Exodus 26:8 — Word Study
WLCאֹ֣רֶךְ׀ הַיְרִיעָ֣ה הָֽאַחַ֗ת שְׁלֹשִׁים֙ בָּֽאַמָּ֔ה וְרֹ֙חַב֙ אַרְבַּ֣ע בָּאַמָּ֔ה הַיְרִיעָ֖ה הָאֶחָ֑ת מִדָּ֣ה אַחַ֔ת לְעַשְׁתֵּ֥י עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה יְרִיעֹֽת׃
BSAEachʼechâd of the elevenʻashtêy [one more than ten] curtainsyᵉrîyʻâh [is to be] the sameʼechâd sizemiddâh [of one measure, uniform] thirtyshᵉlôwshîym [a specific length] cubitsʼammâh longʼôrek [and] fourʼarbaʻ [a specific width, a small number] cubitsʼammâh widerôchab [in breadth, a physical dimension]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| אֹ֣רֶךְ׀ | [the] length of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| הַיְרִיעָ֣ה | the curtain | Particle, noun common feminine singular absolute |
| הָֽאַחַ֗ת | one | Particle |
| שְׁלֹשִׁים֙ | [will be] thirty | Adj |
| בָּֽאַמָּ֔ה | by the cubit | Preposition, noun common feminine singular absolute |
| וְרֹ֙חַב֙ | and [the] breadth | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| אַרְבַּ֣ע | [will be] four | Adj |
| בָּאַמָּ֔ה | by the cubit | Preposition, noun common feminine singular absolute |
| הַיְרִיעָ֖ה | the curtain | Particle, noun common feminine singular absolute |
| הָאֶחָ֑ת | one | Particle |
| מִדָּ֣ה | size | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
| אַחַ֔ת | one | |
| לְעַשְׁתֵּ֥י | [will belong] to one [plus] | Preposition |
| עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה | ten | |
| יְרִיעֹֽת׃ | curtains | Noun common, feminine plural absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Each of the eleven curtains is to be the same size—thirty cubits long and four cubits wide. |
| KJV | The length of one curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and the eleven curtains shall be all of one measure. |
| ASV | The length of each curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits: the eleven curtains shall have one measure. |
| YLT | the length of the one curtain [is] thirty by the cubit, and the breadth of the one curtain four by the cubit; one measure [is] to the eleven curtains; |
| WEB | The length of each curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits: the eleven curtains shall have one measure. |
| BBE | Every curtain is to be thirty cubits long and four cubits wide, all of the same measure. |
Where they part company is הַיְרִיעָה — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence is structured with a main clause followed by two predicate phrases detailing the dimensions.
5 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Ellicott, Cambridge & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
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 — Exodus 26:8
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 — Instructions for the Tabernacle Curtainsgenerated
Exodus 26:8 provides detailed instructions for the construction of the tabernacle, specifically focusing on the curtains that will serve as coverings. The emphasis on uniformity in size highlights the importance of order and precision in the sacred space, reflecting the meticulous nature of the tabernacle's design as a dwelling place for God among His people.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exodus 26:2–13 | Each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits long and four cubits wide —all curtains the same size. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 1 reference, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — אֹרֶךְ, 'O.rekhgenerated
The Hebrew word אֹרֶךְ ('orek) means 'length' and can refer to physical length or duration of time. It also encompasses concepts of forbearance and self-restraint, particularly in the context of patience. The word is derived from a root associated with the idea of length.
In this verse, it specifies the length of the curtains, which are to be thirty cubits long. This detail signifies the importance of exact measurements in the construction of the tabernacle, ensuring that everything fits together properly.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb of the sentence is implied in the construction directives, focusing on the noun phrases that specify the curtains' dimensions. The structure emphasizes the uniformity of the curtains, with two key measurements provided: length and breadth.
The order of the phrases highlights the importance of each dimension, starting with the length and followed by the width, showcasing the meticulous nature of the instructions.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew word אֹרֶךְ is translated as μῆκος (mēkos), which also means 'length.' This translation maintains the focus on measurement and dimension, consistent with the original Hebrew intent.
