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Ezekiel 41:3 — Word Study

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WLCוּבָ֣א לִפְנִ֔ימָה וַיָּ֥מָד אֵֽיל־ הַפֶּ֖תַח שְׁתַּ֣יִם אַמּ֑וֹת וְהַפֶּ֙תַח֙ שֵׁ֣שׁ אַמּ֔וֹת וְרֹ֥חַב הַפֶּ֖תַח שֶׁ֥בַע אַמּֽוֹת׃

BSAAnd he wentbôwʼ [inward, to the innermost part] into [the inner sanctuary]pᵉnîymâh [the most holy place] and measuredmâdad [to stretch or extend, to determine the size] the side pillarsʼayil [upright posts, doorposts] at the entrancepethach [the pethach, doorway or gate] [to be] twoshᵉnayim [a pair or dual] cubits [wide]ʼammâh [amot, the length of a forearm] The entrancepethach [the doorway, gate] [was] sixshêsh cubits [wide]ʼammâh [and the walls on each side]pethach [the sides or barriers, the surrounding areas] [were] sevenshebaʻ cubitsʼammâh widerôchab

Word
Listen & take awayEzekiel 41
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 3 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 ('a.Mot) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Ezekiel 41:3quick helps
In a sentenceEzekiel enters the inner sanctuary and measures its dimensions.
Who is speakingEzekiel, as a prophet, is receiving a vision and instruction.
Where we areIn the description of the temple's structure.
The hard wordאֵֽיל־
Take awayThe measurements indicate the careful design of the sanctuary.
7 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbבּוֹא 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 — Ezekiel 41:3

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 Measurements of the Templegenerated

2The width of the entrance was ten cubits, and the sides of the entrance were five cubits on each side. He also measured the length of the outer sanctuary to be forty cubits, and the width to be twenty cubits.
3And he went into the inner sanctuary and measured the side pillars at the entrance to be two cubits wide. The entrance was six cubits wide, and the walls on each side were seven cubits wide.
4Then he measured the room adjacent to the inner sanctuary to be twenty cubits long and twenty cubits wide. And he said to me, “This is the Most Holy Place. ”
5Next he measured the wall of the temple to be six cubits thick, and the width of each side room around the temple was four cubits.

Ezekiel 41:3 describes the measurements taken within the inner sanctuary, emphasizing the precise dimensions of the entrance and its pillars. This passage is part of a larger vision where Ezekiel details the structure of the temple, reflecting its significance in worship and the presence of God. The measurements serve to illustrate the grandeur and order of the temple as a place of holiness.


Cross References


The Key Word אֵֽיל־, 'eil-generated

The word אֵֽיל ('eil) means 'pillar' or 'post,' and can refer to a physical structure that supports or stands upright. It is derived from a root that conveys strength and stability, often used in the context of architectural features like doorposts.

In this verse, it specifically describes the side pillars at the entrance of the inner sanctuary, indicating their importance in both function and symbolism within the temple structure.


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 is וּבָ֣א, and he went, which governs the entire sentence. It is followed by a prepositional phrase indicating direction, and several clauses that detail the measurements taken.

The structure emphasizes the sequential actions of entering and measuring, with the dimensions of the pillars and entrance presented clearly to convey the precise nature of the sanctuary.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates וּבָ֣א as εἰσῆλθεν, indicating a focus on the act of entering, which aligns with the Hebrew meaning but may carry a slightly different nuance in Greek.

For אֵֽיל, the LXX does not provide a direct equivalent, which may reflect a broader interpretation of the term in the context of Greek architecture.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Ezekiel 41:3 describes how Ezekiel entered the inner sanctuary and measured the side pillars at the entrance, which were two cubits wide. He also noted that the entrance itself was six cubits wide, and the walls on each side were seven cubits wide, providing a clear picture of the temple's structure.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What is the significance of the measurements in Ezekiel 41:3?

The measurements illustrate the careful design and order of the temple, reflecting its importance as a place of worship and God's presence.

Why does Ezekiel specify the dimensions of the pillars and entrance?

Specifying dimensions emphasizes the architectural integrity and the sacredness of the space, which is central to the worship practices of the Israelites.

How do these measurements compare to other descriptions of the temple?

These measurements are consistent with other biblical descriptions of the temple, which often emphasize precision and divine instruction in construction.

