Exodus 37:6 — Word Study
WLCוַיַּ֥עַשׂ כַּפֹּ֖רֶת זָהָ֣ב טָה֑וֹר אַמָּתַ֤יִם וָחֵ֙צִי֙ אָרְכָּ֔הּ וְאַמָּ֥ה וָחֵ֖צִי רָחְבָּֽהּ׃
BSAHe constructedʻâsâh▸ [made, fashioned] a mercy seatkappôreth [atonement cover, place of forgiveness] of pureṭâhôwr [clean, untainted] goldzâhâb [valuable, brilliant] twoʼammâh and a half cubitschêtsîy [units of measurement, about the length of a forearm] longʼôrek and a cubitʼammâh [unit of measurement] and a halfchêtsîy [middle, division] widerôchab [broad, expansive]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיַּ֥עַשׂ | and he made | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| כַּפֹּ֖רֶת | an atonement cover of | Noun common, feminine singular construct |
| זָהָ֣ב | gold | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| טָה֑וֹר | pure | Adj |
| אַמָּתַ֤יִם | [was] two cubits | Noun common, feminine dual absolute |
| וָחֵ֙צִי֙ | and a half | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| אָרְכָּ֔הּ | length its | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| וְאַמָּ֥ה | and [was] a cubit | Conjunction, noun common feminine singular absolute |
| וָחֵ֖צִי | and a half | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| רָחְבָּֽהּ׃ | breadth its | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | He constructed a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. |
| KJV | ¶ And he made the mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half was the length thereof, and one cubit and a half the breadth thereof. |
| ASV | And he made a mercy-seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half was the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof. |
| YLT | And he maketh a mercy-seat of pure gold, two cubits and a half its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth; |
| WEB | He made a mercy seat of pure gold. Its length was two and a half cubits, and a cubit and a half its width. |
| BBE | And he made the cover all of gold, two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. |
The translations agree on the term כַּפֹּ֖רֶת as referring to the atonement cover.
The sentence has one main clause with two descriptive phrases that provide details about the mercy seat's composition and dimensions.
5 commentators on this verse
Jamieson, Ellicott, AdamClarke, Cambridge & more — read them ›
clause
verbעָשָׂה
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 37:6
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 — Construction of the Ark of the Covenantgenerated
Exodus 37:6 describes the making of the mercy seat, a vital element of the Ark of the Covenant. This mercy seat, crafted from pure gold, serves as the atonement cover where the High Priest would perform rituals to seek forgiveness for the people. This construction is part of the broader instructions given to Moses regarding the Tabernacle, which served as a dwelling place for God's presence among the Israelites.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exodus 25:17–22 | And you are to construct a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. |
| 2 | Leviticus 16:12–15 | Then he must take a censer full of burning coals from the altar before the LORD, and two handfuls of finely ground fragrant incense, and take them inside the veil. |
| 3 | 1 Chronicles 28:11 | Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the portico of the temple, its buildings, storehouses, upper rooms, inner rooms, and the room for the mercy seat. |
| 4 | Romans 3:25 | God presented Him as the atoning sacrifice through faith in His blood, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand. |
| 5 | Galatians 4:4 | But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 8 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — כַּפֹּ֖רֶת, ka.Po.retgenerated
The word כַּפֹּ֖רֶת (kapporeth) specifically refers to the 'mercy seat' or atonement cover of the Ark of the Covenant. It is derived from a root meaning 'to cover,' indicating its function in the sacrificial system as a place where atonement occurs.
This term is significant in the context of the Day of Atonement, where the High Priest would sprinkle blood on the mercy seat, symbolizing reconciliation between God and His people. It emphasizes the importance of mercy and forgiveness in the relationship between God and Israel.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
In the Berean Standard Bible, the term used is atonement cover, which aligns with the KJV and ASV as well.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb in the sentence is וַיַּ֥עַשׂ, and he made, which governs the entire clause. This verb introduces the action of constructing the mercy seat, with a noun phrase detailing the object being made.
The structure highlights the sequential nature of the construction process, with the dimensions of the mercy seat provided as additional descriptive information.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates כַּפֹּ֖רֶת as ἱλαστήριον, which carries a similar meaning of atonement. This choice reflects the significance of the mercy seat as a place of reconciliation in the Greek-speaking Jewish community.
The use of ἱλαστήριον emphasizes the mercy aspect of the seat, aligning with the broader themes of forgiveness and atonement found in the Old Testament.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Exodus 37:6 tells us that Moses made a mercy seat of pure gold, measuring two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. This mercy seat was an important part of the Ark of the Covenant, symbolizing God's mercy and the means of atonement for the people.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The mercy seat is where the High Priest would perform rituals for atonement, symbolizing God's forgiveness and presence among His people.
