Lexical Summary seah: Seah Original Word: סְאָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance measure From an unused root meaning to define; a seah, or certain measure (as determinative) for grain -- measure. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition seah (a measure of flour or grain) NASB Translation measure (3), measures (6). Brown-Driver-Briggs סְאָה noun feminine (see below) se'ah, a measure of flour, grain, etc. (√ unknown; perhaps foreign word; Late Hebrew id.; Aramaic סְאָה, סָאתָא,  ,  ,  (Greek σάτον, LewyFremdwörter 116 f)); — absolute סְאָהֿ 2 Kings 7:1,16, וּסֳאָהֿ 2 Kings 7:18 (Baer Ginsb compare Ges§ 10h); dual סָאתַיִם 1 Kings 18:32 3t.; plural סְאִים Genesis 18:6; 1 Samuel 25:18; — always with appositive of thing measured, Genesis 18:6 (J), 1 Samuel 25:18; 1 Kings 18:32; 2 Kings 7:1 (twice in verse); 2 Kings 7:16 (twice in verse); 2 Kings 7:18 (twice in verse) (where apparently masculine, perhaps after analogy of other measures of capacity, הִין, תֹמֶר, כֹּר, etc., AlbrZAW xvi (1896), 95); — סַאסְּאָה Isaiah 27:8 see סאסא. — On size of se'ah = 1/3 ephah, = 12.148 litres (= 10.696 qts.), see NowArchaeology i. 203 BenzArchaeology 183. Topical Lexicon Overview The סְאָה (seah) is a dry measure appearing nine times in the Old Testament. Though modest in size—about one-third of an ephah and slightly over six quarts—its scriptural appearances are rich with theological and practical teaching. Metrological Context 1 seah ≈ 7.3 liters ≈ 6.4 U.S. quarts 3 seahs = 1 ephah; 30 seahs = 1 homer. Because grain was Israel’s staple, the seah became a ready symbol of daily life, economy, worship, and prophetic promise. Occurrences in Scripture • Genesis 18:6 Hospitality and Provision Genesis 18:6 records Abraham urging Sarah, “Quick! Knead three measures of fine flour and bake some bread.” The patriarch does not offer a token snack but three seahs—an amount able to feed dozens. The scene sets the gold standard for biblical hospitality: abundance given in faith, not sparse calculation. Likewise, Abigail’s urgent gift to David includes “five seahs of roasted grain” (1 Samuel 25:18), demonstrating how the righteous anticipate need and act generously, averting bloodshed and winning peace. Worship and Sacrifice At Mount Carmel Elijah rebuilt the ruined altar and “made a trench around the altar, large enough to hold two seahs of seed” (1 Kings 18:32). The detail is more than architectural. In a drought-stricken land, Elijah chooses a measurement associated with food security to underscore that true worship acknowledges God as the giver of every harvest. When the fire falls, the God who consumes the sacrifice is also the God who soon ends the famine (1 Kings 18:41-45). Prophetic Economy and Divine Reversal During the Aramean siege of Samaria, starvation made donkey heads a delicacy and dove dung a commodity. Into that hopeless market Elisha prophesied: “About this time tomorrow at the gate of Samaria six quarts of fine flour will sell for a shekel and twelve quarts of barley for a shekel” (2 Kings 7:1). The seah frames the miracle: normal prices will return overnight. Fulfillment comes verbatim (2 Kings 7:16, 2 Kings 7:18). The unit of measure becomes a yardstick of God’s faithfulness—He not only feeds His people but does so at a price they can afford. Christological Foreshadowing Rabbinic tradition later equated the “three seahs” of Genesis 18 with the grain offering. When Jesus describes the kingdom of heaven as leaven hidden “in three measures of flour” (Matthew 13:33), He taps the same imagery: small beginnings permeating the whole. Just as Sarah’s three seahs fed heavenly visitors, the gospel nourishes the world. Practical Ministry Lessons 1. Give generously; God multiplies ordinary measures for extraordinary blessing. Forms and Transliterations וְסָאתַ֧יִם וּֽסְאָה־ וסאה־ וסאתים סְאִים֙ סְאָֽה־ סְאָה־ סָאתַ֣יִם סָאתַ֨יִם סאה־ סאים סאתים sā·ṯa·yim saTayim sāṯayim sə’āh- sə’îm sə·’āh- sə·’îm seah seIm ū·sə·’āh- ūsə’āh- useah vesaTayim wə·sā·ṯa·yim wəsāṯayimLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 18:6 HEB: מַהֲרִ֞י שְׁלֹ֤שׁ סְאִים֙ קֶ֣מַח סֹ֔לֶת NAS: three measures of fine KJV: three measures of fine INT: Quickly three measures meal of fine 1 Samuel 25:18 1 Kings 18:32 2 Kings 7:1 2 Kings 7:1 2 Kings 7:16 2 Kings 7:16 2 Kings 7:18 2 Kings 7:18 9 Occurrences |
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