The cubit is an ancient unit of measurement frequently mentioned in the Bible, serving as a standard for measuring length and distance. The term "cubit" is derived from the Latin word "cubitum," meaning "elbow," as the measurement is traditionally based on the length of the forearm from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger. This unit was commonly used in various ancient cultures, including the Hebrews, Egyptians, and Babylonians.

Biblical References and Usage

The cubit is referenced numerous times throughout the Scriptures, often in the context of construction, dimensions, and descriptions of sacred objects. One of the earliest mentions is found in the account of Noah's Ark: "And this is how you are to build it: The ark is to be three hundred cubits long, fifty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high" (Genesis 6:15). This passage highlights the use of the cubit in specifying the dimensions of the ark, a vessel of great significance in the biblical narrative.

In the construction of the Tabernacle, the cubit is again employed as a standard measure. Exodus 26:16 states, "Each frame is to be ten cubits long and a cubit and a half wide." The detailed instructions for the Tabernacle's construction underscore the importance of precise measurements in the worship and service of God.

The Temple built by Solomon also utilized the cubit as a unit of measurement. In 1 Kings 6:2, the dimensions of the Temple are given: "The house that King Solomon built for the LORD was sixty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high." The use of the cubit in these sacred constructions reflects its role in ensuring the proper proportions and sanctity of spaces dedicated to God.

Variations in Length

The length of a cubit varied across different cultures and periods. In general, the standard cubit is estimated to be approximately 18 inches (45.72 centimeters). However, there was also a "long cubit," which is believed to have been about 21 inches (53.34 centimeters). This variation is noted in Ezekiel 40:5, where the prophet describes a measuring rod: "And behold, there was a wall surrounding the temple area. The measuring rod in the man’s hand was six cubits long, each of which was a cubit and a handbreadth."

Symbolic and Theological Significance

Beyond its practical application, the cubit holds symbolic significance in the biblical text. It represents the human element in divine instructions, as it is based on the human body. The use of the cubit in the construction of sacred spaces and objects signifies the intersection of the divine and the human, where God's instructions are carried out through human agency.

The cubit also serves as a reminder of the order and precision inherent in God's creation. The meticulous measurements prescribed for the Ark, the Tabernacle, and the Temple reflect the divine order and the importance of obedience to God's commands. In this way, the cubit is not merely a measure of distance but a testament to the relationship between God and His people, where human efforts align with divine will.Genesis 6:16
A window shall you make to the ark, and in a cubit shall you finish it above; and the door of the ark shall you set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shall you make it.
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Deuteronomy 3:11
For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of giants; behold his bedstead was a bedstead of iron; is it not in Rabbath of the children of Ammon? nine cubits was the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man.
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Ezekiel 40:5
And behold a wall on the outside of the house round about, and in the man's hand a measuring reed of six cubits long by the cubit and an hand breadth: so he measured the breadth of the building, one reed; and the height, one reed.
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Ezekiel 43:13
And these are the measures of the altar after the cubits: The cubit is a cubit and an hand breadth; even the bottom shall be a cubit, and the breadth a cubit, and the border thereof by the edge thereof round about shall be a span: and this shall be the higher place of the altar.
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Revelation 21:17
And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.
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4083. pechus -- the forearm, ie a cubit
... 4083 -- "traditionally the distance from the elbow to the end of the fingers, about ...
Of uncertain affinity; the fore-arm, ie (as a measure) a cubit -- cubit. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4083.htm - 6k

'According To' --II.
... What a Jew calls a 'cubit' an Englishman calls a 'foot ... chains of dread; it has bridged
over the infinite distance. ... of His grace,'"there is the measure of our ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/according toii.htm

Concerning the Tabernacle which Moses Built in the Wilderness for ...
... of those who viewed these curtains at a distance, for they ... Its breadth on each side
was a cubit, but the ... within made of wood, five cubits by measure on each ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 6 concerning the tabernacle.htm

He who Asserts that the Father is Prior' to the Son with any ...
... end of the lesser lying alongside of it we measure this excess ... it up to the end of
the longer; a cubit for instance, or whatever be the distance of the ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 25 he who asserts.htm

A Description of the Temple.
... while the entire compass of it was by measure six furlongs ... when they were coming
to it at a distance, like a ... also a wall of partition, about a cubit in height ...
/.../chapter 5 a description of 2.htm

The Creation of Luminous Bodies.
... appear dwarfed to our eyes, and in measure as they ... of the earth see it at the same
distance. ... mere appearance, and because it looks a cubit's breadth, imagine ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/homily vi the creation of.htm

The First Sign --The Marriage in Cana.
... met Him to Cana of Galilee was a distance of twenty ... untroubled days at Nazareth He
had taken the measure of this ... his spots, nor one of us add a cubit to his ...
/.../v the first signthe marriage.htm

Christianity Misunderstood by Men of Science.
... of the circumference should be an equal distance from the ... you by taking thought can
add one cubit onto his ... possible for man according to the measure in which ...
/.../the kingdom of god is within you/chapter iv christianity misunderstood by.htm

"Boast not Thyself of to Morrow, for Thou Knowest not what a Day ...
... is, to eternity, which is the only just measure of the ... sand blind,"can see nothing
at such a distance as beyond ... make one hair black, nor add one cubit to thy ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon vii boast not thyself.htm

Appendix. An Ordination Charge.
... But it is marvellous how soon the measure of a man is ... He cannot by taking thought
add one cubit to his ... off, and the noises recede into the distance; peace comes ...
/.../stalker/the preacher and his models/appendix an ordination charge.htm

Job's Regret and Our Own
... laxity of spirit, and walk at a distance from God ... that every Christian must backslide
in a measure, and that ... If you cannot add a cubit to your spiritual stature ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/jobs regret and our own.htm

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