בַּת
𐤁𐤕
bath
H1324 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A unit of liquid measurement used in ancient Israel, representing a fixed quantity (approximately 22–24 liters, though estimates vary), typically employed for commodities such as oil or wine. The term designates a standard measure for commerce, sacrificial offerings, or daily transactions involving liquids.
Semantic Range
liquid measure, standard unit for oil or wine, measurement for offering quantities, commercial standard
Root / Etymology
From the root בת, shared with בַּתָּה, possibly related to the concept of 'division' or 'section.' The connection is likely conceptual—a 'bath' as a divided or designated portion. The precise derivation is debated, but the underlying idea is of something apportioned or measured out.
Historical & Contextual Notes
בַּת appears in administrative, legal, and cultic contexts, especially in passages detailing allocations (Ezek 45:10–14, 1 Kgs 7:26, 2 Chr 4:5). In the monarchic and exilic periods, it marked a standard for fair trade and temple offerings. Its value was evidently stable enough to serve as a reliable measure in economic life, although absolute volume changed by period and region. The bath does not have religious connotations in itself, but later translation traditions, including the Septuagint and Vulgate, often transliterate or approximate it to known local measures. English 'bath' is a direct transliteration, sometimes misunderstood outside biblical studies. The word is distinct from the common noun בַּת ('daughter'), which comes from a different root, though spelled identically. It is also distinct from other biblical liquid measures such as הִין ('hin') or כֹּר ('kor'), each representing different volumes.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
probably from the same as בַּתָּה; a bath or Hebrew measure (as a means of division) of liquids; bath.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
בנה (b-n-h) — to build, to create, to establish descendants
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1004 | בַּיִת | in the houses |
| H1005 | בַּיִת | the built-house |
| H1006 | בַּיִת | the house |
| H1007 | בֵּית אָוֶן | house-of |
| H1008 | בֵּית־אֵל | in house of |
Word Forms
6 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1324-02 |
בַּתִּים֙ | batim | HNcbpa |
baths | houses | 3 |
H1324-03 |
הַ/בָּ֑ת | habat | HTd/Ncbsa |
the bath | the apportioned measure | 3 |
H1324-01 |
בַּ֖ת | bat | HNcbsa |
baths | daughter of | 3 |
H1324-04 |
הַ/בַּתִּ֖ים | habatim | HTd/Ncbpa |
baths | the houses | 2 |
H1324-06 |
וְ/הַ/בַּ֗ת | vehabat | HC/Td/Ncbsa |
and-the bath | and the apportioned liquid-measure | 1 |
H1324-05 |
וּ/בַת | uvat | HC/Ncbsc |
and a bath | and daughter of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
13 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1324-01 |
1 Kings 7:26 | בַּ֖ת | bat | HNcbsa |
baths | daughter of |
H1324-01 |
1 Kings 7:38 | בַּ֜ת | bat | HNcbsa |
baths | daughter of |
H1324-01 |
Isaiah 5:10 | בַּ֣ת | bat | HNcbsa |
bath | daughter of |
H1324-05 |
Ezekiel 45:10 | וּ/בַת | uvat | HC/Ncbsc |
and a bath | and daughter of |
H1324-06 |
Ezekiel 45:11 | וְ/הַ/בַּ֗ת | vehabat | HC/Td/Ncbsa |
and-the bath | and the apportioned liquid-measure |
H1324-03 |
Ezekiel 45:11 | הַ/בָּ֑ת | habat | HTd/Ncbsa |
the bath | the apportioned measure |
H1324-03 |
Ezekiel 45:14 | הַ/בַּ֣ת | habat | HTd/Ncbsa |
the bath | the apportioned measure |
H1324-03 |
Ezekiel 45:14 | הַ/בַּת֙ | habat-2 | HTd/Ncbsa |
of the bath | the apportioned measure |
H1324-04 |
Ezekiel 45:14 | הַ/בַּתִּ֖ים | habatim | HTd/Ncbpa |
baths | the houses |
H1324-04 |
Ezekiel 45:14 | הַ/בַּתִּ֖ים | habatim-2 | HTd/Ncbpa |
baths | the houses |