probably from the same as בַּתָּה; a bath or Hebrew measure (as a means of division) of liquids; bath.
Transliteration:bath
Pronunciation:bath
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word בַּת (transliterated as *bath*, Strong's `{{H1324}}`) denotes a specific unit of liquid measure in ancient Israel. Its etymological root is often linked to the idea of "division" or "separation," suggesting its function as a precisely defined segment of a larger quantity. As a standard measure, the *bath* was integral to both domestic and cultic life, primarily used for liquids such as oil and wine. Scholarly consensus estimates its capacity to be approximately 22 liters or 6 U.S. gallons, making it a substantial, yet manageable, unit for trade and temple service. Its semantic range is narrow, focusing almost exclusively on its metrological function, but this precision itself carries significant implications for the order and justice demanded within the Israelite economy and religious practice.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The *bath* appears in several key biblical texts, primarily in contexts related to the construction and operation of the Temple, as well as in legal and prophetic literature concerning just weights and measures.
In the account of Solomon's Temple, the capacity of the great molten sea is specified as 2,000 baths in [[1 Kings 7:26]] and 3,000 baths in [[2 Chronicles 4:5]]. While the discrepancy is notable (possibly reflecting full capacity versus regular fill, or different measurement traditions), both passages underscore the immense scale of the Temple's furnishings and the need for large-volume liquid storage for purification rituals. Similarly, the ten lavers for cleansing sacrifices are said to hold 40 baths each ([[1 Kings 7:38]]), further illustrating the practical application of this measure in the elaborate cultic system.
Beyond the Temple, the *bath* features in prophetic warnings and legal statutes. [[Isaiah 5:10]] laments a future judgment where "ten acres of vineyard will yield only one bath of wine," vividly portraying a state of severe scarcity and divine curse upon the land's productivity. This highlights the *bath* as a common, recognizable unit by which agricultural yields were assessed. Most significantly, [[Ezekiel 45:10-14]] provides explicit legal instruction regarding the *bath* within the context of just weights and measures. Here, the Lord commands, "You shall have honest scales, an honest ephah, and an honest bath" ([[Ezekiel 45:10]]). The passage further defines the *bath* as being equivalent to the *ephah* (a dry measure, `{{H646}}`) and both as a tenth of a *homer* (a larger unit, `{{H2549}}`). This standardization underscores God's demand for integrity and fairness in all commercial and religious transactions, ensuring that both the people and the priests offered and received accurate quantities. The specified oil offering of "a tenth of a bath from each cor of oil" ([[Ezekiel 45:14]]) further illustrates its role in precise cultic taxation.
### Related Words & Concepts
The *bath* is part of a larger system of ancient Israelite weights and measures, which includes other liquid units like the *hin* (`{{H2024}}`, often a sixth of a *bath*) and the *cor* or *homer* (`{{H3734}}`/`{{H2549}}`, ten *baths*). For dry goods, the equivalent unit was the *ephah* (`{{H646}}`), emphasizing a consistent standard for both liquid and solid commodities, as explicitly stated in [[Ezekiel 45:11]]. This system of standardized measures reflects the sophisticated economic and administrative structures of the ancient Near East and, more importantly, the divine imperative for order and justice within the covenant community.
The concept of "honest weights and measures" recurs throughout the Old Testament (e.g., [[Leviticus 19:35-36]], [[Deuteronomy 25:13-16]], [[Proverbs 11:1]], [[Proverbs 20:10]], [[Proverbs 20:23]]), serving as a foundational principle for ethical conduct. The *bath*, as a defined unit, is therefore intrinsically linked to these broader themes of integrity, equity, and the avoidance of deceit in commerce and worship. Its very existence implies a divine preference for precision and accountability.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of the *bath* extends beyond its mere function as a container. Firstly, its presence in the detailed specifications for the Temple underscores God's meticulousness and His desire for order in worship. The precise capacities of the molten sea and the lavers demonstrate that divine service was not to be haphazard but conducted with exactitude and according to divine blueprint. This precision reflects the holiness of God and the seriousness with which His commands regarding cultic practice were to be observed.
Secondly, the command for an "honest bath" in Ezekiel's vision of the renewed Temple ([[Ezekiel 45:10]]) elevates the mundane act of measurement to a matter of divine righteousness. God is not only concerned with grand theological truths but also with the practical ethics of daily life, including fair trade. Dishonest measures were an abomination to the Lord, representing a perversion of justice and a violation of the covenant. Thus, the *bath* becomes a symbol of integrity, a tangible expression of a people living righteously under God's law.
Finally, the prophetic use of the *bath* to describe scarcity ([[Isaiah 5:10]]) highlights its role in conveying divine judgment or blessing. Abundant yields measured in *baths* would signify blessing, while meager returns would indicate divine displeasure or the consequences of sin. In this way, the *bath* serves as a practical metric through which the covenant relationship between God and Israel, and its attendant blessings and curses, could be understood and experienced.
### Summary
The word בַּת (*bath*, `{{H1324}}`) designates a standard Hebrew liquid measure, roughly equivalent to 22 liters. Its biblical occurrences primarily highlight its role in the precise specifications for the Temple's sacred vessels, such as the molten sea and the lavers, emphasizing God's demand for order and exactitude in worship. Crucially, the *bath* is also featured in legal statutes advocating for "honest measures," underscoring the divine imperative for integrity and justice in all commercial transactions. Related to other units like the *ephah* and *homer*, the *bath* is part of a comprehensive system of weights and measures that reflects God's concern for ethical conduct in every sphere of life. Theologically, the *bath* symbolizes divine precision in cultic instructions, the importance of honesty and justice in human dealings, and serves as a tangible indicator of blessing or judgment, thereby embodying the practical outworking of covenant faithfulness.
TRV