Span
Definition and Size
The span was one of the basic units of measurement in the ancient Israelite system, defined as half a cubit, or roughly nine inches (23 cm). It was derived from the human body: the distance from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger when the hand is fully extended. This made it a practical, readily available measuring tool in a world without standardized rulers, though the actual measurement could vary slightly depending on the size of the hand.
The Breastpiece of the High Priest
The most prominent use of the span in Scripture appears in the instructions for the high priest's breastpiece. Exodus 28:16 specifies that the breastpiece of judgment was to be "a span long and a span wide" when folded double. This sacred garment held the twelve precious stones representing the tribes of Israel and contained the Urim and Thummim used for seeking divine guidance (Exodus 28:30). The precise dimensions emphasize the careful craftsmanship required for objects used in God's service. The same measurements are repeated in the account of the actual construction (Exodus 39:9).
Measuring Goliath's Height
Perhaps the most memorable use of the span comes in the description of Goliath, the Philistine champion. According to 1 Samuel 17:4, Goliath's height was "six cubits and a span." With a cubit measuring approximately 18 inches, this would make Goliath roughly nine feet nine inches tall. The inclusion of the span in this measurement adds a sense of precision to the narrative, suggesting an eyewitness attempt to record the giant's actual stature rather than a round number.
God's Span and Human Frailty
Isaiah uses the span in a striking metaphor for God's creative power: "Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or marked off the heavens with a span?" (Isaiah 40:12). Here, the span — a small human measurement — becomes ironic when applied to God, who uses it to measure the entire heavens. The image communicates God's incomprehensible greatness: what seems vast to humans is merely a hand's breadth to the Creator.
The Span in the Ancient Measurement System
The Israelite measurement system was based on the human body and progressed from smaller to larger units: the finger (roughly 3/4 inch), the palm or handbreadth (four fingers, about 3 inches), the span (three palms or half a cubit, about 9 inches), and the cubit (two spans or six palms, about 18 inches). This system parallels similar body-based measurements used throughout the ancient Near East, including in Egypt and Mesopotamia.
Biblical Context
The span appears in several significant biblical passages: Exodus 28:16 and 39:9 (dimensions of the high priest's breastpiece), 1 Samuel 17:4 (Goliath's height), Isaiah 40:12 (God measuring the heavens), and Ezekiel 43:13 (dimensions of the altar). It functions as a unit of precise measurement in both practical and theological contexts.
Theological Significance
The span carries theological weight primarily through Isaiah 40:12, where God's ability to measure the heavens with a span illustrates His transcendence over creation. What is a small measurement for human hands becomes a tool of cosmic proportion in God's hand. This imagery reinforces the biblical theme that God is immeasurably greater than His creation and that human standards cannot contain or define Him.
Historical Background
Body-based measurement systems were universal in the ancient world before standardization. Egyptian, Mesopotamian, and Israelite cultures all used the span as a unit of measurement. Archaeological discoveries of ancient measuring rods from Egypt and Mesopotamia confirm that the cubit and its subdivisions, including the span, were formally defined and used in construction, commerce, and record-keeping. The span remained in use as a folk measurement in parts of the Middle East into the modern era.