What does מִדָּה (midāh) mean in the Bible?
The Hebrew noun middah names a measure, dimension, size, measured portion, standard, or in some contexts a garment or assessed tribute. Exodus uses it for the equal dimensions of tabernacle curtains.
Hebrew · H4060
מִדָּה
Properly, extension , i.e. height or breadth ; also a measure (including its standard); hence a portion (as measured) or a vestment ; specifically, tribute (as measured)
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מִדָּהH4060
Pronunciationmidāh
What does מִדָּה (midāh) mean in the Bible?
The Hebrew noun middah names a measure, dimension, size, measured portion, standard, or in some contexts a garment or assessed tribute. Exodus uses it for the equal dimensions of tabernacle curtains.
Reader summary
Full entry for מִדָּה (H4060) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H4060?
The BSB source-word alignment has 56 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include section (7), size (5), [long] (3), had the same measurements (3), it had the same measurements (3).
Where does מִדָּה (midāh) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 26:2. Its strongest book concentrations include Ezekiel (25), Nehemiah (8), 1 Kings (4), Exodus (4).
What This Word Actually Means
The Hebrew noun middah names a measure, dimension, size, measured portion, standard, or in some contexts a garment or assessed tribute. Exodus uses it for the equal dimensions of tabernacle curtains. Kings, Chronicles, Nehemiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and Zechariah use it in building, rebuilding, and visionary measurement. Leviticus prohibits injustice in measures, making accuracy a neighbor-protection issue rather than a neutral technical detail.
Job speaks of God assigning measure to wind, while Psalms use the noun for the span or extent of life. Narrative descriptions of unusual stature are observations, not moral rankings or permission for body mockery. Middah therefore does not mean the same kind of measure everywhere and does not turn every number into symbolism. It supports proportion, honest commerce, construction, taxation, allocation, and reflection on human limits when each context does so.
Responsible teaching distinguishes dimensions, standards, portions, clothing, tribute, and figurative extent while rejecting dishonest scales, exploitative assessment, appearance hierarchies, and attempts to infer character or divine favor from size.
How the Bible Uses It
Middah names dimensions, standards, measured portions, stature, garment, tribute, and figurative extent across sanctuary design, honest commerce, construction, taxation, vision, and reflection on life's limits.
- Exod.26.2
Each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits long and four cubits wide—all curtains the same size.
The tabernacle curtains receive equal stated dimensions within a coordinated design of materials and skilled work.
- Lev.19.35
You must not use dishonest measures of length, weight, or volume.
Israel is forbidden to act unjustly in measurements of length, weight, or quantity.
- Job.28.25
When God fixed the weight of the wind and measured out the waters,
The wisdom poem says God fixed the weight of wind and measured out the waters.
- Jer.22.14
Who says, ‘I will build myself a great palace, with spacious upper rooms.’ So he cuts windows in it, panels it with cedar, and paints it with vermilion.
Jeremiah confronts a king building a spacious house while exploiting workers and withholding wages.
- Ps.39.4
“Show me, O Lord, my end and the measure of my days. Let me know how fleeting my life is.
The psalmist asks to know life's end and the measure of days in order to recognize mortality.
- Zech.2.1
Then I lifted up my eyes and saw a man with a measuring line in his hand.
Zechariah sees a man holding a measuring line at the start of a vision concerning Jerusalem.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itsection7×Nehemiah 3:11, Nehemiah 3:19, Nehemiah 3:20, Nehemiah 3:21
size5×Exodus 26:2, Exodus 26:8, Exodus 36:9, Exodus 36:15
[long]3×Ezekiel 42:17, Ezekiel 42:18, Ezekiel 42:19
had the same measurements3×Ezekiel 40:22, Ezekiel 40:29, Ezekiel 40:33
it had the same measurements3×Ezekiel 40:28, Ezekiel 40:32, Ezekiel 40:35
measurements3×Ezekiel 40:10, Ezekiel 48:16
dimensions2×1 Kings 7:37, Ezekiel 46:22
of [great] stature2×2 Samuel 21:20, 1 Chronicles 20:6
to size2×1 Kings 7:9, 1 Kings 7:11
which will be2×Ezekiel 48:30, Ezekiel 48:33
With a measuring2×Ezekiel 42:16, Zechariah 2:1
. . .1×Joshua 3:4
a great1×Jeremiah 22:14
and a measuring1×Ezekiel 40:3
and measured out1×Job 28:25
and size1×1 Chronicles 23:29
and the measure1×Psalms 39:4
and they had the same measurements1×Ezekiel 40:24
are great in stature1×Numbers 13:32
are the measurements1×Ezekiel 43:13
holy portion1×Ezekiel 45:3
man1×1 Chronicles 11:23
measuring1×Ezekiel 42:15
Now the length of the measuring1×Ezekiel 40:5
of his robes1×Psalms 133:2
of length1×Leviticus 19:35
of stature1×Isaiah 45:14
spaced evenly1×Ezekiel 41:17
standard1×2 Chronicles 3:3
tax1×Nehemiah 5:4
The measuring1×Jeremiah 31:39
the same measurements1×Ezekiel 40:21
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 26:2מִדָּ֥הtosizeNoun - feminine singularExodus 26:8מִדָּ֣הtosizeNoun - feminine singularExodus 36:9מִדָּ֥הtosizeNoun - feminine singularExodus 36:15מִדָּ֣הtosizeNoun - feminine singularLeviticus 19:35בַּמִּדָּ֕הtoof lengthPreposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singularNumbers 13:32מִדּֽוֹת׃toare great in statureNoun - feminine pluralJoshua 3:4בַּמִּדָּ֑הto. . .Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular2 Samuel 21:20מָדִיןtoof [great] statureNoun - masculine singular1 Kings 6:25מִדָּ֥הtosizeNoun - feminine singular1 Kings 7:9כְּמִדֹּ֣תtoto sizePreposition-k | Noun - feminine plural construct