The choice of μῆκος reflects a direct correlation to the physical characteristics being described, ensuring that the Greek-speaking audience understands the precise requirements for the tabernacle's curtains.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Exodus 26:8 outlines the specifications for the eleven curtains of the tabernacle, stating that each curtain should be thirty cubits long and four cubits wide. This emphasizes the need for uniformity in size, which is crucial for the construction of the tabernacle.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Uniformity ensures that the curtains fit together properly, creating a cohesive and functional structure for the tabernacle.
A cubit is a unit of measurement, roughly equivalent to 18 inches or 0.5 meters, used in the Bible to describe the size of objects.
This verse is part of detailed instructions that emphasize the importance of precise measurements and uniformity in the construction of the tabernacle, which served as God's dwelling place among His people.
Thirty cubits is the length of each curtain, while four cubits is the width, indicating specific dimensions required for the tabernacle's design.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How does God’s attention to detail in the tabernacle's design reflect His character?
- In what ways can I apply the principle of uniformity and order in my own life?
- What significance do measurements hold in the context of worship and sacred spaces?
- How can I ensure that I am following God's instructions in my own life with the same precision?
Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Exodus 26:8 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThe length of one curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits,.... The breadth of them is the same with the linen curtains, but the length of them two cubits more; the
Read John Gill on Exodus 26 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd thou shalt make curtains of goats' hair to be a covering upon the tabernacle: eleven curtains shalt thou make. Thou shalt make curtains of goat's hair.
Read Robert Jamieson on Exodus 26 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(8) Thirty cubits.—The additional cubit on either side (comp. Exodus 26:2) would hang down and form a “valance” along the sides of the tent. (See Exodus 26:13.)
Read Charles John Ellicott on Exodus 26 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and CollegesExodus 7-13 (cf. Exodus 36:14-18). The Tent over the Dwelling, consisting of eleven curtains of cloth made of goats’ hair, each 30 cubits long, and 4 cubits wide, fastened together so as to form a single large curtain, 30 cubits broad, and 44 cubits long. The Bedawin still make their tents of goats’ hair in the same way: breadths of goats’ hair cloth, it may be ¾ yd. broad, and as long as the breadth of the tent, are stitched together, and form a covering capable of keeping out the heaviest rain (Burckh. Bedouins, i. 37; cf. DB. iv. 717): comp. Son 1:5, where their dark colour is alluded to.
Read Cambridge on Exodus 26 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible8. Thirty cubits… four cubits — There being eleven of these, if joined like the others described above, there would be a great tent cloth thirty by forty-four cubits (45 x 66 feet) in dimensions, two
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Exodus 26 →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
Each of the eleven curtains is to be the same size—thirty cubits long and four cubits wide.
The length of each curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits: the eleven curtains shall have one measure.
Each of the eleven curtains is to be the same size—thirty cubits long and four cubits wide.
The length of each curtain is to be forty-five feet, and the width of each curtain is to be six feet – the same size for the eleven curtains.
Tyndale line
The length of one curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and the eleven curtains shall be all of one measure.
The length of each curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits: the eleven curtains shall have one measure.
The length of each curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits: the eleven curtains shall have one measure.
The length of one curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and the eleven curtains shall be all of one measure.
The length of a curtaine shall be thirtie cubites, and the breadth of a curtaine foure cubites: the eleuen curtaines shalbe of one measure.
Strictly literal
The length of one curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits — one measure for the eleven curtains.
the length of the one curtain [is] thirty by the cubit, and the breadth of the one curtain four by the cubit; one measure [is] to the eleven curtains;
the length of one curtain [is] thirty by the cubit, and the breadth of one curtain [is] four by the cubit; one measure [is] for the eleven curtains;
The length of each curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits: there shall be one measure for the eleven curtains.
The length of each curtain must be thirty cubits, and the width of each curtain must be four cubits. Each of the eleven curtains must be of the same size.
From the Latin
The length of one hair curtain shall be thirty cubits: and the breadth four: the measure of all the curtains shall be equal.
Simplified
Each of the eleven curtains is to be the same size—thirty cubits long by four cubits wide.
Every curtain is to be thirty cubits long and four cubits wide, all of the same measure.
