Lexical Summary batos: measures Original Word: βάτος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance a measure for liquids. Of Hebrew origin (bath); a bath, or measure for liquids -- measure. see HEBREW bath HELPS Word-studies 943 bátos – a liquid measure, between eight and nine gallons (72 sextarii, Souter). A bath (batos) was divided into 6 hina (about a gallon each), or 12 logs (about a half-gallon each). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof Hebrew origin bath Definition a bath, an Isr. liquid measure NASB Translation measures (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 943: βάτος (2)βάτος (2), βάτου, ὁ, Hebrew בַּת a bath (A. V. measure), a Jewish measure of liquids containing 72 sextarii (between 8 and 9 gallons) (Josephus, Antiquities 8, 2, 9): Luke 16:6 (see B. D. under the word Topical Lexicon Definition and Equivalency Βάτος (batos) functions in the New Testament as the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew liquid measure “bath.” Ancient Near-Eastern texts, biblical and extrabiblical, place the bath at about one-tenth of a homer and equal to an ephah when measuring solids. Archaeological jar-remains marked “bt” confirm a capacity in the range of 34–40 liters (roughly nine U.S. gallons). It was the largest standard household liquid container in Israelite society, suitable for commodities such as wine and olive oil. Old Testament Background of the Bath Measure The bath first appears in descriptions of Solomon’s temple furnishings: “Its rim was a handbreadth thick, and its basin was shaped like a lily blossom. It held two thousand baths” (1 Kings 7:26). Later prophets employ the bath in covenantal critiques of economic injustice (Isaiah 5:10) and in Ezekiel’s vision of a restored sanctuary, where standardized baths guarantee righteousness in commerce (Ezekiel 45:10-14; 46:5-11). Thus, from the outset the unit symbolizes both abundance and accountability before the Lord. Occurrence in the New Testament Luke 16:6 contains the only appearance of βάτος in the Greek canon: “He replied, ‘A hundred baths of olive oil.’ The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and write fifty.’” The Lord Jesus selects the bath deliberately. Olive oil was one of the costliest staples in first-century Galilee; a debt of one hundred baths represents several years of an ordinary laborer’s wages, emphasizing the high stakes in the parable of the dishonest steward. Economic and Daily Life Context In agrarian Palestine a bath of oil or wine reflected not mere subsistence but commercial trade. Estates measured harvest yields in baths to calculate tithes, taxes, and rental payments. Because the bath served as the standard for liquid levies, its misuse—by short-measuring or altering ledgers—constituted fraud against both neighbor and God (cf. Leviticus 19:35-36). Theological and Practical Implications 1. Integrity in stewardship: The unjust manager’s alteration of a hundred baths to fifty illustrates how dishonesty can appear advantageous yet ultimately faces divine scrutiny. Historical and Archaeological Insights • Jar handles stamped with the royal LMLK seal (eighth–seventh century B.C.) indicate government-controlled bath measures for taxation. Comparative Measurements in Scripture Bath (liquid) = Ephah (dry) ≈ 1⁄10 Homer 1 Homer (cor) ≈ 10 Baths 1 Bath ≈ 12 Logs (Levitical priestly unit) These ratios ensured uniformity across commodities, guarding Israel against “differing weights and measures” (Deuteronomy 25:13-16). Discipleship and Stewardship Applications • Financial transparency: Followers of Christ must keep “accurate baths” in modern accounting, reflecting the character of the God who “desires truth in the inmost being” (Psalm 51:6). Strong’s Greek 943, though appearing only once, opens a window on the biblical world of commerce, worship, and ethical living—an enduring reminder that God gauges both our measures and our motives. Forms and Transliterations βατους βάτους βατών batous bátousLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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