זֶרֶתzereth
the spread of the fingers, i.e. a span
Pronunciation: zeh'-reth · Hebrew/Aramaic (Old Testament) · H2239
Meanings
as standard of measurement, elsewhere of actual size, a span, distance between ends of thumb and little finger of spread hand; = 1/2 cubit (Isaiah 40:12; Exodus 25:10; Exodus 28:16; Exodus 39:9; Ezekiel 43:13)
Same root
Where it appears
Appears 7 times in the Bible.
- Exodus 28:16 Make the chestpiece of a single piece of cloth folded to form a pouch nine inches square.
- Exodus 39:9 He made the chestpiece of a single piece of cloth folded to form a pouch nine inches square.
- 1 Samuel 17:4 Then Goliath, a Philistine champion from Gath, came out of the Philistine ranks to face the forces of Israel. He was over nine feet tall!
- Isaiah 40:12 Who else has held the oceans in his hand? Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers? Who else knows the weight of the earth or has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale?
- Ezekiel 43:13 “These are the measurements of the altar: There is a gutter all around the altar 21 inches deep and 21 inches wide, with a curb 9 inches wide around its edge. And this is the height of the altar:
Source: Brown, Driver and Briggs, Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), public domain; markup by unfoldingWord, CC BY (github.com/unfoldingWord/Brown-Driver-Briggs-Enhanced).