Lexical Summary ammah: cubits Original Word: אַמָּה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance cubit (Aramaic) corresponding to 'ammah -- cubit. see HEBREW 'ammah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to ammah Definition a cubit NASB Translation cubits (4). Topical Lexicon Meaning and Concept אַמָּה denotes the ordinary “cubit,” the basic linear measure of the ancient Near East, commonly reckoned from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger. The term appears sparingly in the Hebrew-Aramaic sections of the Old Testament yet anchors two pivotal narratives—one devoted to true worship, the other to idolatry. Historical Cubit Standards Archaeology confirms more than one cubit in use: Persian imperial decrees (Ezra 6) and Babylonian court records (Daniel 3) naturally reflect their own standards; nevertheless, Scripture communicates in terms readily understood by its first readers, underscoring that God’s truth transcends fluctuating human units. Biblical Occurrences 1. Ezra 6:3. King Cyrus’ decree specifies that the Second Temple’s “height shall be sixty cubits, and its width sixty cubits”. The cubit supplies the pattern for rebuilding God’s house. However large or small the exact standard, the measurement embodies heaven-given order, reaffirming that worship must conform to divine revelation, not human fancy. 2. Ezra 6:3 (repetition in the Aramaic clause). The doubled occurrence stresses both the Persian king’s written record and its faithful Hebrew transmission. The inspired text treats secular archives as divinely orchestrated instruments safeguarding God’s redemptive program. 3. Daniel 3:1. Nebuchadnezzar’s monument is “ninety feet high and nine feet wide” (BSB; literally sixty and six cubits). Here the same unit that serves temple construction magnifies human pride. The contrast is intentional: the cubit links the edifice of holy worship with the colossus of idolatry, forcing the reader to choose allegiance. 4. Daniel 3:1 (second appearance within the verse). The width repeats the unit, highlighting the grotesque proportions of man-made religion. Theological and Ministry Implications Accuracy in measurement illustrates the broader biblical theme that God is concerned with details. From the ark of Noah to the curtains of the tabernacle, precise dimensions signify that God’s worship cannot be reimagined at will. When Cyrus mandates sixty cubits, he unknowingly aligns imperial policy with the prophetic word (Isaiah 44:28; 45:13). Conversely, Nebuchadnezzar’s sixty-by-six monstrosity caricatures divine order, foreshadowing apocalyptic rebellion symbolized by the number six (Revelation 13:18). Typological Perspectives • Temple cubits look forward to the greater Temple, Jesus Christ, in whom “all the fullness of the Deity dwells bodily” (Colossians 2:9). Practical Lessons for Believers 1. God’s measurements matter. Whether translating into modern units or planning church ministries, faithfulness requires honoring the pattern revealed in Scripture. Forms and Transliterations אַמִּ֣ין אַמִּ֥ין אמין ’am·mîn ’ammîn amMinLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 6:3 HEB: מְסֽוֹבְלִ֑ין רוּמֵהּ֙ אַמִּ֣ין שִׁתִּ֔ין פְּתָיֵ֖הּ NAS: being 60 cubits and its width KJV: thereof threescore cubits, [and] the breadth INT: laid the height cubits the breadth Ezra 6:3 Daniel 3:1 Daniel 3:1 4 Occurrences |
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