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.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text specifies the dimensions of the curtains clearly. The Samaritan Pentateuch differs in three words, using אמות for cubit and עשׁתה for eleven, while the Dead Sea Scrolls fragment preserves part of the verse but includes a restored word.
אֹ֣רֶךְ׀ הַיְרִיעָ֣ה הָֽאַחַ֗ת שְׁלֹשִׁים֙ בָּֽאַמָּ֔ה וְרֹ֙חַב֙ אַרְבַּ֣ע בָּאַמָּ֔ה הַיְרִיעָ֖ה הָאֶחָ֑ת מִדָּ֣ה אַחַ֔ת לְעַשְׁתֵּ֥י עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה יְרִיעֹֽת׃
13 of the 15 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.
ארך היריעה האחת שׁלשׁים באמה וארבע אמות רחב היריעה האחת מדה אחת לעשׁתה עשׂרה היריעות
3 words differ from the Masoretic Text: אמות (cubit), עשׁתה (eleven), יריעות (curtain)
[לעשתי] עשרה יריעות
3 words of the verse are on this fragment — 1 partly restored, 1 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.
Lexicons — every word in Exodus 26:8
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.
אֹ֫רֶךְ (orek) means 'length' and can refer to physical length or duration of time. It also encompasses concepts of forbearance and self-restraint, particularly in the context of patience. The word is derived from a root associated with the idea of length, as noted in Strong's entries.
אֹ֫רֶךְ 94 n.[m.] length
length
of time
forbearance, self-restraint
base
H753 אֹ֫רֶךְ length
753 'orek o'rek'
from 748; length:--+ forever, length, long.
see HEBREW for 0748
אֹ֫רֶךְ (o.rekh) — length.
1) length
1a) physical length
1b) of time
2) forbearance, self-restraint (of patience)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
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.
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…
יְרִיעָה (yriy'ah) means 'curtain' or 'drape.' It is derived from a root meaning to tremble, suggesting a hanging fabric. The term appears in contexts related to coverings or partitions.
יְרִיעָה 54 n.f. curtain
base
H3407 יְרִיעָה curtain
3407 yriy`ah yer-ee-aw'
from 3415; a hanging (as tremulous):--curtain.
see HEBREW for 03415
יְרִיעָה (ye.ri.ah) — curtain.
curtain, drape
Art | N-fs — Particle · noun common feminine singular absoluteHTd/Ncfsa
kur'-t'-n, -ten, -tin: The word ordinarily used for curtain is yeri`ah. Thus in Ex 26:1 ff; 36:8 ff of the curtains of the tabernacle (see TABERNACLE); in 2Sa 7:2; Ps 104:2; So 1:5; Isa 54:2; Jer 4:20; 10:20; 49:29; Hab 3:7.
Figurative: In Isa 40:22 (like Ps 104:2, of the heavens), the word used is doq, literally, "gauze."
Curtain
(1.) Ten curtains, each twenty-eight cubits long and four wide, made of fine linen, also eleven made of goat’s hair, covered the tabernacle (Ex. 26:1-13; 36:8-17).
(2.) The sacred curtain, separating the holy of holies from the sanctuary, is designated by a different Hebrew word (peroketh). It is described as a “veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work” (Ex. 26:31; Lev. 16:2; Num. 18:7).
(3.) “Stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain” (Isa. 40:22), is an expression used with reference to the veil or awning which Orientals spread for a screen over their courts in summer.…
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.
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
H259 אֶחָד one . one
. = each, every
. = a certain
. = indef. art.
. only, & (fem.) once
. one … another, one … the other
. as ordinal first
. in combin.
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
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)
Art | Adj — ParticleHTd/Acfsc
wun.
See NUMBER.
שְׁלֹשִׁים (*shlowshiym*) means 'thirty' and can also refer to 'thirtieth' as an ordinal number. It is an indeclinable noun and is derived from the root word for 'three.' The entries indicate that it is used in various contexts, but there are no significant disagreements among the lexicons.
