to be referred to also in De 3:11: "after the cubit of a man." But this was too indefinite for a scientific standard, and the Babylonians early adopted a more accurate method of measurement which passed to the nations of the West. They had a double…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Cubit

Heb. ‘ammah; i.e., “mother of the arm,” the fore-arm, is a word derived from the Latin cubitus, the lower arm. It is difficult to determine the exact length of this measure, from the uncertainty whether it included the entire length from the elbow to the tip of the longest finger, or only from the elbow to the root of the hand at the wrist. The probability is that the longer was the original cubit. The common computation as to the length of the cubit makes it 20.24 inches for the ordinary cubit, and 21.888 inches for the sacred one. This is the same as the Egyptian measurements.

A rod or staff the measure of a cubit is called in Judg. 3:16 gomed, which literally means a “cut,” something “cut off.” The LXX. and Vulgate render it “span.”

Smith's Bible Dictionary

[WEIGHTS AND MEASURES AND MEASURES]

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A measure used among the ancients. A cubit was originally the distance from the elbow to the extremity of the middle finger, which is the fourth part of a well-proportioned man’s stature. The Hebrew cubit, according to some, is twenty-one inches; but others fix it at eighteen. The Talmudists observe that the Hebrew cubit was larger by one quarter than the Roman.

Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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