What does the term 'pillar' signify in the context of the temple?

The term 'pillar' signifies strength and support, indicating the structural and spiritual importance of the entrance to the inner sanctuary.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What do the measurements of the temple reveal about God's desire for order and beauty in worship?
  2. How can understanding the physical structure of the temple enhance our appreciation of its spiritual significance?
  3. In what ways do we see the importance of sacred spaces in our own lives today?
  4. How can we apply the lessons of precision and care in our own spiritual practices?

The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it

Jerome comments on the measurements taken in the temple, illustrating the significance of the structure and its dimensions in the context of worship.

JeromeVers. 3, 4. c. 347–420
\"And he entered inside (or into the inner court) and measured the front (or threshold) of the gate to be two cubits, and the gate to be six (or ten) cubits, and the width of the gate to be seven cubits (or,
Early Church Fathers on Ezekiel 41 →

Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Ezekiel 41:3 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Then went he inward,.... Through the temple or holy place he had measured, to the holy of holies: and measured the post of the door two cubits; this was the door into the most holy place; there was

Read John Gill on Ezekiel 41 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Then went he inward, and measured the post of the door, two cubits; and the door, six cubits; and the breadth of the door, seven cubits. Then went he inward - toward the most holy place.

Read Robert Jamieson on Ezekiel 41 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Inward; from the porch through the body of the temple, to the partition between the body of the temple and the holy of holies, or the oracle. The post; either the thickness of that partition wall, or of the pilasters, which stood one on one side and the other on the other side of the door. The door, or entrance out of the temple into the oracle. This door was six cubits high, say some, but, more likely, it was six cubits broad, and an upright bar or post on which the leaves did meet, and which was of one cubit’ s breadth, make out the seven cubits mentioned in the last words of this verse.

Read Matthew Poole on Ezekiel 41 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Ezekiel 41:3 Then went he inward, and measured the post of the door, two cubits; and the door, six cubits; and the breadth of the door, seven cubits.Ver. 3. Then went he inward.] Toward the Holy of holies. And the door.] Which in the second temple was but a veil, and rent at Christ’ s passion.

Read John Trapp on Ezekiel 41 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(3) Went he inward.—There is here a noticeable change in the usual expression; in all other cases the angel had brought the prophet to the places to be measured, but as he is here entering the Holy of Holies, into which, under the law, Ezekiel might not enter, the angel goes in alone. The prophetic vision was not yet sufficiently clear to speak of the way into the true Holy of Holies as at length opened to all (Hebrews 9:8; Hebrews 9:12; Hebrews 10:19). The door, six cubits.—Door is here used for doorway, the clear space between the posts. The “breadth of the door” itself is immediately said to be seven cubits, the door overlapping the posts in a shoulder half a cubit on each side.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Ezekiel 41 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

3, 4. The most holy place, Fig. 2, C 3. The wall was 2 cubits thick, Fig. 2, ef. breadth of the door, seven cubits] The actual door or entrance Fig. 2, ee, ff, was 6 cubits (preceding clause); the present statement, therefore, refers to the walls on either side of the entrance (N. to S.). LXX. read or rightly interpreted: and the entrance six cubits; and the side pieces of the entrance seven cubits on one side and seven cubits on the other. Fig. 2, fk. That Isaiah 6 + 7 + 7 = 20, breadth of the house as before (Ezekiel 41:4). It is to be observed that while Ez., being a priest, enters the holy place along with the guide he refrains from entering the most holy place, which the angel alone…

Read Cambridge on Ezekiel 41 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Went he inward - Toward the holy of holies. It is not said, “he brought me in,” but “he went in,” because the holy of holies was not to be entered even by a priest like Ezekiel, but only by the high priest once a year.

