4060. middah

Lexical Summary

middah: Measure, measurement, stature, size

Original Word: מִדָּה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: middah
Pronunciation: mid-daw'
Phonetic Spelling: (mid-daw')
KJV: garment, measure(-ing, meteyard, piece, size, (great) stature, tribute, wide
Word Origin: [feminine of H4055 (מַד מֵד - armor)]

1. (properly) extension, i.e. height or breadth
2. also a measure (including its standard)
3. hence a portion (as measured) or a vestment
4. specifically, tribute (as measured)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

garment, measuring, piece, size, great stature, tribute, wide

Feminine of mad; properly, extension, i.e. Height or breadth; also a measure (including its standard); hence a portion (as measured) or a vestment; specifically, tribute (as measured) -- garment, measure(-ing, meteyard, piece, size, (great) stature, tribute, wide.

see HEBREW mad

Brown-Driver-Briggs

I. מִדָּה noun feminine measure, measurement, stature, size, garment (mostly late) — ׳מ Exodus 26:2 35t.; construct מִדַּת Ezekiel 40:21 2t.; plural מִדּוֺת Ezekiel 41:17 12t.; מִדּוֺתָיו Psalm 133:2; מִדּוֺתֶיהָ Ezekiel 48:16; —

1 measure, act of measurement, i.e. long measure Ezekiel 41:17 (strike out Co), Ezekiel 42:15; Ezekiel 48:30,33; compare Joshua 3:4 (P), 1 Chronicles 23:29, see also Leviticus 19:35 (H); once of liquid measure, figurative, Job 28:25; ׳קַו֯ה הַמּ Jeremiah 31:39 measuring-line; ׳חֶבֶל מ Zechariah 2:5 (id.); ׳קְנֵה הַמּ measuring-reed Ezekiel 40:3,5; Ezekiel 42:16 (strike out Co), Ezekiel 42:16; Ezekiel 42:17; Ezekiel 42:18; Ezekiel 42:19.

2 measurement, size of curtains in tabernacle Exodus 26:2,8; Exodus 36:9,15 (all P); compare 1 Kings 6:25; 1 Kings 7:37 (both "" קֶצֶב), 1 Kings 7:9; 1 Kings 7:11; 2Chronicles 3:3; Ezekiel 40:10 (twice in verse); Ezekiel 40:21,22,24,28,29,32,33,35; Ezekiel 43:13; Ezekiel 46:22; Ezekiel 48:16; once of time, מִדַּת יָמַי Psalm 39:5; probably also Job 11:9 (figurative of God's wisdom) where מִדָּהּ = מִדָּתָהּ, compare Sta^{§ 347, approximately 2}; בֵּית מִדּוֺת = house of size Jeremiah 22:14; אִישׁ מִדָּה = man of size, stature, 1 Chronicles 11:23; 1 Chronicles 20:6; so also probably "" 2 Samuel 21:20 (for HCT מדין, Qr מָדוֺן, see [ מַד]), We Dr Kit Bu; plural Numbers 13:32; Isaiah 45:14.

3 measured portion, extent, stretch (of wall) Nehemiah 3:11,19,20,21,24,27,30, compare Ezekiel 45:3.

4 garment (plural poetic) Psalm 133:2.

II. [מִדָּה] noun feminine tribute (loan-word from Assyrian mandattu, id., √ nadânu = נָתַן Dl^{HWB 451}, compare Schr^COT Ezra 4:13; also in Biblical Aramaic מִנְדָּה, ךמדֶּה id.); — מִדַּת הַמֶּלֶךְ Nehemiah 5:4.

מדה (secondary form of מדד; √ of following)

Topical Lexicon

Overview

מִדָּה (mid dah) appears roughly fifty-five times in the Old Testament and consistently speaks of a “measure” in either the literal sense of size, quantity, or weight, or the figurative sense of a determined portion, standard, or rule. Whether used for tabernacle curtains, city borders, fair commerce, or the moral boundaries set by God, מִדָּה underscores that every part of life is meant to conform to an objective, divinely sanctioned scale.

Literal Measurements in Worship Structures

• Exodus 26 employs מִדָּה six times to specify the size of the curtains, boards, and coverings of the tabernacle. By giving precise measures for every component (“The length of each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits, and the width four cubits,” Exodus 26:2), the text highlights that worship is regulated by God, not human whim.
• 1 Kings 7:37, describing Solomon’s temple furnishings, uses מִדָּה to show uniformity among the ten bases for the lavers. The divine dwelling place demanded exact correspondence to the pattern revealed to David (1 Chronicles 28:19).

