Hebrew word · H4884

מְשׂוּרָה

mesurah

capacity

A measure of capacity, probably a measuring vessel, used especially for liquids. It occurs only 4 times (Lev 19:35; 1 Chr 23:29; Ezek 4:11, 16).

Appears 4 times in 4 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

measure

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Leviticus 19:35

Range of meaning

A measure of capacity, probably a measuring vessel, used especially for liquids. It occurs only 4 times (Lev 19:35; 1 Chr 23:29; Ezek 4:11, 16).

Against the English

KJV 'measure' is vague. YLT 'liquid measure' is the most precise. Modern versions say 'volume', 'quantity' or 'capacity'.

Used elsewhere in the period

Ezek 4:11: 'water by mesurah, a sixth of a hin', strict rationing during siege. 1 Chr 23:29: Levites in charge of 'every measure of capacity and size' (mesurah and middah together) for temple offerings.

Where it appears

Leviticus · 1

  1. Leviticus 19:35 וּבַמְּשׂוּרָֽה׃ and in <the> volume

    You must not use dishonest measures of length, weight, or volume.

    Here: A rare word for a measure of volume, linked elsewhere with water and oil (Ezek 4:11, 16; 1 Chr 23:29). It rounds out the list: length, weight, volume. Every way goods changed hands is covered.

1 Chronicles · 1

  1. 1 Chronicles 23:29 מְשׂוּרָ֖ה measurement

    as well as for the rows of the showbread, the fine flour for the grain offering, the wafers of unleavened bread, the baking, the mixing, and all measurements of quantity and size.

Ezekiel · 2

  1. Ezekiel 4:11 בִּמְשׂוּרָ֥ה by measure

    You are also to measure out a sixth of a hin of water to drink, and you are to drink it at set times.

  2. Ezekiel 4:16 בִּמְשׂוּרָ֥ה by measure

    Then He told me, “Son of man, I am going to cut off the supply of food in Jerusalem. They will anxiously eat bread rationed by weight, and in despair they will drink water by measure.

    Here: 'By measure.' A rare word for measuring liquids by volume. It is the counterpart of 'by weight' for bread. Verse 11 sets the amount at a sixth of a hin, very roughly two-thirds of a litre a day.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.