Read Albert Barnes on Ezekiel 41 →

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

And he went into the inner sanctuary and measured the side pillars at the entrance to be two cubits wide. The entrance was six cubits wide, and the walls on each side were seven cubits wide.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Then he went inward and measured each post of the entrance, two cubits; and the entrance, six cubits; and the width of the entrance, seven cubits.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

And he went into the inner sanctuary and measured the side pillars at the entrance to be two cubits wide. The entrance was six cubits wide, and the walls on each side were seven cubits wide.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Then he went into the inner sanctuary and measured the jambs of the entrance as 3½ feet, the entrance as 10½ feet, and the width of the entrance as 12¼ feet

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Then went he inward, and measured the post of the door, two cubits; and the door, six cubits; and the breadth of the door, seven cubits.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Then went he inward, and measured each post of the entrance, two cubits; and the entrance, six cubits; and the breadth of the entrance, seven cubits.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Then went he inward, and measured each post of the entrance, two cubits: and the entrance, six cubits; and the breadth of the entrance, seven cubits.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Then he went inward, and measured the post of the door, two cubits; and the door, six cubits; and the breadth of the door, seven cubits.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Then went hee in, and measured the postes of the entrie two cubites, and the entrie sixe cubites, and the breadth of the entrie seuen cubites.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And he went inwards, and measured the post of the entry, two cubits; and the entry, six cubits; and the breadth of the entry, seven cubits.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And he hath gone inward, and measureth the post of the opening two cubits, and the opening six cubits, and the breadth of the opening seven cubits.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And he has gone inward, and measures the post of the opening—two cubits, and the opening—six cubits, and the breadth of the opening—seven cubits.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Then went he inward, and measured the posts of the door, two cubits; and the door was six cubits high; and the breadth of the door, was seven cubits.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Then the man went into the very holy place and measured the posts of the doorway—two cubits, and the doorway was six cubits in width. The walls on either side were seven cubits in width.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Then going inward he measured the front of the gate two cubits: and the gate six cubits, and the breadth of the gate seven cubits.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

He went into the inner sanctuary and measured the entrance posts as two cubits wide. The entrance was six cubits wide, and the walls on both sides were seven cubits wide.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And he went inside and took the measure of the uprights of the door-opening, two cubits: and the door-opening, six cubits; and the side-walls of the door-opening were seven cubits on one side and seven cubits on the other.

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.

וּandclauseverbבָ֣אhe.wentprepositional phrase · prepositionalלִtoפְנִ֔ימָהwithinוַandclauseclauseverbיָּ֥מָדhe.measurednoun phrase · objectאֵֽילthe.pillarnoun phraseהַofפֶּ֖תַחthe.entrancenoun phrase · second objectשְׁתַּ֣יִםtwoאַמּ֑וֹתcubitsוְandclausenoun phrase · objectהַtheפֶּ֨תַח֙entrancenoun phrase · second objectשֵׁ֣שׁ[was].sixאַמּ֔וֹתcubitsוְandclausenoun phrase · objectרֹ֥חַבthe.breadthnoun phraseהַofפֶּ֖תַחthe.entrancenoun phrase · second objectשֶׁ֥בַע[was].sevenאַמּֽוֹתcubits

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 Septuagint largely agree in content, with 13 of the 14 words matched. The Dead Sea Scrolls show partial restoration, indicating some words were supplied by an editor, but the essential measurements remain consistent across these texts.

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

וּבָ֣א לִפְנִ֔ימָה וַיָּ֥מָד אֵֽיל־ הַפֶּ֖תַח שְׁתַּ֣יִם אַמּ֑וֹת וְהַפֶּ֙תַח֙ שֵׁ֣שׁ אַמּ֔וֹת וְרֹ֥חַב הַפֶּ֖תַח שֶׁ֥בַע אַמּֽוֹת׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וּבָ֣אεἰσῆλθενלִפְנִ֔ימָהἐσωτέρανוַיָּ֥מָדδιεμέτρησενהַפֶּ֖תַחθυρώματοςשְׁתַּ֣יִםπηξῶνאַמּ֑וֹתδύοוְהַפֶּ֙תַח֙θύρωμαשֵׁ֣שׁπηξῶνאַמּ֔וֹתἓχוְרֹ֥חַבκαὶהַפֶּ֖תַחθυρώματοςשֶׁ֥בַעπηξῶνאַמּֽוֹת׃ἑπτὰ

13 of the 14 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 — 4Q73a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

ובא [לפנימה] וימד [איל] [הפתח] [שתים] [אמות] [והפתח] [שש] [אמות] [ורחב] הפתח שבע אמות

3 words on the leather — 2 partly restored, 9 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.

