Quick Definition
πῆχυς, εως, ὁ n.m. a cubit
Strong's Definition
of uncertain affinity; the fore-arm, i.e. (as a measure) a cubit
KJV Usage: cubit
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
noun, m. | -εως
81.25 · Spacial Dimensions · Specific Measures of Length
cubit, eighteen inches, half meter traditionally the distance from the elbow to the end of the fingers, about eighteen inches or one-half meter The interpretation of πῆχυς in MAT 6:27 as a measurement of stature rather than length of life may be justified as an instance of literary hyperbole or exaggeration. Most modern translations, however, interpret πῆχυς in this context as a reference to length of life rather than as a measurement of height (see discussion under ἡλικία[a] in 67.151).
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
πῆχυς pēchus 4x
pr. cubitus, the forearm; hence, a cubit, a measure of length, equal to the distance from the elbow to the extremity of the middle finger, usually considered as equivalent to a foot and one half, or 17 inches and one half, Jn. 21:8; Rev. 21:17; met. of time, a span, Mt. 6:27; Lk. 12:25*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
πῆχυς, -εως, gen. pl., -ῶν (for Att. -εων, v. WH, App., 157; Thackeray, Gr., 151; Deiss., BS, 153),
[in LXX chiefly and freq. for אַמָּה;]
the forearm (Hom.).
As a measure of length, a cubit: Mt 6:27, Lk 12:25, Jo 21:8, Re 21:17.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
πῆχυς. For πῆχυς in its original meaning of ‘‘ forearm,” cf. P Amh II. 102° (a.p. 180) οὐλὴ πίήϊ]χι δεξιῷ, ‘Sa scar on the right forearm.” As a measure of length, a “ cubit,”’ about one and a half feet (cf. Hultsch, 47chzv iii. p. 438 ff.), the word hardly needs illustration, but we may cite one or two exx. of the contr. πηχῶν (for πηχέων), as in Jn 21", Rev 2117—P Petr II. 41°* (iii/B.c.) πηχῶν ιθ πλάτος πηχῶν τη εἴσοδος, P Par 141} (B.C. 127) πηχῶν δέκα ἕξ, and P Lond 154° (A.D. 68) (= II. p. 179) ἔξοδος κοινὴ πλάτους πηχῶ[ν] τ[ριῶ]ν : other exx. in Mayser Gy. i. p. 267, and for the LXX usage see Thackeray Gr. 1. p. 151. On the possibility that πῆχυς may refer to extension of fzme in Mt 627 (Lk 122°) see σι. ἡλικία. A subst. πηχισμός, which LS describe as ‘‘Eccl.,’’ is not uncommon in connexion with measurements, as of the ground-space occupied by a house in P Strass I. 98 (c. A.D. 307 or 352) μέτροις] καὶ πηχισμοῖς Kal θεμελίοις καὶ τίχεσιν. ΜΟτ πῆχυ, ‘cubit”: see Thumb Handbook, p. 57.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
πῆχυς (pēchus) — cubit/hour. πῆχυς (Aeolic dialect πᾶχυς [Refs 7th c.BC+], ὁ, genitive πήχεος [LXX+5th c.BC+]: genitive plural πήχεων [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; later contraction πηχῶν [Refs 5th c.BC+], Moer.p.327 P.:—forearm, from wrist to elbow, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; opposed to βραχίων, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: in Poets, generally, arm, ἀμφὶ δ᾽ ἑὸν φίλον υίὸν ἐχεύατο πήχεε λευκώ [Refs 8th c.BC+]; λευκὸν ἀντείνασα π. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; λαιὸν ἔπαιρε π. [Refs]
2. Anatomy texts, ulna, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
II. centrepiece, which joined the two horns of the bow, τόν ῥ᾽ [ὀϊστὸν] ἐπὶ πήχει ἑλὼν ἕλκεν νευρήν [Refs 8th c.BC+]
III. in plural, horns of the lyre, opposed to ζυγόν (the bridge), [Refs 5th c.BC+]
III.2. also, ={ζυγόν}, crosspiece or bridge in which the horns were fitted, [Refs]
IV. in the balance, beam, [Refs]
V. as a measure of length, distance from the point of the elbow to that of the middle finger, = 6 παλασταί = 24 δάκτυλοι, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. ἰδιωτικός, κοινός, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; for later measurements, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]
V.2. cubit-rule, as we say 'foot-rule', [Refs 5th c.BC+]; as epithet of Nemesis, [Refs]
V.3. metaphorically of any small amount (compare πήχυιος), [NT]; κατὰ πῆχυν little by little, [Refs 5th c.AD+]
VI. πήχεις, οἱ, the cubits (of inundation), represented in pictures as children one cubit high playing round the Nile, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]. (Cf. Sanskrit bāhú-, Avest. bāzu- (masculine) 'arm', ONorse bógr 'shoulder'.)