סַאסְּאָה
𐤎𐤀𐤎𐤀𐤄
çaʼçᵉʼâh
H5432 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
A specific dry measure used in ancient Israel, equivalent to approximately one-third of an ephah or about 7.33 liters (though estimates range from 6 to 7.5 liters). The term denotes a fixed standard of capacity for dry goods such as grain.
Semantic Range
se'ah (fixed dry measure), unit of capacity circa 7 liters, standard for dry goods, measure of grain
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root סאה, which is related to measurement. The form סַאסְּאָה (sa'se'ah) is a textual variant or perhaps a scribal form for סְאָה (se'ah), a well-attested biblical unit of volume.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The form סַאסְּאָה occurs only in Ezra 7:22 within a Persian-era context, likely as a textual variant or alternative spelling of the more common סְאָה. The se'ah was a standard measure for dry goods during the First Temple period and continued to be referenced in exilic and post-exilic literature. The precise volumetric equivalent is based on later rabbinic tradition, as actual standards may have varied across regions and periods. The term is often simply translated as 'measure' in English, which may obscure the technical specificity as a fixed unit; it does not denote a general measurement or 'moderation' but a particular capacity. In later usage, especially outside the Tanakh, the se'ah remains significant in ritual and literary contexts. Other common biblical measures of capacity include the ephah (about 22 liters) and the omer (about 2.2 liters), with the se'ah positioned as a mid-sized standard.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
lemma סַאסְאָה missing dagesh, corrected to סַאסְּאָה; for סְאָה; measurement, i.e. moderation; measure.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
סאה (s-ʾ-h) — to measure, measure out, determine capacity
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H5429 | סְאָה | two dry-measures |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5432-01 |
בְּ/סַּאסְּאָ֖ה | besaseah | HR/Vlc |
by driving away | in a se'ah-measure | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5432-01 |
Isaiah 27:8 | בְּ/סַּאסְּאָ֖ה | besaseah | HR/Vlc |
by driving away | in a se'ah-measure |