Ezekiel 41:3בּוֹאand he wentand he wentבּוֹאפְּנִ֫ימָהto withinto withinפְּנִ֫ימָהמָדַדand he measand he measuredמָדַדאַ֫יִל[the] pilla[the] pillar ofאַ֫יִלפֶּ֫תַחthe entrancthe entranceפֶּ֫תַחשְׁנַ֫יִםtwotwoשְׁנַ֫יִםאַמָּהcubitscubitsאַמָּהפֶּ֫תַחand the entand the entrancפֶּ֫תַחשֵׁשׁ[was] six[was] sixשֵׁשׁאַמָּהcubitscubitsאַמָּהרֹ֫חַבand [the] band [the] breadרֹ֫חַבפֶּ֫תַחthe entrancthe entranceפֶּ֫תַחשֶׁ֫בַע[was] seven[was] sevenשֶׁ֫בַעאַמָּהcubitscubitsאַמָּהפָּתַחto opento openפָּתַחאֵםmothermotherאֵםפָּנֶהfacefaceפָּנֶהרָחַבto enlargeto enlargeרָחַבשָׁבַעto swearto swearשָׁבַעאוּלstrengthstrengthאוּלשֵׁנִיsecondsecondשֵׁנִישׂוּשׂto rejoiceto rejoiceשׂוּשׂאֹ֫רֶךְlengthlengthאֹ֫רֶךְמָסָךְcoveringcoveringמָסָךְמוֹעֵדmeetingmeetingמוֹעֵדרֹ֫חַבwidthwidthרֹ֫חַבאַ֫יִלramramאַ֫יִלשֶׁ֫מֶשׁsunsunשֶׁ֫מֶשׁצָפָהto overlayto overlayצָפָהדָּרוֹםsouthsouthדָּרוֹםקָדִיםeasteastקָדִיםעַתּוּדgoatgoatעַתּוּד
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 Ezekiel 41:3

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 he went to within and he measured [the] pillar of the entrance two cubits and the entrance [was] six cubits and [the] breadth of the entrance [was] seven cubits
וּבָ֣אu.Va' and he went H935 Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person masculine singular
2,573× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to go or come, and is used in many contexts, such as entering a place or approaching someone, as seen in the book of Genesis. It can also mean to abide or apply, and is translated in various ways in the KJV Bible. This term is related to the name Lebo Hamath.
Amplified meaning
inward, to the innermost part
Tyndale gloss
Lebo
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בּוֹא (bo) is a Hebrew verb meaning to come or go in, with a wide range of applications including entering, arriving, and bringing in. It can refer to both physical movement and abstract concepts like events coming to pass. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal (to come), Hiphil (to cause to come), and Hophal (to be brought). There is no significant disagreement among lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בּוֹא 2569 vb. come in, come, go in, go

Qal

come in

come (approach, arrive)

go, i.e. walk, associate with

go from speaker, but with limit of motion given

Hiph.

cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, obj. persons and animals)

cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate obj.)

Hoph.

be brought in (of pers. and things)

be brought

be introduced, put

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H935 בּוֹא come in, come, go in, go .. come in

. come (approach, arrive)

. go, i.e. walk, associate with

. go from speaker, but with limit of motion given

. . cause to come in, bring in (conduct, lead, obj. persons and animals)

. cause to come, bring, bring near, etc. (animate obj.)

. . be brought in (of pers. and things)

. be brought

. be introduced, put

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

935 bow' bo

a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of

applications):--abide, apply, attain, X be, befall, +

besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, X

certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out,

upon, to pass), depart, X doubtless again, + eat, + employ,

(cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be

fallen, fetch, + follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war),

grant, + have, X indeed, (in-)vade, lead, lift (up), mention,

pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, X (well) stricken

(in age), X surely, take (in), way.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בּוֹא (bo) — to come (in): come.

: come/go_in

1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to enter, come in

1a2) to come

1a2a) to come with

1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy)

1a2c) to come to pass

1a3) to attain to

1a4) to be enumerated

1a5) to go

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to lead in

1b2) to carry in

1b3) to bring in, cause to come in, gather, cause to come, bring near, bring against, bring upon

1b4) to bring to pass

1c) (Hophal)

1c1) to be brought, brought in

1c2) to be introduced, be put

לְב֥וֹא (bo) — Lebo-(Hamath).

This name means to go in, enter

Combined with cha.mat (חֲמָת "Hamath" H2574)

בּוֹא (bo) — to come (in): towards.

