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Cab

biblical_measure theological_term standard

A cab is a small ancient Hebrew dry measure mentioned in the Old Testament.

At a Glance

A cab is a biblical dry measure, best understood as a relatively small quantity used in everyday life and trade.

Key Points

Description

A cab was a small ancient Hebrew unit of dry measure mentioned in the Old Testament, most notably in the famine narrative of 2 Kings 6:25. It is not a theological concept but an ordinary commercial and household measure. Its biblical significance lies in showing the extremity of scarcity in Samaria, where basic food supplies became extraordinarily expensive. Since ancient systems of measurement were not uniform, modern conversions should be treated cautiously rather than stated dogmatically.

Biblical Context

The cab appears in the account of the famine in Samaria (2 Kings 6:25), where food scarcity is described in stark terms. The reference underscores the desperation of the situation rather than giving a technical lesson in measurement.

Historical Context

The cab belongs to the ancient Near Eastern world of weights and measures used in agriculture, trade, and domestic provisioning. Like other ancient units, it functioned within a local system that does not map perfectly onto modern metric or imperial standards.

Jewish and Ancient Context

In ancient Jewish life, dry measures were part of ordinary commerce and food preparation. A cab would have been recognized as a modest quantity, suitable for measuring grain or similar dry goods.

Primary Key Texts

Original Language Note

The term reflects an ancient Hebrew dry measure. The precise size is uncertain, so it is best understood generically as a small quantity rather than converted into a fixed modern volume.

Theological Significance

The cab itself has little direct theological meaning, but its use in Scripture vividly illustrates the severity of famine, covenant judgment, and human helplessness apart from God’s mercy.

Philosophical Explanation

This is a concrete measurement term, not an abstract theological category. Its interpretive value comes from historical context: ordinary units can carry literary force when used in accounts of scarcity, abundance, or commerce.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not assign an overly precise modern equivalent. The biblical point in its main occurrence is the intensity of the famine, not the mathematics of conversion.

Major Views

There is broad agreement that the cab was a small dry measure. Discussion mainly concerns its approximate size in modern units, which cannot be fixed with certainty.

Doctrinal Boundaries

Cab is a historical measurement term and should not be treated as a doctrinal concept or given symbolic significance beyond the biblical context where it appears.

Practical Significance

The term reminds readers that Scripture speaks in real historical settings with ordinary economic life, and that even small details can sharpen the impact of a narrative.

Related Entries

See Also

Data

Machine-readable JSON for Cab

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