Gold represents value and purity, emphasizing the holiness of the atonement process and the significance of God's dwelling place.
The dimensions were specified by God as part of the instructions for constructing the Ark of the Covenant, reflecting the importance of exact measurements in sacred objects.
On the Day of Atonement, the High Priest would sprinkle blood on the mercy seat to atone for the sins of the people, making it a central element of the ritual.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How does the concept of the mercy seat relate to the idea of forgiveness in my own life?
- What does the use of pure gold in the mercy seat symbolize about God's character?
- In what ways can I seek reconciliation with others, similar to the atonement represented by the mercy seat?
- How can I better understand the significance of God's presence in my life, as represented by the mercy seat?
Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Exodus 37:6 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd he made the mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half was the length thereof, and one cubit and a half the breadth thereof. Made the mercyseat of pure gold.
Read Robert Jamieson on Exodus 37 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English ReadersXXXVII.(1-24) This passage corresponds with Exodus 37:10-29 of Exodus 25, and contains an account of the construction of the holy furniture: (1) That of the Holy of Holies: viz., the ark (Exodus 37:1-5), the mercyseat (Exodus 37:6-9); (2) that of the Holy Place, viz., the table of shewbread (Exodus 37:10-16) and the golden candlestick (Exodus 37:17-24). Exodus 37:1-5 correspond to Exodus 25:10-14 of Exodus 25 Exodus 37:6-9 correspond to Exodus 25:17-20 of Exodus 25 Exodus 37:10-16 correspond to Exodus 25:23-29 of Exodus 25 Exodus 37:17-24 correspond to Exodus 25:31-39 of Exodus 25
Read Charles John Ellicott on Exodus 37 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 6. He made the mercy-seat] See this described Exodus 25:17. See Clarke on Exodus 25:17.
Read AdamClarke on Exodus 37 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges6. a mercy-seat] Or, propitiatory: see on Exodus 25:17.
Read Cambridge on Exodus 37 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the BibleTHE ARK OF THE , Exodus 39:1-9. See notes on Exodus 25:10-22. THE TABLE OF , Exodus 39:10-16. See notes on Exodus 25:23-30. THE GOLDEN , Exodus 39:17-24. See notes on Exodus 25:31-40. THE ALTAR OF INCENSE, Exodus 39:25-28.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Exodus 37 →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
He constructed a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide.
He made a mercy seat of pure gold. Its length was two and a half cubits, and a cubit and a half its width.
He constructed a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide.
He made an atonement lid of pure gold; its length was three feet nine inches, and its width was two feet three inches.
Tyndale line
¶ And he made the mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half was the length thereof, and one cubit and a half the breadth thereof.
And he made a mercy-seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half was the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof.
And he made a mercy-seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half was the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof.
And he made the mercy-seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half was the length of it, and one cubit and a half the breadth of it.
And he made the Merciseate of pure golde: two cubites and an halfe was the length thereof, and one cubite and an halfe the breadth thereof.
Strictly literal
— And he made a mercy-seat of pure gold; two cubits and a half the length thereof, and one cubit and a half the breadth thereof.
And he maketh a mercy-seat of pure gold, two cubits and a half its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth;
And he makes a propitiatory covering of pure gold, two cubits and a half its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth;
And he made a cover of pure gold: two cubits and a half was its length, and one cubit and a half its breadth.
He made an atonement lid of pure gold. Its length was two and a half cubits, and its width was one and a half cubits.
From the Latin
He made also the propitiatory, that is, the oracle, of the purest gold, two cubits and a half in length, and a cubit and a half in breadth.
Simplified
He made the atonement cover of pure gold, two and a half cubits long by a cubit and a half wide.
And he made the cover all of gold, two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide.
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 is consistent with the Septuagint in its wording, with no significant variations in the translation of the mercy seat. However, the Samaritan Pentateuch shows two differences: it uses ארכו (length) and רחבו (breadth), indicating slight variations in the dimensions described.
וַיַּ֥עַשׂ כַּפֹּ֖רֶת זָהָ֣ב טָה֑וֹר אַמָּתַ֤יִם וָחֵ֙צִי֙ אָרְכָּ֔הּ וְאַמָּ֥ה וָחֵ֖צִי רָחְבָּֽהּ׃
10 of the 10 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.
ויעשׂ כפרת זהב טהור אמתים וחצי ארכו ואמה וחצי רחבו
2 words differ from the Masoretic Text: ארכו (length), רחבו (breadth)
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 37:6
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.
