Hebrew word · H6241
עִשָּׂרוֹן
isaron
tenth
'A tenth', always a tenth of an ephah, the standard dry measure. It is found only in the priestly laws (Exod 29:40; Lev 14; Lev 23; Num 15; Num 28–29). Exodus 16:36 treats the omer as the same amount.
Appears 33 times in 22 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·
What it means
tenth part, tithe
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 Numbers 15:4
- Range of meaning
'A tenth', always a tenth of an ephah, the standard dry measure. It is found only in the priestly laws (Exod 29:40; Lev 14; Lev 23; Num 15; Num 28–29). Exodus 16:36 treats the omer as the same amount.
- Against the English
Modern versions add 'of an ephah' to make the unit clear. KJV's 'tenth deal' uses the old English 'deal', meaning 'portion, part' (as in 'a great deal'), not a bargain or transaction.
- How it drifted
KJV's 'deal' (Old English dǣl, 'part') survives today only in 'a great deal', so 'tenth deal' now sounds odd or suggests a trade.
- Used elsewhere in the period
Archaeological estimates of the ephah run from about 22 to over 30 litres, so a tenth is roughly 2 to 3.5 litres. The figures are uncertain because inscribed jars and later rabbinic equivalents do not agree.
From the study of Leviticus 24:5
- Range of meaning
'A tenth', meaning a tenth of an ephah, a standard dry measure of grain. Estimates for the ephah range from about 10 to 22 liters. On the commonly used higher figure, a tenth is about 2.2 liters and two tenths about 4.4 liters (roughly 4 quarts) of flour.
- Against the English
KJV/YLT 'tenth deals' (archaic 'deal' = portion), BSB/WEB/ESV/NIV 'two-tenths of an ephah'. NLT turns it into a modern measure.
- How it drifted
In 'tenth deal', 'deal' is the old sense 'share, portion' (compare 'a great deal'). Modern readers find it opaque or hear 'transaction'.
- Used elsewhere in the period
One tenth is the normal grain offering that goes with a lamb (Exod 29:40; Num 28:5, 9, 13). Two tenths goes with a ram (Num 15:6; 28:12). The two Firstfruits loaves at the Feast of Weeks are also two tenths each (Lev 23:17).
Where it appears
Exodus · 1
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Exodus 29:40 וְעִשָּׂרֹ֨ן and a tenth of
With the first lamb offer a tenth of an ephah of fine flour, mixed with a quarter hin of oil from pressed olives, and a drink offering of a quarter hin of wine.
Here: A fixed dry measure, one tenth of an ephah. The verse doesn't say 'ephah', but Numbers 28:5 does. This is roughly two litres of flour, though estimates vary.
Leviticus · 5
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Leviticus 14:10 עֶשְׂרֹנִ֗ים tenths
On the eighth day he is to bring two unblemished male lambs, an unblemished ewe lamb a year old, a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with olive oil, and one log of olive oil.
Here: A dry measure, a tenth of an ephah. The Hebrew just says 'tenths', and English versions add 'of an ephah'. Each tenth was very roughly 2 litres, so about 6–7 litres in total. The exact size of ancient measures is uncertain.
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Leviticus 14:21 וְעִשָּׂר֨וֹן and a tenth of
If, however, the person is poor and cannot afford these offerings, he is to take one male lamb as a guilt offering to be waved to make atonement for him, along with a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering, a log of olive oil,
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Leviticus 23:13 עֶשְׂרֹנִ֜ים tenths
along with its grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil—a food offering to the LORD, a pleasing aroma—and its drink offering of a quarter hin of wine.
Here: 'Tenths,' meaning tenths of an ephah. The ephah was a dry measure, so two tenths is very roughly 2 to 4.5 litres of flour, depending on how the ephah is reckoned.
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Leviticus 23:17 עֶשְׂרֹנִ֔ים tenths
Bring two loaves of bread from your dwellings as a wave offering, each made from two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour, baked with leaven, as the firstfruits to the LORD.