: towards/entrance

1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to enter, come in

1a2) to come

1a2a) to come with

1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy)

1a2c) to come to pass

1a3) to attain to

1a4) to be enumerated

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqq3ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he went to within and he measured [the] pillar of the entrance two cubits and the entrance [was] six cubits and [the] breadth of the entrance [was] seven cubits
לִפְנִ֔ימָהlif.Ni.mah to within H6441 Preposition · adverb
13× 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 inside or within something, like a house or a room. It is used to describe a location or direction, such as in 1 Kings 6:23. It refers to being faceward or inward.
Amplified meaning
the most holy place
Tyndale gloss
within
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פְּנִ֫ימָה (pniymah) means 'within' or 'faceward,' indicating a direction toward the inside. It is derived from the root word פָּנָה (panah), which relates to facing or turning. The term emphasizes an inward orientation, often used to describe locations or directions in a physical or metaphorical sense.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פְּנִ֫ימָה adv.

toward the (in-) side

within (lit. faceward, fr. the point of view of one entering by opposite door)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6441 פְּנִ֫ימָה

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6441 pniymah pen-ee'-maw

from 6440 with directive enclitic; faceward, i.e.

indoors:--(with-)in(-ner part, -ward).

see HEBREW for 06440

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פְּנִ֫ימָה (pe.ni.mah) — within.

toward the inside, within, faceward

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | Adv — Preposition · adverb
HR/D
and he went to within and he measured [the] pillar of the entrance two cubits and the entrance [was] six cubits and [the] breadth of the entrance [was] seven cubits
וַיָּ֥מָדvai.Ya.mod and he measured H4058 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
51× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To measure means to stretch or extend something, like a line or a boundary. In the Bible, it is used to describe God's measurements for the tabernacle and temple. It can also mean to assess or evaluate something.
Amplified meaning
to stretch or extend, to determine the size
Tyndale gloss
to measure
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָדַד (madad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to measure or stretch. It encompasses various forms, including measuring length or distance, extending, and being measured. The word appears in different contexts, such as dry measures and figurative uses related to waters and requital. Notably, it can also refer to the act of extending oneself, as seen in its usage in the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מָדַד 53 vb. measure

Qal

measure of length, distance

of dry measure

fig. of measuring waters; of requital

Niph. be measured

Pi.

extend, continue (= make extent or continuation)

measure, measure off

Po. measured

Hithpo. measured (= extended, stretched) himself upon the boy

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4058 מָדַד measure .. measure of length, distance

. of dry measure

. fig. of measuring waters; of requital

. be measured

. . extend, continue (= make extent or continuation)

. measure, measure off

. measured

. measured (= extended, stretched) himself upon the boy

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4058 madad maw-dad'

a primitive root: properly, to stretch; by implication, to

measure (as if by stretching a line); figuratively, to be

extended:--measure, mete, stretch self.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָדַד (ma.dad) — to measure.

1) to measure, stretch

1a) (Qal) to measure

1b) (Niphal) to be measured

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to extend, continue

1c2) to measure, measure off

1d) (Po) measured

1e) (Hithpolel) to extend oneself, stretch oneself

Also means: mid.dad (מָדַד "to extend" H4059)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqw3ms
and he went to within and he measured [the] pillar of the entrance two cubits and the entrance [was] six cubits and [the] breadth of the entrance [was] seven cubits
אֵֽיל־'eil- [the] pillar of H352 Noun common · masculine singular construct
187× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A strong tree, like an oak or a ram, symbolizes strength and power, as seen in 1 Kings 7:2 where Solomon builds a house with strong pillars. It can also refer to a chief or leader, like in 1 Chronicles 12:14 where the leaders of the tribes are listed.
Amplified meaning
upright posts, doorposts
Tyndale gloss
ram
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַ֫יִל (ayil) encompasses several meanings, including 'ram,' 'projecting pillar or pilaster,' 'leader or chief,' and 'terebinth.' It is derived from a root meaning strength, suggesting a connection to might and support. The term appears in various contexts, reflecting its diverse applications in the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַ֫יִל 156 n.m. ram (as leader of flock)

base

אַ֫יִל n.[m.] projecting pillar or pilaster

base

[אַ֫יִל ?] n.m. leader, chief

base

[אַ֫יִל ?] n.m. terebinth

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H352a אַ֫יִל ram H352b אַ֫יִל projecting pillar or pilaster H352c אַ֫יִל leader, chief H352d אַ֫יִל terebinth

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

352 'ayil ah'-yil

from the same as 193; properly, strength; hence, anything

strong; specifically a chief (politically); also a ram (from

his strength); a pilaster (as a strong support); an oak or

other strong tree:--mighty (man), lintel, oak, post, ram,

tree.

see HEBREW for 0193

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַ֫יִל (a.yil) — ram.