Measurement of Land and Cities

• In Numbers 35:5 Israel is told to measure “one thousand cubits” around the Levitical cities. מִדָּה thus protects priestly provision and simultaneously restrains greed, embodying ordered generosity.
• Ezekiel’s visionary temple (Ezekiel 40–48) is saturated with measuring (e.g., 42:15), and מִדָּה occurs in 42:15 and 45:11 to establish the ideal, eschatological order. The future temple will stand in perfect conformity to God’s standard, correcting the corrupt measurements of Israel’s past (cf. 45:10-12).

Commercial Honesty and Judicial Equity

• Leviticus 19:35 connects fair measures directly to holiness: “You must not use dishonest standards in measuring length, weight, or volume.”
• Deuteronomy 25:14-15 warns against “a bag of differing weights, one heavy and one light,” for “a full and honest measure” brings longevity in the land.
• Micah 6:10 counts the “short measure that is accursed” among the sins that provoke divine indictment. Economic integrity, therefore, is inseparable from covenant faithfulness.

Human Stature and the Brevity of Life

• 2 Samuel 21:20, describing a giant of “great stature,” uses מִדָּה to mark physical impressiveness—yet even extraordinary size cannot withstand God’s purposes (see 21:22).
• Psalm 39:4 applies the word to life’s duration: “Show me, O LORD, my end and the measure of my days.” Awareness of the limited מִדָּה of earthly existence drives the psalmist to humble dependence on God.

Prophetic Symbolism

• Isaiah 40:12 asks, “Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand?” God’s cosmic measuring renders human pride absurd and comforts the exiles with the assurance that their covenant Lord controls the totality of creation.
• Lamentations 2:21 laments that the young and old lie on the ground “according to the measure” of divine wrath; justice has a fixed quota that will be executed without prejudice.

Theological Themes

1. Divine Order: Every appearance of מִדָּה, whether structural, territorial, or moral, presupposes an absolute scale established by God.
2. Accountability: A wrong measure—literal or figurative—brings swift rebuke (Deuteronomy 25:16).
3. Equity and Mercy: God’s measures are not merely strict; they are proportionate. Jeremiah 30:11 speaks of discipline “in just measure,” blending justice with covenant mercy.
4. Eschatological Hope: Ezekiel’s perfect measurements anticipate a restored creation in which all things align with God’s design.

Ministry Applications

• Preaching: Use texts like Micah 6:10 and Psalm 39:4 to expose both societal injustice and personal finitude, driving listeners to Christ, the one who “with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Mark 4:24).
• Stewardship: Congregational budgets and benevolence policies can apply מִדָּה by adopting transparent, equitable standards that reflect divine fairness.
• Discipleship: Encourage believers to evaluate gifts, time, and talents by God’s “measure of faith” (Romans 12:3), fostering humility and service rather than comparison.
• Social Engagement: Advocacy for honest trade practices echoes the prophetic denunciation of false measures, providing a biblical mandate for economic justice.

Key References for Personal Study

Exodus 26:2, 8, 13; Numbers 35:5; Deuteronomy 25:14-15; 2 Samuel 21:20; 1 Kings 7:37; 2 Chronicles 3:3; Psalm 39:4; Isaiah 40:12; Jeremiah 30:11; Lamentations 2:21; Ezekiel 40:3; 42:15; 45:11; Micah 6:10.

By tracing מִדָּה through Israel’s worship, commerce, land, and prophetic hope, Scripture presents God as the ultimate measurer whose standards are precise, righteous, and gracious. To live faithfully is to bring every dimension of life into conformity with His ordained measure.