עָשָׂה (asah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to do or make, encompassing a wide range of actions such as producing, preparing, and observing. It can refer to both concrete and abstract activities, including making offerings and attending to tasks. The verb also has forms indicating passive meanings, such as being made or offered. Notably, the Piel form refers to pressing or squeezing.
עָשָׂה 2622 vb. do, make
Qal 2524
do (1560 t.)
deal with
oft. in phr. do kindness with
abs. act, act with effect
make (670 t.)
produce, yield
prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food
make offering
attend to, put in order
observe, celebrate, religious festival
acquire property of various kinds
appoint priests
bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance
use
spend, pass, days of life
Niph.
97be done
be made, of concr. things
be produced from vine
be prepared, of food
be offered
be observed, passover
be used
Pu. I was made
base
[עָשָׂה] vb. Pi. press, squeeze
base
H6213a עָשָׂה do, make .. . do (1560 + t.)
. deal with
. oft. in phr. do kindness with
. abs. act, act with effect
. . make (670 + t.)
. produce, yield
. prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food
. make offering
. attend to, put in order
. observe, celebrate, religious festival
. acquire property of various kinds
. appoint priests
. bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance
. use
. spend, pass, days of life
. . be done
. . be made, of concr. things
. be produced from vine
. be prepared, of food
. be offered
. be observed, passover
. be used
. I was made
H6213b עָשָׂה Pi. press, squeeze
6213 `asah aw-saw'
a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and
widest application (as follows):--accomplish, advance,
appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth,
bruise, be busy, X certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal
(with), deck, + displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in)
execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, + feast, (fight-)ing man, +
finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go
about, govern, grant, great, + hinder, hold ((a feast)), X
indeed, + be industrious, + journey, keep, labour, maintain,
make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, + officer, pare,
bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure,
provide, put, requite, X sacrifice, serve, set, shew, X sin,
spend, X surely, take, X thoroughly, trim, X very, + vex, be
(warr-)ior, work(-man), yield, use.
עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make: do.
: do/perform
1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to do, work, make, produce
1a1a) to do
1a1b) to work
1a1c) to deal (with)
1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect
1a2) to make
1a2a) to make
1a2b) to produce
1a2c) to prepare
1a2d) to make (an offering)
1a2e) to attend to, put in order
1a2f) to observe, celebrate
1a2g) to acquire (property)
1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute
1a2i) to bring about
1a2j) to use
1a2k) to spend, pass
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be done
1b2) to be made
1b3) to be produced
1b4) to be offered
1b5) to be observed
1b6) to be used
1c) (Pual) to be made
עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to press.
(Piel) to press, squeeze
עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make.
: make(OBJECT)
1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to do, work, make, produce
1a1a) to do
1a1b) to work
1a1c) to deal (with)
1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect
1a2) to make
1a2a) to make
1a2b) to produce
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vqw3ms
כַּפֹּרֶת (kapporeth) refers to the 'mercy seat,' a term used specifically for the cover of the Ark of the Covenant. It is described as a place of atonement where the High Priest would sprinkle blood on the Day of Atonement, symbolizing reconciliation between God and His people. The term is derived from a root meaning 'to cover,' but some lexicons dispute the appropriateness of this derivation.
כַּפֹּרֶת n. propitiatory, late techn. word cover over sin: the older explan. cover, lid has no justification in usage
base
H3727 כַּפֹּרֶת propitiatory, late techn. word cover over sin: the older explan. cover, lid has no justification in usage
3727 kapporeth kap-po'-reth
from 3722; a lid (used only of the cover of the sacred
Ark):--mercy seat.
see HEBREW for 03722
כַּפֹּרֶת (kap.po.ret) — mercy seat.
1) mercy-seat, place of atonement
1a) the golden plate of propitiation on which the High Priest sprinkled the seat 7 times on the Day of Atonement symbolically reconciling Jehovah and His chosen people
1a1) the slab of gold on top of the ark of the covenant which measured 2.5 by 1.5 cubits; on it and part of it were the two golden cherubim facing each other whose outstretched wings came together above and constituted the throne of God
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular constructHNcfsc
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…
זָהָב (zahab) means gold and is derived from an unused root that conveys the idea of shimmering. It encompasses various aspects of gold, including its value as a precious metal, its use as a measure of weight, and its figurative brilliance. The term appears in contexts related to wealth, merchandise, and gifts.
זָהָב 385 n.m. gold
= gold-ore, gold in raw state
gold as wealth
gold as spoil of war
gold as merchandise
gold as costly gift
gold as material
gold described by its source
gold defined by var. adj. and pts.
as measure of weight and value
= golden oil, from colour
often named with
the chief vbs. used
base
H2091 זָהָב gold
2091 zahab zaw-hawb'
from an unused root meaning to shimmer; gold, figuratively,
something gold-colored (i.e. yellow), as oil, a clear sky:--
gold(-en), fair weather.
