Topical Bible: Measure: A Finger

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In biblical times, measurements were often based on the human body, providing a practical and accessible means of quantifying length. One such unit of measurement was the "finger," which is a smaller subdivision of the cubit. The finger, as a unit, is generally understood to be approximately 0.75 inches or 1.9 centimeters, though exact measurements could vary slightly depending on the region and period.

The finger is part of a broader system of measurements that includes the cubit, which is typically the length from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, approximately 18 inches or 45 centimeters. The finger, therefore, is one twenty-fourth of a cubit. This system of measurement is reflected in various ancient cultures, including the Egyptians and Babylonians, and is evident in the biblical text.

While the Bible does not frequently mention the "finger" as a standalone unit of measurement, it is implicit in the broader context of biblical measurements. The use of body-based measurements underscores the practical and everyday nature of biblical life, where such units were easily understood by all.

In the construction of the Tabernacle and the Temple, precise measurements were crucial, and the finger would have been a part of this meticulous planning. For instance, in Exodus 25-30, God provides Moses with detailed instructions for the Tabernacle's construction, emphasizing the importance of exact measurements. Although the term "finger" is not explicitly mentioned in these passages, the precision required would have necessitated the use of smaller units like the finger.

The concept of the finger as a measure also appears metaphorically in Scripture. In the New Testament, Jesus uses the imagery of the finger to convey spiritual truths. In Luke 11:20 , Jesus says, "But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you." Here, the "finger of God" symbolizes divine power and authority, emphasizing the might and presence of God in the world.

The finger, as a unit of measure, reflects the biblical emphasis on order, precision, and the integration of the divine with the practical aspects of daily life. It serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness of the physical and spiritual realms, where even the smallest measures hold significance in the unfolding of God's plan.

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Jeremiah 52:21
And concerning the pillars, the height of one pillar was eighteen cubits; and a fillet of twelve cubits did compass it; and the thickness thereof was four fingers: it was hollow.
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Argument. --And That, Although Scripture Often Changes the Divine ...
... Scripture Often Changes the Divine Appearance into a Human Form, Yet the Measure
of the ... when there are given to Moses the tables "written with the finger of God ...
/.../chapter vi argument and that although.htm

Finger-Posts
... Finger-Posts. The Parable of the Finger-Posts. ... The prayer itself is answered,
and then some added touch is given for full measure. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on following the christ/finger-posts.htm

Earthly Things May be the Type of Heavenly, but the Latter Cannot ...
... in the hollow of His hand. Who perceives the measure of His right hand? Who
knoweth His finger? Or who doth understand His hand,"that ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xix earthly things may be.htm

The Original Cause of all Things is from God.
... any one be this, unless He with whom primarily rests the measure, number, and ... which
even the magicians themselves confessed, saying, "This is the finger of God ...
/.../augustine/on the holy trinity/chapter 9 the original cause of.htm

Of the Third Seal.
... From so uncertain a measure as the ch??nix, how is it possible that any thing should
be ... that if ever he saw a judge who was a thief; he had his finger ready to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mede/a key to the apocalypse/of the third seal.htm

The Gradual Healing of the Blind Man
... measure of your humble, confident desire, until at last He takes you by the hand
and leads you out of this poor little village of a world and lays His finger ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/the gradual healing of the.htm

Sermon for the Fourth Sunday after Trinity
... God touches this brimming vessel with His finger, and it overflows, and pours itself ...
or angels possess is lost to them, but all is poured into their measure. ...
/.../xx sermon for the fourth.htm

Symmetry of the Body.
... again, how an equal measure is preserved on either side, that is, the right and
the left, so that foot answers to foot, hand to hand, and even finger to finger ...
/.../unknown/recognitions of clement /chapter xxix symmetry of the body.htm

Unbelieving Belief
... only the end of her finger-nail that was laid on the robe, carried away with her
the blessing. And so the feeblest faith joins the soul, in the measure of its ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/unbelieving belief.htm

John Chapter xx. 10-29.
... But the hour had now come when the joy, in some measure announced by the ... 1924] or
when He said to Thomas the disciple, "Reach hither thy finger, and behold my ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate cxxi john chapter xx.htm