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowExodus 26:2
Aligned rows56
Books represented15
Exodus4Leviticus1Numbers1Joshua12 Samuel11 Kings41 Chronicles32 Chronicles1Nehemiah8Job1Psalms2Isaiah1Jeremiah2Ezekiel25Zechariah1
Source forms
מִדָּ֣ה10xmid·dāhExodus 26:8, Exodus 36:15, Nehemiah 3:11, Nehemiah 3:19
מִדָּ֥ה5xmid·dāhExodus 26:2, Exodus 36:9, 1 Kings 6:25, 1 Kings 7:37
כַּמִּדּ֖וֹת3xkam·mid·dō·wṯEzekiel 40:24, Ezekiel 40:28, Ezekiel 40:32
הַמִּדָּ֑ה2xham·mid·dāhEzekiel 40:3, Ezekiel 42:16
הַמִּדָּ֖ה2xham·mid·dāhEzekiel 42:16, Ezekiel 42:17
הַמִּדָּֽה׃2xham·mid·dāhEzekiel 42:18, Ezekiel 42:19
כַּמִּדּ֣וֹת2xkam·mid·dō·wṯEzekiel 40:29, Ezekiel 40:33
מִדָּֽה׃2xmid·dāhEzekiel 48:30, Zechariah 2:1
Parsing patterns
Noun - feminine singular21xExodus 26:2, Exodus 26:8, Exodus 36:9, Exodus 36:15
Article | Noun - feminine singular9xJeremiah 31:39, Ezekiel 40:3, Ezekiel 40:5, Ezekiel 42:16
Preposition-k, Article | Noun - feminine plural6xEzekiel 40:24, Ezekiel 40:28, Ezekiel 40:29, Ezekiel 40:32
Noun - feminine plural3xNumbers 13:32, Jeremiah 22:14, Ezekiel 41:17
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular3xLeviticus 19:35, Joshua 3:4, 2 Chronicles 3:3
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular2x1 Chronicles 23:29, Ezekiel 40:10
Noun - feminine plural construct2xEzekiel 42:15, Ezekiel 43:13
Preposition-k | Noun - feminine plural construct2x1 Kings 7:9, 1 Kings 7:11
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Organizations should audit scales, fees, wages, data definitions, targets, and accessibility because biased measures can distribute harm repeatedly.
- Body and health measurements require consent, clinical context, privacy, and dignity rather than public comparison or spiritual judgment.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim that middah has one meaning in every occurrence or that every dimension is symbolic.
- Do not claim that visible size, growth, wealth, or architectural beauty proves righteousness and divine favor.
- Do not claim that a biblical measure supplies a complete modern legal, engineering, medical, or economic standard.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Physical measurement extending to moral proportion: what is measured, apportioned, or exacted as due
Source Gloss
properly, extension , i.e. height or breadth ; also a measure (including its standard); hence a portion (as measured) or a vestment ; specifically, tribute (as measured)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Physical measurement extending to moral proportion: what is measured, apportioned, or exacted as due
properly, extension, i.e. height or breadth; also a measure (including its standard); hence a portion (as measured) or a vestment; specifically, tribute (as measured) BDB: tribute Usage: garment, measure(-ing, meteyard, piece, size, (great) stature, tribute, wide.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Standard unit of measurement for just and honest commercial transactions
Showing 1 selected witness from 55 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
מִדָּה is built from this root:
For the Preacher and Teacher
Middah places numbers inside relationships. Equal curtain dimensions serve an ordered tabernacle design that depends on skilled labor and supplied materials. Leviticus makes unjust measurement a covenant wrong because false standards take from neighbors. Job's wisdom poem attributes the ordering of wind and water to God, resisting human claims to master creation.
Jeremiah 22 is especially important: a ruler's spacious construction becomes evidence of injustice when laborers are not paid. Exact dimensions cannot make an exploitative project righteous. Psalm 39 uses the measure of life to cultivate humility about mortality rather than to predict an individual's death date. Zechariah's measuring line belongs to a vision of Jerusalem's restoration and divine protection.
These passages value accuracy while refusing numeric idolatry. Faithful application uses honest scales, clear contracts, proportionate assessment, safe design, and transparent data. It protects workers and consumers, acknowledges uncertainty, and refuses to make body size, income, platform reach, or institutional growth a verdict on worth. Measures are necessary tools, but God's justice governs how they are chosen and used.
Anchor passage
Lev.19.35
Doctrinal connections
- Equal dimensions contribute to ordered sacred craft while honoring the material and human work involved.
- Honest measures protect neighbors and make commercial accuracy a matter of covenant justice.
- God's ordering of wind and water places human measurement within creaturely humility and wonder.
- Large construction becomes morally corrupt when leaders withhold wages and exploit the workers who build it.
- Measuring life's span can cultivate humility without granting secret knowledge of an individual's death.
- Prophetic measurement can signify restoration and protection when the vision itself explains those hopes.
Middah is a feminine Hebrew noun derived from measuring language. It may denote dimensions, a standard or unit, a measured portion, physical stature, clothing, tribute, or figurative extent, so translators rely on construction and discourse context.
From Old to New Testament
New Testament teaching also condemns dishonest gain, requires fair treatment, and uses measures in sayings and visions. These themes support canonical application without treating middah as the direct lexical source of every Greek measure or architectural number.