לֹג
a log or measure forliquids
Definition
A 'log' (לֹג) was a specific unit of liquid measure used in ancient Israel, roughly equivalent to about half a liter or a pint. It is the smallest liquid measure mentioned in the Bible. The word appears exclusively in the context of ritual purification, specifically in the detailed instructions for cleansing a person or a house from skin disease (צָרָעַת, often translated as leprosy) as outlined in Leviticus 14. In these passages, the log is used to measure oil for anointing during the purification ceremony.
Biblical Usage
The word לֹג is used only five times in the Old Testament, all within Leviticus 14 (verses 10, 12, 15, 21, 24). Its usage is highly specific and ritualistic. It is always paired with 'oil' (שֶׁמֶן) and describes a precise amount to be used in the multi-stage cleansing ritual for a person or house recovering from a serious skin affliction. For example, Leviticus 14:10 instructs the priest to take 'one log of oil' as part of the offering.
Etymology
The noun לֹג likely derives from an unused root meaning 'to hollow out' or 'to deepen,' suggesting a container for holding liquid. This connects it conceptually to other Hebrew words for vessels, such as כַּד (kad, H3537), meaning a jar or pitcher. The term is a loanword, borrowed into Hebrew from an older Semitic language (likely Akkadian), reflecting the shared systems of measurement in the ancient Near East.
Semantic Range
While a simple unit of measure, the לֹג gains theological significance through its exclusive use in the Levitical purification rites. Its precise specification underscores the holiness and order required in approaching God. The ritual, which uses this measured oil for anointing the right ear, thumb, and toe (Leviticus 14:14-17), points to the need for complete cleansing and consecration. Understanding this small detail enriches the reading of Leviticus by highlighting how God's grace in restoration is applied meticulously and completely to the restored individual.
In its original setting, the log was part of a standardized system of dry and liquid measures (e.g., ephah, hin, bath). Its small size made it suitable for personal, household, or precise ritual use, unlike larger measures for trade. The consistent use of a 'log of oil' in purification laws shows that ritual purity required specific, accessible resources, making the process tangible for every Israelite, regardless of wealth (as seen in the adjusted offering for the poor in Leviticus 14:21).
הִין (hîn, H1969) — a larger liquid measure, equal to about 6 logs. בַּת (bath, H1324) — a standard liquid measure for trade, equal to 6 hins or 36 logs. אֵיפָה (ʼêphâh, H374) — a standard dry measure, showing the parallel systems of volume.
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 →