A furlong is an ancient unit of distance that appears in several passages of the Bible, primarily in the New Testament. The term "furlong" is derived from the Old English "furlang," which means "furrow long," and it traditionally measures 220 yards or 1/8 of a mile. In biblical times, the Greek term "stadion" was used, which is often translated as "furlong" in English versions of the Bible.

Biblical References:

1. John 6:19 · In the account of Jesus walking on water, the disciples are described as having rowed "about three or four miles" , which is approximately 25 to 30 furlongs. This measurement gives readers a sense of the distance the disciples had traveled on the Sea of Galilee before witnessing this miraculous event.

2. Revelation 14:20 · The Book of Revelation uses the term furlong in a symbolic context: "And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses’ bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia" . Here, the measurement of 1,600 stadia, or furlongs, is used to convey the vastness of the judgment and the extent of the devastation.

3. Luke 24:13 · The road to Emmaus narrative mentions that the village of Emmaus was "about seven miles from Jerusalem" , which is approximately 60 furlongs. This detail provides geographical context to the account of the resurrected Jesus appearing to two of His disciples.

Historical and Cultural Context:

In the ancient world, the stadion was a common unit of measurement, used not only in Greece but also throughout the Roman Empire. It was often used to measure racecourses, which were typically about 600 feet long. The use of furlongs in the Bible reflects the influence of Hellenistic culture on the Jewish and early Christian worlds.

Theological Significance:

The use of precise measurements like furlongs in the Bible serves to ground the narratives in real-world geography and distances, enhancing the historical reliability of the accounts. For instance, the mention of furlongs in the context of Jesus' miracles and post-resurrection appearances underscores the tangible reality of these events. Furthermore, in apocalyptic literature such as Revelation, the use of furlongs can carry symbolic weight, emphasizing the magnitude of divine judgment and the fulfillment of prophecy.

Conclusion:

While the term "furlong" may seem archaic to modern readers, its presence in the biblical text provides valuable insights into the historical and cultural context of the Scriptures. Understanding these measurements helps to illuminate the narratives and deepen the reader's appreciation of the biblical message.

The Country of Jericho, and the Situation of the City.
... places, is called the Great Plain, extended from the village Ginnaber to the lake
Asphaltites, in length a thousand two hundred furlongs" (a hundred and fifty ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 46 the country of.htm

A Description of the Sea-Coast, Out of Pliny and Strabo.
... The town itself contains two-and-twenty furlongs. ... Strabo goes backward: "Tyrus is
not distant from Sidon above two hundred furlongs":"five-and-twenty miles. ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 10 a description of.htm

Of the Situation of Tiberias.
... I. Josephus asserts that Hippo (in Perea, ie the country on the other side
Jordan) is distant from Tiberias only thirty furlongs. ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 73 of the situation.htm

That Upon the Conquest and Slaughter of vitellius Vespasian ...
... So Titus marched on foot as far as Nicopolis, which is distant twenty furlongs from
Alexandria; there he put his army on board some long ships, and sailed upon ...
/.../chapter 11 that upon the.htm

The Sea of Sodom
... "The lake Asphaltitis is distant from Jerusalem three hundred furlongs":"
about eight-and-thirty miles. "It is extended in length ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 5 the sea of.htm

The Lake of Gennesaret; Or, the Sea of Galilee and Tiberias.
... and Tiberias. Jordan is measured at one hundred and twenty furlongs, from
the lake of Samochonitis to that of Gennesaret. That lake ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 70 the lake of.htm

Mount Olivet. The Mount of Olives, 2 Samuel 15:30
... "The mount called the mount of Olives, lying over against the city, is distant five
furlongs." But Luke saith, Acts 1:12, "Then they returned from the mount ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 40 mount olivet the.htm

The Northern Coast of Judea. Beth-Horon.
... I. From the city to Scopo (of which we shall speak afterward), is seven furlongs.
II. From Scopo to Gabao, or Geba, forty-three furlongs. ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 19 the northern coast.htm

Caius Commands that his Statue Should be Set up in the Temple ...
... It is encompassed with mountains: that on the east side, sixty furlongs off, belongs
to Galilee; but that on the south belongs to Carmel, which is distant from ...
/.../chapter 10 caius commands that.htm

Acon. Ptolemais.
... also called Acon) "is a city of Galilee on the sea-coast, situate in a great champaign,
but it is compassed with hills; on the east, sixty furlongs off, with ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 64 acon ptolemais.htm

Furlongs (5 Occurrences)
...Furlongs (5 Occurrences). ... Luke 24:13 And, behold, two of them went that same day
to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. ...
/f/furlongs.htm - 7k

Emmaus (1 Occurrence)
... Hot baths, a village "three-score furlongs" from jerusalem, where our Lord had an
interview with two of his disciples on the day of his resurrection (Luke 24:13 ...
/e/emmaus.htm - 10k

Babylon (270 Occurrences)
... Walls and Gates from Herodotus: According to Herodotus, the city, which lay in a
great plain, was square in its plan and measured 120 furlongs (stadia) each way ...
/b/babylon.htm - 93k

King's (375 Occurrences)
... According to Josephus (Ant., VII, x, 3) this was a marble pillar, which he calls
"Absalom's hand" and it was two furlongs from Jerusalem. ...
/k/king's.htm - 46k

Memphis (8 Occurrences)
... the temple of the dynastic god Ptah, which was extended until its enclosure included
as much as the great temple of Amon at Thebes, about 3 furlongs long and 2 ...
/m/memphis.htm - 14k

Nigh (243 Occurrences)
... John 6:19 So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they
see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were ...
/n/nigh.htm - 36k

Babel (3 Occurrences)
... Walls and Gates from Herodotus: According to Herodotus, the city, which lay in a
great plain, was square in its plan and measured 120 furlongs (stadia) each way ...
/b/babel.htm - 63k

Vale (20 Occurrences)
... was also near that city, Josephus writes (Ant., VII, x, 3), "Absalom had erected
for himself a marble pillar in the king's dale, two furlongs (stadia) from ...
/v/vale.htm - 29k

Onwards (9 Occurrences)
... John 6:19 having pushed onwards, therefore, about twenty-five or thirty furlongs,
they behold Jesus walking on the sea, and coming nigh to the boat, and they ...
/o/onwards.htm - 9k

Journey (214 Occurrences)
... The distance of the Mount of Olives from Jerusalem is stated in Josephus (Ant.,
XX, viii, 6) to have been five stadia or furlongs and in BJ, V, ii, 3, six ...
/j/journey.htm - 42k

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