Forms and Transliterations

בְּמִדָּֽה׃ בַּמִּדָּ֑ה בַּמִּדָּ֕ה בַּמִּדָּ֤ה במדה במדה׃ הַמִּדָּ֑ה הַמִּדָּ֖ה הַמִּדָּ֗ה הַמִּדָּ֤ה הַמִּדָּֽה׃ הַמִּדָּה֙ המדה המדה׃ וּמִדַּ֣ת וּמִדָּ֥ה וּמִדָּֽה׃ ומדה ומדה׃ ומדת כְּמִדַּ֖ת כְּמִדַּ֣ת כְּמִדֹּ֣ת כְּמִדּ֥וֹת כַּמִּדּ֖וֹת כַּמִּדּ֣וֹת כַּמִּדּ֥וֹת כמדות כמדת לְמִדַּ֣ת למדת מִדָּ֔ה מִדָּ֗ה מִדָּ֣ה מִדָּ֣ה ׀ מִדָּ֥ה מִדָּֽה׃ מִדָּה֒ מִדּ֔וֹת מִדּ֤וֹת מִדּֽוֹת׃ מִדּוֹת֙ מִדּוֹתֶיהָ֒ מִדּוֹתָֽיו׃ מדה מדה׃ מדות מדות׃ מדותיה מדותיו׃ bam·mid·dāh bammidDah bammiddāh bə·mid·dāh bemidDah bəmiddāh ham·mid·dāh hammidDah hammiddāh kam·mid·dō·wṯ kammidDot kammiddōwṯ kə·mid·daṯ kə·mid·dō·wṯ kə·mid·dōṯ kemidDat kəmiddaṯ kemidDot kəmiddōṯ kəmiddōwṯ lə·mid·daṯ lemidDat ləmiddaṯ mid·dāh mid·dō·w·ṯāw mid·dō·w·ṯe·hā mid·dō·wṯ midDah middāh midDot middoTav middoteiHa middōwṯ middōwṯāw middōwṯehā ū·mid·dāh ū·mid·daṯ umidDah ūmiddāh umidDat ūmiddaṯ

Englishman's Concordance

Exodus 26:2
HEB: הַיְרִיעָ֖ה הָאֶחָ֑ת מִדָּ֥ה אַחַ֖ת לְכָל־
NAS: shall have the same measurements.
KJV: shall have one measure.
INT: curtain of each measurements shall have the same all

Exodus 26:8
HEB: הַיְרִיעָ֖ה הָאֶחָ֑ת מִדָּ֣ה אַחַ֔ת לְעַשְׁתֵּ֥י
NAS: shall have the same measurements.
KJV: [shall be all] of one measure.
INT: curtain of each measurements shall have the same eleven

Exodus 36:9
HEB: הַיְרִיעָ֖ה הָאֶחָ֑ת מִדָּ֥ה אַחַ֖ת לְכָל־
NAS: had the same measurements.
KJV: the curtains [were] all of one size.
INT: curtain of each measurements had the same all

Exodus 36:15
HEB: הַיְרִיעָ֣ה הָאֶחָ֑ת מִדָּ֣ה אַחַ֔ת לְעַשְׁתֵּ֥י
NAS: curtains had the same measurements.
KJV: curtains [were] of one size.
INT: curtain of each measurements had the same eleven

Leviticus 19:35
HEB: עָ֖וֶל בַּמִּשְׁפָּ֑ט בַּמִּדָּ֕ה בַּמִּשְׁקָ֖ל וּבַמְּשׂוּרָֽה׃
NAS: in judgment, in measurement of weight,
KJV: in judgment, in meteyard, in weight,
INT: wrong judgment measurement of weight capacity

Numbers 13:32
HEB: בְתוֹכָ֖הּ אַנְשֵׁ֥י מִדּֽוֹת׃
NAS: we saw in it are men of [great] size.
KJV: in it [are] men of a great stature.
INT: it are men of size

Joshua 3:4
HEB: כְּאַלְפַּ֥יִם אַמָּ֖ה בַּמִּדָּ֑ה אַֽל־ תִּקְרְב֣וּ
NAS: cubits by measure. Do not come near
KJV: cubits by measure: come not near
INT: thousand cubits measure not come

1 Kings 6:25
HEB: הַכְּר֖וּב הַשֵּׁנִ֑י מִדָּ֥ה אַחַ֛ת וְקֶ֥צֶב
NAS: were of the same measure and the same
KJV: [were] of one measure and one
INT: cherub the other measure the same form

1 Kings 7:9
HEB: אֲבָנִ֤ים יְקָרֹת֙ כְּמִדֹּ֣ת גָּזִ֔ית מְגֹרָר֥וֹת
NAS: of stone cut according to measure, sawed
KJV: stones, according to the measures of hewed stones,
INT: stones costly to measure of stone sawed

1 Kings 7:11
HEB: אֲבָנִ֧ים יְקָר֛וֹת כְּמִדּ֥וֹת גָּזִ֖ית וָאָֽרֶז׃
NAS: stone cut according to measure, and cedar.
KJV: stones, after the measures of hewed stones,
INT: stones were costly to measure stone and cedar

1 Kings 7:37
HEB: מוּצָ֨ק אֶחָ֜ד מִדָּ֥ה אַחַ֛ת קֶ֥צֶב
NAS: casting, one measure and one form.
KJV: casting, one measure, [and] one size.
INT: casting had one measure one form

