Bible Dictionaries
Measure

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

denotes (I) "that which is used for measuring, a measure," (a) of "a vessel," figuratively, Matthew 23:32; Luke 6:38 (twice); in John 3:34 , with the preposition ek, "(He giveth not the Spirit) by measure," RV (which is a necessary correction; the italicized words "unto him," AV, detract from the meaning). Not only had Christ the Holy Spirit without "measure," but God so gives the Spirit through Him to others. It is the ascended Christ who gives the Spirit to those who receive His testimony and set their seal to this, that God is true. The Holy Spirit is imparted neither by degrees, nor in portions, as if He were merely an influence, He is bestowed personally upon each believer, at the time of the New Birth; (b) of "a graduated rod or rule for measuring," figuratively, Matthew 7:2; Mark 4:24; literally, Revelation 21:15 (in the best mss.; see the RV); Revelation 21:17; (II) "that which is measured, a determined extent, a portion measured off," Romans 12:3; 2 Corinthians 10:13 (twice); Ephesians 4:7 , "(according to the) measure (of the gift of Christ);" the gift of grace is "measured" and given according to the will of Christ; whatever the endowment, His is the bestowment and the adjustment; Ephesians 4:13 , "the measure (of the stature of the fullness of Christ)," the standard of spiritual stature being the fullness which is essentially Christ's; Ephesians 4:16 , "(according to the working in due) measure (of each several part)," i.e., according to the effectual working of the ministration rendered in due "measure" by every part.

"a part portion," is used with the preposition apo, "from," with the meaning "in some measure," Romans 15:15 , RV (AV, "... sort"). See COAST , PART.

is a Hebrew dry measure (Heb., seah), about a peck and a half, Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:21; "three measures" would be the quantity for a baking (cp. Genesis 18:6; Judges 6:19; 1 Samuel 1:24; the "ephah" of the last two passages was equal to three sata).

denotes a cor, the largest Hebrew dry measure (ten ephahs), containing about 11 bushels, Luke 16:7; the hundred "measures" amounted to a very considerable quantity.

denotes a bath, a Jewish liquid measure (the equivalent of an ephah), containing between 8 and 9 gallons, Luke 16:6 .

a dry "measure" of rather less than a quart, about "as much as would support a person of moderate appetite for a day," occurs in Revelation 6:6 (twice). Usually eight choenixes could be bought for a denarius (about 9 1/2d.); this passage predicts circumstances in which the denarius is the price of one choenix. In the Sept., Ezekiel 45:10,11 , where it represents the Heb. ephah and bath.

Notes: (1) In 2 Corinthians 10:14 , AV, huperekteino, "to stretch out overmuch," is translated "we stretch (not ourselves) beyond measure," (RV "... overmuch)." (2) In 2 Corinthians 11:9 , Rv, prosanapleroo, "to fill up by adding to, to supply fully," is translated "supplied the measure" (AV, "supplied"). See SUPPLY. (3) For the phrases in the AV, "beyond measure," Galatians 1:13; "out of measure," 2 Corinthians 1:8 , see ABUNDANCE , A, No. 4, EXCEL, B. (4) In Mark 6:51 , some mss. have the phrase ek perissou, "beyond measure" (AV). (5) For the phrase "be exalted above measure," 2 Corinthians 12:7 , AV, see EXALT , A, No. 4.

"beyond measure" (huper, "over, beyond," ballo, "to throw;" for the verb huperballo, see EXCEEDING), is rendered "above measure" in 2 Corinthians 11:23 .

Mark 10:26; see EXCEED , B, No. 4.

Mark 7:37 : see ABUNDANCE D, No. 3.

"without measure" (a, negative, and A, No. 1), is used in the neuter plural in an adverbial phrase in 2 Corinthians 10:13,15 , eis ta ametra, lit., "unto the (things) without measure," RV, "(we will not glory) beyond our measure;" AV, "(we will not boast) of things without measure," referring to the sphere Divinely appointed for the Apostle as to his Gospel ministry; this had reached to Corinth, and by the increase of the faith of the church there, would extend to regions beyond. His opponents had no scruples about intruding into the spheres of other men's work.

"to measure" (akin to A, No. 1), is used (a) of space, number, value, etc., Revelation 11:1,2; 21:15,16,17; metaphorically, 2 Corinthians 10:12; (b) in the sense of "measuring" out, giving by "measure," Matthew 7:2 , "ye mete" (some mss. have No. 2); Mark 4:24; in some mss. in Luke 6:38 (see No. 2).

"to measure in return" (anti, "back, in return" and No. 1), is used in the Passive Voice, and found in some mss. in Matthew 7:2 (the most authentic have No. 1); in Luke 6:38 the most authentic have this verb. It is not found in the Sept.