Exodus 16:36 · measurement explained
One omer is one tenth of an ephah
The verse directly defines the relationship between two Hebrew dry measures: ten omers make one ephah.
Read the verse first
Now an omer is one tenth of an ephah.
World English Bible · engwebp-source-2026-09-12
Modern measurement range
One omer
2.0–2.3 L
2.11–2.43 US qt · 1.76–2.02 Imp qt
Using the omer estimate. The biblical ratio is explicit; the litre equivalent remains an approximate reconstruction of the ephah.
Calculate another amount →One tenth ephah
2.1–2.3 L
2.22–2.43 US qt · 1.85–2.02 Imp qt
Using the ephah estimate. Ancient jars and regional standards differ. Litres express capacity, not the weight of grain or flour placed in that capacity.
Calculate another amount →This ratio in the text is more secure than any decimal-litre reconstruction. Small differences in the two displayed ranges come from modern rounding.
What this conversion does—and does not—show
It gives a defensible modern scale for the amount stated in the verse. Ancient standards varied by time and place, so the endpoints are deliberately approximate. A volume is not a food mass, a metal weight is not a modern cash value, and a conversion does not settle a textual, archaeological, or theological debate.
Conversion references: ESV weights and measures ↗, American Bible Society ↗, and Encyclopedia of the Bible ↗. Reference pages accessed October 10, 2026.