1) ram

1a) ram (as food)

1b) ram (as sacrifice)

1c) ram (skin dyed red, for tabernacle)

אַ֫יִל (a.yil) — pillar.

pillar, door post, jambs, pilaster

אַ֫יִל (a.yil) — leader.

strong man, leader, chief

אַ֫יִל (a.yil) — terebinth.

mighty tree, terebinth

Aramaic equivalent: i.lan (אִילָן "tree" H0363)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
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 he went to within and he measured [the] pillar of the entrance two cubits and the entrance [was] six cubits and [the] breadth of the entrance [was] seven cubits
הַפֶּ֖תַחha.Pe.tach the entrance H6607 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
164× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A pethach is an entrance or doorway, like the gates of Jerusalem or the door to the temple, often symbolizing transition or access to a new place.
Amplified meaning
the pethach, doorway or gate
Tyndale gloss
entrance
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פֶּ֫תַח (pethach) refers to an opening, such as a doorway or entrance. It is derived from a root meaning to open and encompasses terms like gate and entrance way. The entries consistently highlight its literal and figurative uses, but do not provide specific verse references.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פֶּ֫תַח 164 n.m. opening, doorway, entrance

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6607 פֶּ֫תַח opening, doorway, entrance

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6607 pethach peh'-thakh

from 6605; an opening (literally), i.e. door (gate) or

entrance way:--door, entering (in), entrance (-ry), gate,

opening, place.

see HEBREW for 06605

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פֶּ֫תַח (pe.tach) — entrance.

opening, doorway, entrance

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
HTd/Ncmsa
and he went to within and he measured [the] pillar of the entrance two cubits and the entrance [was] six cubits and [the] breadth of the entrance [was] seven cubits
שְׁתַּ֣יִםshe.Ta.yim two H8147 Adj
769× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for the number two appears in Genesis and Exodus, describing pairs and dualities. It can also mean double or twice. In the Bible, it is often used to describe things that come in twos, like two witnesses or two tablets.
Amplified meaning
a pair or dual
Tyndale gloss
two
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שְׁנַ֫יִם (shnayim) means 'two' and serves as both a cardinal and ordinal number. It can denote 'both,' 'double,' or 'twice,' and is used in various combinations with other numbers. The word is derived as a dual form of שָׁנָה (shanah), which relates to the concept of pairs.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שְׁנַ֫יִם, שְׁתַּיִם 768 n.m. et f. du. two

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8147 שְׁנַ֫יִם, שְׁתַּיִם two

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8147 shnayim shen-ah'-yim

dual of 8145; feminine shttayim {shet-tah'-yim}; two; also

(as ordinal) twofold:--both, couple, double, second, twain, +

twelfth, + twelve, + twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two.

see HEBREW for 08145

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שְׁנַ֫יִם (she.na.yim) — two.

1) two

1a) two (the cardinal number)

1a1) two, both, double, twice

1b) second (the ordinal number)

1c) in combination with other numbers

1d) both (a dual number)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAcfda
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

too.

See NUMBER.

and he went to within and he measured [the] pillar of the entrance two cubits and the entrance [was] six cubits and [the] breadth of the entrance [was] seven cubits
אַמּ֑וֹת'a.Mot cubits H520 Noun common · feminine plural 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
amot, 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-fp — Noun common · feminine plural absolute
HNcfpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Thompson Chain Reference topics

measures of length

Ge 6:16; Ex 37:1; De 3:11; Mt 6:27; Re 21:17

--SEE Tables, 3532

and he went to within and he measured [the] pillar of the entrance two cubits and the entrance [was] six cubits and [the] breadth of the entrance [was] seven cubits
וְהַפֶּ֙תַח֙ve.ha.Pe.tach and the entrance H6607 Conjunction · particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
164× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A pethach is an entrance or doorway, like the gates of Jerusalem or the door to the temple, often symbolizing transition or access to a new place.
Amplified meaning
the doorway, gate
Tyndale gloss
entrance
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פֶּ֫תַח (pethach) refers to an opening, such as a doorway or entrance. It is derived from a root meaning to open and encompasses terms like gate and entrance way. The entries consistently highlight its literal and figurative uses, but do not provide specific verse references.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פֶּ֫תַח 164 n.m. opening, doorway, entrance

