בַּת
a bath or Hebrew measure (as a means of division) of liquids
Definition
The Hebrew word בַּת (bath) is a unit of liquid measurement used in the Old Testament. It is primarily a standard measure for liquids like water, wine, and oil, as seen in the descriptions of the temple vessels (1 Kings 7:26, 2 Chronicles 4:5). In prophetic and legal contexts, such as Isaiah 5:10 and Ezekiel 45:10-14, the bath is used to denote agricultural yield and to establish just weights and measures, highlighting its role in commerce and divine law. While its exact modern equivalent is debated, it is generally understood to be equivalent to an ephah for dry measure, representing a substantial volume, approximately 22 liters or 6 gallons.
Biblical Usage
This word appears exclusively in contexts describing capacity, temple construction, and prophetic or legal pronouncements. It is used in the historical books of 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles to specify the volume of the molten sea and other basins in Solomon's temple. The prophet Isaiah uses it metaphorically for a meager harvest (Isaiah 5:10), and Ezekiel repeatedly employs it in his vision of a restored temple and land to legislate fair measurements (Ezekiel 45:10-14).
Etymology
The noun בַּת (bath) is likely derived from the root בָּתָה (bathah, H1327), meaning 'to cut off' or 'divide,' conceptually linked to the idea of a measured portion. It is a cognate with the Egyptian unit 'bt' and possibly related to the Akkadian 'būtu,' reflecting its role in ancient Near Eastern trade and standardization.
Semantic Range
The bath is theologically significant as a symbol of God's order, provision, and justice. Its use in temple specifications (1 Kings 7) underscores the precision and holiness required in worship. In prophetic literature, its mention connects to themes of covenant blessing (abundant measure) and curse (scant measure, as in Isaiah 5:10). Ezekiel's emphasis on a just bath (Ezekiel 45:10) ties honest measurement directly to righteousness and social justice, reflecting God's character. Understanding this unit enriches reading by making concrete the biblical calls for integrity in commerce and the tangible nature of God's blessings.
As a standard liquid measure, the bath was central to ancient Israelite economics, agriculture, and religious ritual. Its estimated volume of about 22 liters made it a significant trade unit for commodities like wine and oil. The biblical insistence on a 'just bath' (Ezekiel 45:10) directly addressed common marketplace fraud, where varying measures exploited the poor. This cultural reality highlights how God's law penetrated everyday economic life.
אֵיפָה (ephah, H374) — The standard dry measure of volume, considered equivalent to the bath for liquids (Ezekiel 45:11). כֹּר (kor, H3734) — A larger dry measure, equal to ten baths or ephahs (Ezekiel 45:14).
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
Full methodology & sources →