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Leviticus 24:5 עֶשְׂרֹנִ֔ים tenths
You are also to take fine flour and bake twelve loaves, using two-tenths of an ephah for each loaf,
Here: A dry measure, one tenth of an ephah. Two tenths is double the normal one-tenth grain offering, so each loaf was large and heavy, roughly four quarts or liters of flour.
Numbers · 27
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Numbers 15:4 עִשָּׂר֔וֹן one tenth [of an ephah]
then the one presenting his offering to the LORD shall also present a grain offering of a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with a quarter hin of olive oil.
Here: A dry measure, one tenth of an ephah. The word 'ephah' is understood, not written. It works out to very roughly 2 litres (about 2 quarts), though the exact size of ancient measures is uncertain.
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Numbers 15:6 עֶשְׂרֹנִ֑ים tenths [of an ephah]
With a ram you are to prepare a grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with a third of a hin of olive oil,
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Numbers 15:9 עֶשְׂרֹנִ֑ים tenths [of an ephah]
present with the bull a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with half a hin of olive oil.
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Numbers 28:9 עֶשְׂרֹנִ֗ים tenths [of an ephah]
On the Sabbath day, present two unblemished year-old male lambs, accompanied by a grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, as well as a drink offering.
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Numbers 28:12 עֶשְׂרֹנִ֗ים עֶשְׂרֹנִ֗ים tenths [of an ephah]
along with three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering with each bull, two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering with the ram,
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Numbers 28:13 וְעִשָּׂרֹ֣ן עִשָּׂר֗וֹן and a tenth [of an ephah], a tenth [of an ephah]
and a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering with each lamb. This is a burnt offering, a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the LORD.
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Numbers 28:20 עֶשְׂרֹנִ֜ים עֶשְׂרֹנִ֛ים tenths [of an ephah]
The grain offering shall consist of fine flour mixed with oil; offer three-tenths of an ephah with each bull, two-tenths of an ephah with the ram,
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Numbers 28:21 עִשָּׂר֤וֹן עִשָּׂרוֹן֙ a tenth
and a tenth of an ephah with each of the seven lambs.
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Numbers 28:28 עֶשְׂרֹנִים֙ עֶשְׂרֹנִ֔ים tenths [of an ephah]
together with their grain offerings of fine flour mixed with oil—three-tenths of an ephah with each bull, two-tenths of an ephah with the ram,
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Numbers 28:29 עִשָּׂרוֹן֙ עִשָּׂר֔וֹן a tenth
and a tenth of an ephah with each of the seven lambs.
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Numbers 29:3 עֶשְׂרֹנִים֙ עֶשְׂרֹנִ֖ים tenths [of an ephah]
together with their grain offerings of fine flour mixed with oil—three-tenths of an ephah with the bull, two-tenths of an ephah with the ram,
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Numbers 29:4 וְעִשָּׂר֣וֹן and a tenth [of an ephah]
and a tenth of an ephah with each of the seven male lambs.
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Numbers 29:9 עֶשְׂרֹנִים֙ עֶשְׂרֹנִ֔ים tenths [of an ephah]
together with their grain offerings of fine flour mixed with oil—three-tenths of an ephah with the bull, two-tenths of an ephah with the ram,
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Numbers 29:10 עִשָּׂרוֹן֙ עִשָּׂר֔וֹן a tenth
and a tenth of an ephah with each of the seven lambs.
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Numbers 29:14 עֶשְׂרֹנִ֜ים עֶשְׂרֹנִים֙ tenths [of an ephah]
along with the grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil with each of the thirteen bulls, two-tenths of an ephah with each of the two rams,
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Numbers 29:15 וְעִשָּׂרׄוֹן֙ עִשָּׂר֔וֹן and a tenth, a tenth
and a tenth of an ephah with each of the fourteen lambs.
Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.