שְׁלֹשִׁים (very seldom שְׁלוֹשִׁים, שְׁלֹשִׁם) 174 n.indecl. thirty
bef. n. sg.
as ordin.
base
H7970 שְׁלֹשִׁים (very seldom שְׁלוֹשִׁים, שְׁלֹשִׁם) n. indecl. thirty . bef. n. sg.
. as ordin.
7970 shlowshiym shel-o-sheem'
or shloshiym {shel-o-sheem'}; multiple of 7969; thirty; or
(ordinal) thirtieth:--thirty, thirtieth. Compare 7991.
see HEBREW for 07969
see HEBREW for 07991
שְׁלֹשִׁים (she.lo.shim) — thirty.
thirty, thirtieth
Aramaic equivalent: te.la.tin (תְּלָתִין "thirty" H8533)
Adj — AdjHAcmpa
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.
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
H520a אַמָּה ell, cubit H520b אַמָּה
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
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
Prep | N-fs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular absoluteHRd/Ncfsa
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…
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.”
[WEIGHTS AND MEASURES AND MEASURES]
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.
רֹ֫חַב (rochab) refers to width or breadth, encompassing both literal and figurative uses. It is derived from the root word meaning to be wide. The term appears in various contexts, indicating expanse or largeness.
רֹ֫חַב 101 n.[m.] breadth, width
base
H7341 רֹ֫חַב breadth, width
7341 rochab ro'-khab
from 7337; width (literally or figuratively):--breadth,
broad, largeness, thickness, wideness.
see HEBREW for 07337
רֹ֫חַב (ro.chav) — width.
breadth, width, expanse
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absoluteHC/Ncmsa
bredth (rochabh, the root idea being to make wide, spacious): A term of expanse or measurement used of the ark (Ge 6:15); of the tabernacle (Ex 27:13); of Solomon's temple (1Ki 6:2). platos, "breadth," as of the celestial city (Re 21:16). Figuratively, of the comprehensiveness of God's law (Ps 119:96); of the heart (1Ki 4:29, rendered "largeness of heart" English Versions); of God's immeasurable love (Eph 3:18).
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.
אַרְבַּע, אַרְבָּעָה four
base
H702 אַרְבַּע, אַרְבָּעָה four
702 'arba` ar-bah'
masculine oarbaah {ar-baw-aw'}; from 7251; four:--four.
see HEBREW for 07251
אַרְבַּע (ar.ba) — four.
four
Adj — AdjHAcbsa
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;
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.
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
H520a אַמָּה ell, cubit H520b אַמָּה
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
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
Prep | N-fs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular absoluteHRd/Ncfsa
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…
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.”
[WEIGHTS AND MEASURES AND MEASURES]
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.
יְרִיעָה (yriy'ah) means 'curtain' or 'drape.' It is derived from a root meaning to tremble, suggesting a hanging fabric. The term appears in contexts related to coverings or partitions.
יְרִיעָה 54 n.f. curtain
base
H3407 יְרִיעָה curtain
3407 yriy`ah yer-ee-aw'
from 3415; a hanging (as tremulous):--curtain.
see HEBREW for 03415
יְרִיעָה (ye.ri.ah) — curtain.
curtain, drape
HTd/Ncfsa — Particle · noun common feminine singular absoluteHTd/Ncfsa
kur'-t'-n, -ten, -tin: The word ordinarily used for curtain is yeri`ah. Thus in Ex 26:1 ff; 36:8 ff of the curtains of the tabernacle (see TABERNACLE); in 2Sa 7:2; Ps 104:2; So 1:5; Isa 54:2; Jer 4:20; 10:20; 49:29; Hab 3:7.
Figurative: In Isa 40:22 (like Ps 104:2, of the heavens), the word used is doq, literally, "gauze."
Curtain
(1.) Ten curtains, each twenty-eight cubits long and four wide, made of fine linen, also eleven made of goat’s hair, covered the tabernacle (Ex. 26:1-13; 36:8-17).
(2.) The sacred curtain, separating the holy of holies from the sanctuary, is designated by a different Hebrew word (peroketh). It is described as a “veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work” (Ex. 26:31; Lev. 16:2; Num. 18:7).
(3.) “Stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain” (Isa. 40:22), is an expression used with reference to the veil or awning which Orientals spread for a screen over their courts in summer.…
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.
