מִדָּה
𐤌𐤃𐤄
middâh
H4061 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A fixed sum or assessment, particularly a tax or tribute imposed by an authority; often denotes money or goods required as tribute or toll, especially by a foreign ruler or occupying administration. In Aramaic contexts of the Hebrew Bible, refers specifically to the tribute or tax system as administered under imperial rule.
Semantic Range
tribute, monetary tax, toll, fixed sum imposed as tribute; by extension, collected revenue
Root / Etymology
From the root מדד, meaning 'to measure, to mete, to apportion.' In the Aramaic form (as in several exile or post-exile texts), the word designates an imposed levy, likely deriving from the concept of an apportioned or standardized payment.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, especially in Aramaic sections (notably Ezra 4:13, 4:20, 5:13), the term middâh appears specifically in reference to tribute, toll, or tax assessments imposed by imperial authorities (such as Persian rulers). The meaning in the Aramaic passages is distinct from the Hebrew noun מִדָּה (middāh), which most often means 'measure, measurement, standard, proportion.' Thus, there is an important lexical distinction: while the Hebrew מִדָּה usually refers to a physical measurement or portion, the Aramaic מִנְדָּה (mindāh) and its forms reflect a bureaucratic or fiscal concept—an imposed financial duty. Standard English translations like 'tribute' and 'toll' reflect the fiscal sense accurately in these specific contexts. The word does not refer to a voluntary gift, but to a required obligation, and should not be confused with related Hebrew terms such as מַס (mas, 'forced labor, levy') or תְּרוּמָה (terumah, 'offering, contribution'), which have different shades of meaning and application.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) or מִנְדָּה; (Aramaic), corresponding to מִדָּה; tribute in money; toll, tribute.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
מדד (m-d-d) — measure, apportion, mete
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4055 | מַד | like his measured garment |
| H4058 | מָדַד | I will measure out |
| H4060 | מִדָּה | in the measure |
| H4063 | מֶדֶו | their measured-length robes |
| H4067 | מָדוֹן | measured stature |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4061-02 |
מִנְדָּֽה | minedah | ANcfsa |
tax | apportioned tribute | 2 |
H4061-03 |
וּ/מִדָּ֥ה | umidah | AC/Ncfsa |
and tribute | and apportioned tribute | 1 |
H4061-01 |
מִדַּת֙ | midat | ANcfsc |
of-tribute | apportioned tribute of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4061-02 |
Ezra 4:13 | מִנְדָּֽה | minedah | ANcfsa |
tribute | apportioned tribute |
H4061-03 |
Ezra 4:20 | וּ/מִדָּ֥ה | umidah | AC/Ncfsa |
and tribute | and apportioned tribute |
H4061-01 |
Ezra 6:8 | מִדַּת֙ | midat | ANcfsc |
of-tribute | apportioned tribute of |
H4061-02 |
Ezra 7:24 | מִנְדָּ֤ה | minedah | ANcfsa |
tax | apportioned tribute |