βάτος

a "bath," a liquid measure between eight and nine gallons

Definition

Βάτος (batos) is a Greek noun referring to a 'bath,' a specific unit of liquid measurement used in the ancient Jewish world. In the New Testament, it consistently denotes this fixed capacity, equivalent to about 8-9 gallons (or 72 sextarii). This measurement is used exclusively in the context of agricultural produce, specifically olive oil, in Jesus's parable of the shrewd manager (Luke 16:6). There are no other distinct meanings or metaphorical uses of this term in the biblical text; it functions purely as a technical measurement.

Biblical Usage

This word appears only once in the New Testament, in Luke 16:6. It is used in a financial and agricultural context within a parable. A debtor is reported to owe one hundred 'baths' of olive oil. The usage is straightforward and literal, serving to quantify a tangible commodity in a story about debt and resource management.

Etymology

The word βάτος (batos) is a direct borrowing from the Hebrew unit of measure 'bath' (בַּת, H1324). It entered Greek through the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament), where it was used to translate this Hebrew dry and liquid measure. Its meaning did not develop further in Greek; it remained a technical term for this specific capacity.

Semantic Range

The 'bath' was a standard liquid measure in ancient Judah and Israel, used for trade, taxation, and religious offerings (e.g., 1 Kings 7:26, Ezekiel 45:10-11). Understanding its capacity (roughly 8-9 gallons) helps modern readers grasp the scale of the debt in Jesus's parable—100 baths was a very large quantity of valuable olive oil, representing significant wealth or obligation. This concrete detail grounds the parable in real economic life.

μέτρον (metron, G3358) — A general term for any measure or standard, not a specific unit like the bath. χοῖνιξ (choinix, G5518) — A different, smaller dry measure (about a quart), used in Revelation 6:6.

Word Details

Scripture References