זָהָב (za.hav) — gold.
1) gold
1a) as precious metal
1b) as a measure of weight
1c) of brilliance, splendour (fig.)
Aramaic equivalent: de.hav (דְּהַב "gold" H1722)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
gold (zahabh; chrusos):
1. Terms:
No metal has been more frequently mentioned in Old Testament writings than gold, and none has had more terms applied to it. Among these terms the one most used is zahabh. The Arabic equivalent, dhahab, is still the common name for gold throughout Palestine, Syria and Egypt. With zahabh frequently occur other words which, translated, mean "pure" (Ex 25:11), "refined" (1Ch 28:18), "finest" (1Ki 10:18), "beaten" (1Ki 10:17), "Ophir" (Ps 45:9).
Other terms occurring are: paz, "fine gold" (Job 28:17;
Gold
(1.) Heb. zahab, so called from its yellow colour (Ex. 25:11; 1 Chr. 28:18; 2 Chr. 3:5).
(2.) Heb. segor, from its compactness, or as being enclosed or treasured up; thus precious or “fine gold” (1 Kings 6:20; 7:49).
Gold was known from the very earliest times. (Genesis 2:11) It was at first used chiefly for ornaments, etc. (Genesis 24:22) Coined money was not known to the ancients till a comparatively late period; and on the Egyptian tombs gold is represented as being weighed in rings for commercial purposes. Comp. (Genesis 43:21) Gold was extremely abundant in ancient times, (1 Chronicles 22:14; 2 Chronicles 1:15; 9:9; Daniel 3:1; Nahum 2:9) but this did not depreciate its value, because of the enormous quantities consumed by…
A well-known valuable metal, found in many parts of the world, and obtained anciently in Ophir, Job 28:16; Parvaim, 2Ch 3:6; Sheba, and Raamah, Eze 27:22. Job alludes to gold in various forms, Job 22:24 28:15-19. Abraham was rich in it, and female ornaments were early made of it, Ge 13:2 24:22,35. It is spoken of throughout Scripture; and the use of it among and ancient Hebrews, in its native and mixed state, and for the same purposes as at present, was very common. The Ark of the Covenant was overlaid with pure gold; the mercy seat, the vessels and utensils belonging to the tabernacle, and those also of the house of…
טָהוֹר (tahor) means clean or pure, covering physical, ceremonial, and moral senses. It is derived from the root word associated with H2891. The entries emphasize its application in various contexts, including animals and ethical purity.
טָהוֹר adj. clean, pure
base
H2889 טָהוֹר clean, pure
2889 tahowr taw-hore'
or tahor {taw-hore'}; from 2891; pure (in a physical,
chemical, ceremonial or moral sense):--clean, fair,
pure(-ness).
see HEBREW for 02891
טָהוֹר (ta.hor) — pure.
1) pure, clean
1a) clean (ceremonially-of animals)
1b) pure (physically)
1c) pure, clean (morally, ethically)
Adj — AdjHAamsa
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
N-fd — Noun common · feminine dual absoluteHNcfda
חֲצִי (chetsiy) means 'half' or 'middle,' referring to a division of something into two parts. It can denote the concept of 'midnight' as well. The word is derived from a root that also relates to 'midst' or 'part.'
חֲצִי 123 n.m. half
half of anything
middle … midnight
base
H2677 חֲצִי half . half of anything
. middle … midnight
2677 chetsiy khay-tsee'
from 2673; the half or middle:--half, middle, mid(-night),
midst, part, two parts.
see HEBREW for 02673
חֲצִי (che.tsi) — half.
1) half
1a) half
1b) middle
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absoluteHC/Ncmsa
haf.
See NUMBER.
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 | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp3fs
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
Conj | N-fs — Conjunction · noun common feminine singular absoluteHC/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.
חֲצִי (chetsiy) means 'half' or 'middle,' referring to a division of something into two parts. It can denote the concept of 'midnight' as well. The word is derived from a root that also relates to 'midst' or 'part.'
חֲצִי 123 n.m. half
half of anything
middle … midnight
base
H2677 חֲצִי half . half of anything
. middle … midnight
2677 chetsiy khay-tsee'
from 2673; the half or middle:--half, middle, mid(-night),
midst, part, two parts.
see HEBREW for 02673
חֲצִי (che.tsi) — half.
1) half
1a) half
1b) middle
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absoluteHC/Ncmsa
haf.
See NUMBER.
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
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp3fs