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6607 פֶּ֫תַח opening, doorway, entrance

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6607 pethach peh'-thakh

from 6605; an opening (literally), i.e. door (gate) or

entrance way:--door, entering (in), entrance (-ry), gate,

opening, place.

see HEBREW for 06605

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פֶּ֫תַח (pe.tach) — entrance.

opening, doorway, entrance

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Art | N-ms — Conjunction · particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
HC/Td/Ncmsa
and he went to within and he measured [the] pillar of the entrance two cubits and the entrance [was] six cubits and [the] breadth of the entrance [was] seven cubits
שֵׁ֣שׁshesh [was] six H8337 Adj
216× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means the number six, and is often used in the Bible to describe measurements, like the six days of creation in Genesis 1.
Tyndale gloss
six
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שֵׁשׁ, transliterated as shesh, means 'six' and can function as both a cardinal and ordinal number, indicating the sixth position. It is a primitive number that signifies an excess beyond five, as noted in the entries. The Aramaic equivalent is שֵׁת (shet).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֵׁשׁ, שִׁשָּׁה 216 n.m. et f. six

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8337 שֵׁשׁ, שִׁשָּׁה six

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8337 shesh shaysh

masculine shishshah {shish-shaw'}; a primitive number; six

(as an overplus (see 7797) beyond five or the fingers of the

hand); as ord. sixth:--six((-teen, -teenth)), sixth.

see HEBREW for 07797

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֵׁשׁ (shesh) — six.

1) six

1a) six (cardinal number)

1b) sixth (ordinal number)

1c) in combination with other numbers

Aramaic equivalent: shet (שֵׁת "six" H8353)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAcbsc
and he went to within and he measured [the] pillar of the entrance two cubits and the entrance [was] six cubits and [the] breadth of the entrance [was] seven cubits
אַמּ֔וֹת'a.Mot cubits H520 Noun common · feminine plural 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
N-fp — Noun common · feminine plural absolute
HNcfpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Thompson Chain Reference topics

measures of length

Ge 6:16; Ex 37:1; De 3:11; Mt 6:27; Re 21:17

--SEE Tables, 3532

and he went to within and he measured [the] pillar of the entrance two cubits and the entrance [was] six cubits and [the] breadth of the entrance [was] seven cubits
וְרֹ֥חַבve.Ro.chav and [the] breadth of H7341 Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct
101× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means width or breadth, used to describe physical size or space. It appears in the Bible to describe the width of the earth or a room. In the KJV, it is translated as breadth or broad.
Tyndale gloss
width
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רֹ֫חַב 101 n.[m.] breadth, width

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7341 רֹ֫חַב breadth, width

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7341 rochab ro'-khab

from 7337; width (literally or figuratively):--breadth,

broad, largeness, thickness, wideness.

see HEBREW for 07337

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רֹ֫חַב (ro.chav) — width.

breadth, width, expanse

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 he went to within and he measured [the] pillar of the entrance two cubits and the entrance [was] six cubits and [the] breadth of the entrance [was] seven cubits
הַפֶּ֖תַחha.Pe.tach the entrance H6607 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
164× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A pethach is an entrance or doorway, like the gates of Jerusalem or the door to the temple, often symbolizing transition or access to a new place.
Amplified meaning
the sides or barriers, the surrounding areas
Tyndale gloss
entrance
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פֶּ֫תַח (pethach) refers to an opening, such as a doorway or entrance. It is derived from a root meaning to open and encompasses terms like gate and entrance way. The entries consistently highlight its literal and figurative uses, but do not provide specific verse references.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פֶּ֫תַח 164 n.m. opening, doorway, entrance

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6607 פֶּ֫תַח opening, doorway, entrance

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6607 pethach peh'-thakh

from 6605; an opening (literally), i.e. door (gate) or

entrance way:--door, entering (in), entrance (-ry), gate,

opening, place.

