Handbreadth

How Nave’s arranged it

• A measure (about four inches)Exodus 25:251 Kings 7:262 Chronicles 4:5Psalms 39:5Isaiah 48:13Ezekiel 40:5Ezekiel 40:43Jeremiah 52:21
• See Span, Fingerbreadth

The passages, in Bible order (8)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 8 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Exodus 25:25

   And make a rim around it a handbreadth wide and put a gold molding on the rim.

   Verse page →Original language →

2. 1 Kings 7:26

   It was a handbreadth thick, and its rim was fashioned like the brim of a cup, like a lily blossom. It could hold two thousand baths.

   ›Commentary on 1 Kings 7:262 voices

   “For by the brim of a cup is expressed the taste of the Lord's passion, and by the leaf of a crisped lily the glory of his resurrection is openly revealed. For that the chalice of his passion is indicated in the cup is attested …

   “The palm or hand-breadth seems to have a little exceeded three inches. With flowers of lilies - Rather, “in the shape of a lily flower.” The rim was slightly curved outward, like the rim of an ordinary drinking-cup, or the edge of a lily blossom. See 2Ch 4:5 margin.

   Everything gathered on 1 Kings 7:26→

   Verse page →Original language →

3. 2 Chronicles 4:5

   It was a handbreadth thick, and its rim was fashioned like the brim of a cup, like a lily blossom. It could hold three thousand baths.

   ›Commentary on 2 Chronicles 4:52 voices

   “Three thousand baths - See 1Ki 7:23 note. It is quite possible that either here or in Kings the text may have been accidentally corrupted.

   “The Holy Ghost by this signified, (1.) Our great gospel privilege, that the blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin, 1 John i. To us there is a fountain opened for all believers (who are spiritual priests, Rev. i. 5, 6 ), nay, for all the inhabitants of Jerusalem to wash in, from sin, which is uncleanness.

   Everything gathered on 2 Chronicles 4:5→

   Verse page →Original language →

4. Psalms 39:5

   You, indeed, have made my days as handbreadths, and my lifetime as nothing before You. Truly each man at his best exists as but a breath. Selah

   ›Commentary on Psalms 39:52 voices

   “Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth. Upon consideration, the psalmist finds little room to bewail the length of life, but rather to bemoan its shortness. What changeful creatures we are! One moment we cry to be rid of existence, and the next instant beg to have it prolonged! A handbreadth is one of the shortest natural measures, being the breadth of four fingers; such is the brevity of life, by divine appointment; God hath made it so, fixing the period in wisdom.

   “But, addressing God, they are softened and subdued. make me to know mine end--experimentally appreciate. how frail I am--literally, "when I shall cease." 5, 6. His prayer is answered in his obtaining an impressive view of the vanity of the life of all men, and their transient state. Their pomp is a mere image, and their wealth is gathered they know not for whom.

   Everything gathered on Psalms 39:5→

   Verse page →Original language →

5. Isaiah 48:13

   Surely My own hand founded the earth, and My right hand spread out the heavens; when I summon them, they stand up together.

   ›Commentary on Isaiah 48:132 voices

   Now the hand and the right arm is what God the Father calls his Son. And we often find him so called throughout Scripture. The divine Moses said, "Your right hand has been glorified in might, your right hand has shattered the enemies," and David the blessed said, "May your hand be strengthened, may your right arm be lifted up."

   “Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth,.... Which is ascribed to the Wisdom, Word, and Son of God, Pro 3:

   Everything gathered on Isaiah 48:13→

   Verse page →Original language →

6. Jeremiah 52:21

   Each pillar was eighteen cubits tall and twelve cubits in circumference; each was hollow, four fingers thick.

   ›Commentary on Jeremiah 52:212 voices

   “And concerning the pillars, the height of one pillar was eighteen cubits,.... As in 1Ki 7:15; said to be thirty five, 2Ch 3:15; of the reconciliation of which; see Gill on 2Ch 3:15, and a fillet of twelve cubits did compass it; a thread or line of that measure encompassed each of the pillars, 1Ki 7:15; and the thickness thereof was four fingers; either of the pillar, or the fillet about it; that is, the brass of it was four fingers thick: it was hollow; that is, the pillar was hollow.

   “The fillet means a measuring line; the pillars were 12 cubits, i. e., 18 feet, in circumference, and thus the diameter would be 5 feet 9 inches. As the brass was four fingers, i. e., scarcely four inches thick, the hollow center would be more than five feet in diameter.

   Everything gathered on Jeremiah 52:21→

   Verse page →Original language →

7. Ezekiel 40:5

   And I saw a wall surrounding the temple area. Now the length of the measuring rod in the man’s hand was six long cubits (each measuring a cubit and a handbreadth), and he measured the wall to be one rod thick and one rod high.

   ›Commentary on Ezekiel 40:52 voices

   “A wall - This was that outmost wall, that compassed the whole mount Sion, upon whose top the temple stood. The man's hand - Christ, hath, and keeps the reed in his own hand, as the only fit person to take the measures of all. A measuring reed - Or cane, for this measuring rod was of those canes growing in that country, long, and light, which architects made use of.

   “The boundary wall of the temple-courts. See Plan II. A wall on the outside of the house - The wall enclosing the courts in which were the entrance gates. By the cubit and an hand breadth - The Jews first used a cubit of fifteen inches, applying it principally to the vessels and furniture of the temple; next a cubit of eighteen inches (“a hand-breadth” longer than the former cubit); and lastly, after the captivity, the Babylonian cubit of twenty-one inches (a “hand-breadth” more).

   Everything gathered on Ezekiel 40:5→

   Verse page →Original language →

8. Ezekiel 40:43

   The double-pronged hooks, each a handbreadth long, were fastened all around the inside of the room, and the flesh of the offering was to be placed on the tables.

   ›Commentary on Ezekiel 40:432 voices

   “Hooks - The alternative renderings given in the margin indicate the doubtfulness of the translation of the original word. The form is dual, and indicates that it is some object usually found in pairs. Some suggest that they were borders or ledges set, on either side of the tables, a handbreadth from the edges, to prevent the instruments placed on them from falling off.

   “Within - Within the porch, where these tables stood. Hooks - Hooks on which the slaughtered sacrifice might be hanged, while they prepared it farther.

   Everything gathered on Ezekiel 40:43→

   Verse page →Original language →