length
How much is a biblical handbreadth?
A handbreadth was about the breadth of four fingers and one sixth of a common cubit.
Interactive reference
Convert a biblical measurement
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handbreadth — A handbreadth was about the breadth of four fingers and one sixth of a common cubit.
The default centers on the ESV estimate of 7.5 cm; actual standards differed.
Direct answer
1 handbreadth ≈ 7.4–7.6 cm ≈ 2.91–2.99 in
The default centers on the ESV estimate of 7.5 cm; actual standards differed.
Biblical ratio: 6 handbreadths = 1 common cubit.
| Amount | Metric range | US customary / imperial range |
|---|---|---|
| 1 handbreadth | 7.4–7.6 cm | 2.91–2.99 in |
| 2 handbreadths | 14.8–15.2 cm | 5.83–5.98 in |
| 5 handbreadths | 37–38 cm | 1.21–1.25 ft |
| 10 handbreadths | 74–76 cm | 2.43–2.49 ft |
Primary reference: ESV Global Study Bible · Table of Weights and Measures ↗. The default system used for the representative estimates. The table says all equivalents are approximate and varied by time and place. Accessed October 10, 2026.
Bible passages using this unit
Questions about handbreadths
How much is one handbreadth today?
7.4–7.6 cm, or 2.91–2.99 in, in this site's selected approximate system. The default centers on the ESV estimate of 7.5 cm; actual standards differed.
Is the handbreadth conversion exact?
No. Biblical weights and measures varied by period, place, and standard. The displayed range is for reading scale and should not be treated as a calibrated surviving object.
Can I turn the result into a modern price or food weight?
Not without additional evidence. Metal price, purchasing power, material purity, grain density, and container packing are separate questions from unit conversion.
Related units
finger
A finger was a small body-based length, roughly the width of a finger.
span
A span measured the spread from thumb to little finger, about three handbreadths.
common cubit
A common cubit was a forearm-length measure, usually represented as about 45 cm or 18 inches.
long cubit
Ezekiel's long cubit is explicitly a cubit plus one handbreadth, about 52 cm or 20.4 inches.