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
H259 אֶחָד one . one
. = each, every
. = a certain
. = indef. art.
. only, & (fem.) once
. one … another, one … the other
. as ordinal first
. in combin.
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
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)
Art | Adj — ParticleHTd/Acfsa
wun.
See NUMBER.
מִדָּה (middah) is a feminine noun meaning measure or measurement, encompassing concepts like stature, size, and garment. It can also refer to tribute, as noted in Nehemiah 5:4. The word is derived from a root that implies extension in height or breadth, indicating its use in various contexts related to measurement.
ref
H4060a מִדָּה measure, measurement, stature, size, garment H4060b מִדָּה tribute
4060 middah mid-daw'
feminine of 4055; properly, extension, i.e. height or
breadth; also a measure (including its standard); hence a
portion (as measured) or a vestment; specifically, tribute (as
measured):--garment, measure(-ing, meteyard, piece, size,
(great) stature, tribute, wide.
see HEBREW for 04055
מִדָּה (mid.dah) — measure.
1) measure, measurement, stature, size, garment
1a) measure, act of measurement
1b) measurement, size
1c) measured portion, extent
1d) garment
מִדָּה (mid.dah) — tribute.
(BDB) tribute
Aramaic equivalent: mid.dah (מִנְדָּה "tribute" H4061)
מִדָּה (mid.dah) — `great stature`.
A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.21.20;
son of: Rapha (H7497A);
brother of: Goliath (H1555), Ishbi-benob (H3430), Saph (H5593), Lahmi (H3902)
§ (BDB) tribute
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
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.
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
H259 אֶחָד one . one
. = each, every
. = a certain
. = indef. art.
. only, & (fem.) once
. one … another, one … the other
. as ordinal first
. in combin.
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
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)
HAcfsa — HAcfsa
wun.
See NUMBER.
עַשְׁתֵּי (ashtey) refers to the number eleven or the ordinal eleventh. It is a masculine plural form derived from the root word for ten, עָשָׂר (asar). The term is used in contexts that involve counting or numbering, particularly in relation to the number ten.
H6249 עַשְׁתֵּי one
6249 `ashtey ash-tay'
apparently masculine plural construction of 6247 in the sense
of an afterthought (used only in connection with 6240 in lieu
of 259) eleven or (ordinal) eleventh:--+ eleven(-th).
see HEBREW for 06247
see HEBREW for 06240
see HEBREW for 0259
עַשְׁתֵּי (ash.te) — eleven.
1) one, eleven, eleventh
1a) one as combined with ten ( a.sar (עָשָׂר "ten" H6240))
Prep | Adj — PrepositionHR/Acbsc
עָשָׂר (asar) means 'ten' and is used exclusively in combination with other numbers to form the teen numbers (11-19), both as cardinal and ordinal forms. The entries indicate that it is derived from another Hebrew root, but do not elaborate on its etymology.
עָשָׂר, עֶשְׂרֵה ten, only after units to make num. 11-19, both cardinal and ordinal
base
H6240 עָשָׂר, עֶשְׂרֵה ten, only after units to make num. 11-19, both cardinal and ordinal
6240 `asar aw-sawr'
for 6235; ten (only in combination), i.e. -teen; also
(ordinal) -teenth:--(eigh-, fif-, four-, nine-, seven-,
six-, thir-)teen(-th), + eleven(-th), + sixscore thousand, +
twelve(-th).
see HEBREW for 06235
עָשָׂר (a.sar) — ten.
1) ten, -teen (in combination with other numbers)
1a) used only in combination to make the numbers 11-19
HAcbsa — HAcbsa
יְרִיעָה (yriy'ah) means 'curtain' or 'drape.' It is derived from a root meaning to tremble, suggesting a hanging fabric. The term appears in contexts related to coverings or partitions.
יְרִיעָה 54 n.f. curtain
base
H3407 יְרִיעָה curtain
3407 yriy`ah yer-ee-aw'
from 3415; a hanging (as tremulous):--curtain.
see HEBREW for 03415
יְרִיעָה (ye.ri.ah) — curtain.
curtain, drape
HNcfpa — Noun common · feminine plural absoluteHNcfpa