גֹּמֶד
𐤂𐤌𐤃
gômed
H1574 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A unit of length corresponding to the distance from the elbow to the tip of the outstretched fingers, approximately half a standard cubit (about 22 cm or 9 inches); more precisely, 'gômed' refers to the 'span,' that is, the width of an extended hand, used as a measure for small objects or lengths. By extension, it is occasionally used to describe something of small size or stature.
Semantic Range
span (of the hand), short measure of length, elbow-to-knuckle span, something small in size or stature
Root / Etymology
Root/Etymology: The word גֹּמֶד (gômed) is traditionally linked to an otherwise unattested root גמד, thought to carry a sense of 'grasping' or 'span,' possibly related to grip or holding with the hand. The root is not otherwise attested in biblical Hebrew, so its etymology is uncertain and reconstructed based on semantic context. The noun is formed as a nominal derivative.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Historical & Contextual Notes: In biblical usage, גֹּמֶד appears as a measure of length, specifically as a 'span.' It is attested in passages such as Judges 3:16, describing the size of Ehud's sword. The term is distinct from the more common 'cubit' (אַמָּה, ammah), which measures the forearm from elbow to fingertip. The 'gômed' serves as a smaller measure—about half an 'ammah'—and is no longer in use in modern measurement systems. Usage suggests a practical, body-based measure for conveying relative size or fit. While later translations sometimes render this as 'cubit' due to lack of a precise English equivalent, this is imprecise. The term does not acquire technical or symbolic status beyond these material applications, nor does it appear in ritual or religious contexts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root apparently meaning to grasp; properly, a span; cubit.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
גמד (g-m-d) — to grasp, to span, to hold
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1575 | גַּמָּד | and the short-measure warriors |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1574-01 |
גֹּ֣מֶד | gomed | HNcmsa |
a cubit | hand-span | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1574-01 |
Judges 3:16 | גֹּ֣מֶד | gomed | HNcmsa |
a cubit | hand-span |