זֶרֶת
𐤆𐤓𐤕
zereth
H2239 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A span, specifically a unit of linear measurement in ancient Israel, denoting the distance from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger with the hand fully extended. The term designates a fixed length used in construction, sacred objects, and other contexts, roughly corresponding to about half a cubit or approximately 20–23 centimeters (8–9 inches).
Semantic Range
span (as a unit of length); distance from thumb to little finger with hand spread; a measure of approximately 20–23 centimeters
Root / Etymology
Root: זרה (z-r-h), generally meaning 'to scatter' or 'to spread'. The term זֶרֶת is derived from the sense of 'spreading' (of the hand), designating a span based on the act of spreading the fingers.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the ancient Israelite system of measurement, the זֶרֶת functioned as an intermediate unit between the cubit (אַמָּה) and the handbreadth (טֶפַח). It appears in priestly and descriptive texts, including dimensions of objects in the Tabernacle and Temple (e.g., Exodus 25:25; 37:12). The span was not unique to Israel but reflected a broader ancient Near Eastern convention for body-based measurements. In English translation, 'span' is the conventional equivalent, but modern readers should note the specific, culturally embedded nature of such measures. The meaning does not substantially change across periods, as the span remained a standard unit of measurement. Later translations sometimes simply transliterate the term or replace it with modern units, though this can obscure the anthropometric origin of the term.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from זָרָה; the spread of the fingers, i.e. a span; span.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
זרה (z-r-h) — to scatter, to spread, to stretch out
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2219 | זָרָה | in your being scattered |
| H4214 | מִזְרֶה | with a winnowing shovel |
| H4215 | מְזָרֶה | and from scatterers |
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2239-04 |
זֶ֥רֶת | zeret | HNcfsa |
a span | spread-hand span | 3 |
H2239-03 |
וְ/זֶ֥רֶת | vezeret | HC/Ncfsa |
and a span | and a span | 2 |
H2239-01 |
בַּ/זֶּ֣רֶת | bazeret | HRd/Ncfsa |
with a span | in the hand-span | 1 |
H2239-02 |
וָ/זָֽרֶת | vazaret | HC/Ncfsa |
and a span | hand-spread span | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
7 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2239-04 |
Exodus 28:16 | זֶ֥רֶת | zeret | HNcfsa |
a span | spread-hand span |
H2239-03 |
Exodus 28:16 | וְ/זֶ֥רֶת | vezeret | HC/Ncfsa |
and a span | and a span |
H2239-04 |
Exodus 39:9 | זֶ֧רֶת | zeret | HNcfsa |
span | spread-hand span |
H2239-03 |
Exodus 39:9 | וְ/זֶ֥רֶת | vezeret | HC/Ncfsa |
and-span | and a span |
H2239-02 |
1 Samuel 17:4 | וָ/זָֽרֶת | vazaret | HC/Ncfsa |
and a span | hand-spread span |
H2239-01 |
Isaiah 40:12 | בַּ/זֶּ֣רֶת | bazeret | HRd/Ncfsa |
with a span | in the hand-span |
H2239-04 |
Ezekiel 43:13 | זֶ֣רֶת | zeret | HNcfsc |
a-span | spread-hand span |