dry volume
How much is a biblical kab?
A kab was a small dry-capacity measure, approximately one litre in the default reference system.
Interactive reference
Convert a biblical measurement
Choose a unit and enter an amount to see a modern metric and labeled US customary or Imperial range.
kab — A kab was a small dry-capacity measure, approximately one litre in the default reference system.
Capacity reconstructions vary; a container volume does not by itself reveal the mass of its contents.
Direct answer
1 kab ≈ 1.0–1.2 L ≈ 1.06–1.27 US qt · 0.88–1.06 Imp qt
Capacity reconstructions vary; a container volume does not by itself reveal the mass of its contents.
Biblical ratio: About 1/22 ephah.
| Amount | Metric range | US customary / imperial range |
|---|---|---|
| 1 kab | 1.0–1.2 L | 1.06–1.27 US qt · 0.88–1.06 Imp qt |
| 2 kabs | 2.0–2.4 L | 2.11–2.54 US qt · 1.76–2.11 Imp qt |
| 5 kabs | 5.0–6.0 L | 1.32–1.59 US gal · 1.1–1.32 Imp gal |
| 10 kabs | 10–12 L | 2.64–3.17 US gal · 2.2–2.64 Imp gal |
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 kabs
How much is one kab today?
1.0–1.2 L, or 1.06–1.27 US qt · 0.88–1.06 Imp qt, in this site's selected approximate system. Capacity reconstructions vary; a container volume does not by itself reveal the mass of its contents.
Is the kab 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
omer
An omer was one tenth of an ephah, the daily manna measure named in Exodus 16.
seah
A seah was a dry measure of roughly 7.3 litres; three seahs made an ephah.
ephah
An ephah was a major Hebrew dry measure, represented here as about 22 litres.
lethech
A lethech was a large dry measure, commonly taken as five ephahs or half a homer.