Bible Dictionary
Bath
A bath was an ancient Hebrew measure of liquid, approximately eight to nine gallons. It was used for measuring wine, oil, and water, and equaled one-tenth of a homer.
Definition
A bath was a Hebrew measure of liquid equal to one-tenth of a homer. It held approximately eight to nine English gallons and was used for measuring wine, oil, water, and other liquids.
Biblical Usage
The bath appears in measurements for temple vessels, the molten sea, lavers, offerings, and agricultural produce. Isaiah’s statement that a vineyard would yield one bath expresses extreme unproductiveness.
Historical Background
The bath functioned as a standard liquid measure. The supplied material gives its capacity as about nine gallons and relates it to the homer in Ezekiel’s system of measures.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
A Hebrew liquid measure, the tenth part of an homer (1 Kings 7:26, 38; Ezek. 45:10, 14). It contained 8 gallons 3 quarts of our measure. “Ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath” (Isa. 5:10) denotes great unproductiveness.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
[Measures]
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>(bath): A liquid measure equal to about 9 gallons, English measure. It seems to have been regarded as a standard for liquid measures (Eze 45:10), as in the case of the molten sea and the lavers in Solomon's temple (1Ki 7:26,38), and for measuring oil and wine (2Ch 2:10; Ezr 7:22; Isa 5:10; Eze 45:14). Its relation to the homer is given in Eze 45:11,14.</p><p>See WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.</p>