see HEBREW for 06605

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פֶּ֫תַח (pe.tach) — entrance.

opening, doorway, entrance

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
HTd/Ncmsa
and he went to within and he measured [the] pillar of the entrance two cubits and the entrance [was] six cubits and [the] breadth of the entrance [was] seven cubits
שֶׁ֥בַעShe.va' [was] seven H7651 Adj
395× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means the number seven, which was considered a special or sacred number. It can also mean seven times or a week, and is used in the Bible to describe completeness or perfection. The KJV translates it as seven or sevenfold.
Tyndale gloss
seven
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שֶׁ֫בַע (sheba`) means 'seven' and is a cardinal number. It can also imply 'seven times' or refer to a week. The term appears in various contexts, including combinations like 17 or 700. Its Aramaic equivalent is שִׁבְעָה (shiv.ah), also meaning 'seven'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֶׁ֫בַע, שִׁבְעָה 394 n.m. et f. seven

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7651 שֶׁ֫בַע, שִׁבְעָה seven

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7651 sheba` sheh'-bah

or (masculine) shibrah {shib-aw'}; from 7650; a primitive

cardinal number; seven (as the sacred full one); also

(adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week; by

extension, an indefinite number:--(+ by) seven(-fold),-s,

(-teen, -teenth), -th, times). Compare 7658.

see HEBREW for 07650

see HEBREW for 07658

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֶׁ֫בַע (she.va) — seven.

1) seven (cardinal number)

1a) as ordinal number

1b) in combination-17, 700 etc

Aramaic equivalent: shiv.ah (שִׁבְעָה "seven" H7655)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAcbsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

sev'-'-n (shebha`; hepta).

See NUMBER.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Seven

This number occurs frequently in Scripture, and in such connections as lead to the supposition that it has some typical meaning. On the seventh day God rested, and hallowed it (Gen. 2:2, 3). The division of time into weeks of seven days each accounts for many instances of the occurrence of this number. This number has been called the symbol of perfection, and also the symbol of rest. “Jacob’s seven years’ service to Laban; Pharaoh’s seven fat oxen and seven lean ones; the seven branches of the golden candlestick; the seven trumpets and the seven priests who sounded them; the seven days’ siege of Jericho; the seven churches, seven spirits, seven stars, seven seals, seven vials, and many others, sufficiently prove the importance of this sacred number” (see Lev. 25:4;

Smith's Bible Dictionary

The frequent recurrence of certain numbers in the sacred literature of the Hebrews is obvious to the most superficial reader, but seven so far surpasses the rest, both in the frequency with which it recurs and in the importance of the objects with which it is associated, that it may fairly be termed the representative symbolic number. The influence of the number seven was not restricted to the Hebrews; it prevailed among the Persians, ancient Indians, Greeks and Romans. The peculiarity of the Hebrew view consists in the special dignity of the seventh, and not simply in that of seen. The Sabbath being the seventh day suggested the adoption of seven as the coefficient, so to say, for their appointment of all sacred periods; and we thus find the 7th month ushered in by the Feast of Trumpets, and signalized by the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles and the Great Day of Atonement; 7…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

As from the beginning this was the number of days in the week, so it often has in Scripture a sort of emphasis attached to it, and is very generally used as a round or perfect number. Clean beasts were taken into the ark by sevens, Ge 7:1-24. The years of plenty and famine in Egypt were marked by sevens, Ge 41:1-57. With the Jews, not only was there a seventh day Sabbath, but every seventh year was a Sabbath, and after every seven times seven years came a jubilee. Their great feasts of unleavened bread and of tabernacles were observed for seven days; the number of animals in many of their sacrifices was limited to seven. The golden candlestick had seven branches. Seven priests with seven trumpets went around the walls of Jericho seven days, and seven times on the seventh day. In…

and he went to within and he measured [the] pillar of the entrance two cubits and the entrance [was] six cubits and [the] breadth of the entrance [was] seven cubits
אַמּֽוֹת׃'a.Mot cubits H520 Noun common · feminine plural 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
N-fp — Noun common · feminine plural absolute
HNcfpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Thompson Chain Reference topics

measures of length

Ge 6:16; Ex 37:1; De 3:11; Mt 6:27; Re 21:17

--SEE Tables, 3532

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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