1 Chronicles 11:23
HEB: הַמִּצְרִ֜י אִ֥ישׁ מִדָּ֣ה ׀ חָמֵ֣שׁ בָּאַמָּ֗ה
NAS: a man of [great] stature five
KJV: a man of [great] stature, five
INT: an Egyptian A man of stature five cubits

1 Chronicles 20:6
HEB: וַיְהִ֣י ׀ אִ֣ישׁ מִדָּ֗ה וְאֶצְבְּעֹתָ֤יו שֵׁשׁ־
NAS: where there was a man of [great] stature who had twenty-four
KJV: where was a man of [great] stature, whose fingers
INT: there was A man of stature fingers six

1 Chronicles 23:29
HEB: וּלְכָל־ מְשׂוּרָ֖ה וּמִדָּֽה׃
NAS: and all measures of volume
KJV: and for all manner of measure and size;
INT: and all of volume measures

2 Chronicles 3:3
HEB: הָאֹ֡רֶךְ אַמּ֞וֹת בַּמִּדָּ֤ה הָרִֽאשׁוֹנָה֙ אַמּ֣וֹת
NAS: according to the old standard [was] sixty
KJV: after the first measure [was] threescore
INT: the length cubits standard to the old cubits

Nehemiah 3:11
HEB: מִדָּ֣ה שֵׁנִ֗ית הֶחֱזִיק֙
NAS: another section and the Tower
KJV: the other piece, and the tower
INT: section another repaired

Nehemiah 3:19
HEB: שַׂ֥ר הַמִּצְפָּ֖ה מִדָּ֣ה שֵׁנִ֑ית מִנֶּ֕גֶד
NAS: another section in front
KJV: another piece over against the going up
INT: the official of Mizpah section another front

Nehemiah 3:20
HEB: (זַכַּ֖י ק) מִדָּ֣ה שֵׁנִ֑ית מִן־
NAS: another section, from the Angle
KJV: the other piece, from the turning
INT: the son Zabbai section another from

Nehemiah 3:21
HEB: בֶּן־ הַקּ֖וֹץ מִדָּ֣ה שֵׁנִ֑ית מִפֶּ֙תַח֙
NAS: another section, from the doorway
KJV: another piece, from the door
INT: the son of Hakkoz section another the doorway

Nehemiah 3:24
HEB: בֶּן־ חֵנָדָ֖ד מִדָּ֣ה שֵׁנִ֑ית מִבֵּ֣ית
NAS: another section, from the house
KJV: another piece, from the house
INT: the son of Henadad section another the house

Nehemiah 3:27
HEB: הֶחֱזִ֥יקוּ הַתְּקֹעִ֖ים מִדָּ֣ה שֵׁנִ֑ית מִנֶּ֜גֶד
NAS: another section in front
KJV: another piece, over against the great
INT: repaired the Tekoites section another front

Nehemiah 3:30
HEB: צָלָ֛ף הַשִּׁשִּׁ֖י מִדָּ֣ה שֵׁנִ֑י ס
NAS: another section. After
KJV: another piece. After
INT: of Zalaph the sixth section another After

Nehemiah 5:4
HEB: לָוִ֥ינוּ כֶ֖סֶף לְמִדַּ֣ת הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ שְׂדֹתֵ֖ינוּ
NAS: for the king's tax [on] our fields
KJV: for the king's tribute, [and that upon] our lands
INT: have borrowed money tax the king's our fields

Job 28:25
HEB: וּ֝מַ֗יִם תִּכֵּ֥ן בְּמִדָּֽה׃
NAS: And meted out the waters by measure,
KJV: and he weigheth the waters by measure.
INT: the waters and meted measure

Psalm 39:4
HEB: יְהוָ֨ה ׀ קִצִּ֗י וּמִדַּ֣ת יָמַ֣י מַה־
NAS: And what is the extent of my days;
KJV: mine end, and the measure of my days,
INT: LORD my end is the extent of my days and what

55 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 4060
55 Occurrences

bam·mid·dāh — 3 Occ.
bə·mid·dāh — 1 Occ.
ham·mid·dāh — 9 Occ.
kam·mid·dō·wṯ — 6 Occ.
kə·mid·daṯ — 2 Occ.
kə·mid·dōṯ — 2 Occ.
lə·mid·daṯ — 1 Occ.
mid·dāh — 21 Occ.
mid·dō·wṯ — 5 Occ.
mid·dō·w·ṯāw — 1 Occ.
mid·dō·w·ṯe·hā — 1 Occ.
ū·mid·dāh — 2 Occ.
ū·mid·daṯ — 1 Occ.