πῆχυς G4083
A cubit, an ancient unit of measure (~18 inches / 45 cm); the forearm from elbow to fingertip.
Originally denoting the forearm from elbow to fingertip, pēchys became the standard ancient unit of linear measure, roughly 18 inches or 45 centimeters. Jesus uses it figuratively when asking who can add a single cubit to their lifespan or stature (Matt 6:27; Luke 12:25), exposing the futility of anxiety. In John 21:8 it measures the literal distance from shore, and in Revelation 21:17 it specifies the wall thickness of the New Jerusalem. The Spanish 'codo,' French 'coudée,' and German 'Elle' all preserve the forearm-derived measurement unit.
Senses
1. sense 1 — A cubit, a unit of linear measurement based on the length of the forearm. In Matt 6:27 and Luke 12:25, Jesus employs it metaphorically—no one can add a cubit to the span of life by worrying. John 21:8 uses it as a literal distance (about 200 cubits from shore), and Revelation 21:17 specifies the angel's measurement of the heavenly city wall at 144 cubits. The consistent cross-linguistic rendering (Spanish 'codo,' French 'coudée') confirms this as a well-known ancient measurement. 4×
AR["ذِراعًا", "ذِراعٍ", "ذِرَاعًا"]·ben["হাত", "হাতের"]·DE["Ellen", "πῆχυν"]·EN["a-cubit", "cubit", "cubits"]·FR["coudée"]·heb["אַמָּה", "אַמֹּת", "אַרְבָּע"]·HI["हाथ", "हाथ-भर"]·ID["hasta", "satu-hasta"]·IT["pechon", "pechun", "pēchōn"]·jav["asta", "sehasta"]·KO["규빗", "팔", "한-굴척을", "한-규빗"]·PT["côvado", "côvados"]·RU["локоть", "локтей", "локтя"]·ES["codo", "codos", "codos,", "un-codo"]·SW["dhiraa", "dhiraa,"]·TR["arsin", "arşın"]·urd["بالشت", "ہاتھ"]
Related Senses
H8033 1. There (locative adverb) (835×)H7760a 1. put, place, set physically (444×)H8064 1. heavens / sky (329×)H5439 1. around, all around (spatial) (319×)H4057b 1. wilderness, desert region (270×)H3220 1. sea, body of water (269×)H0520a 1. cubit (unit of length) (246×)H0127 1. ground, land (territory) (210×)H3383 1. Jordan River (proper noun) (183×)G1093 1. earth, the world (176×)H5800a 1. forsake, abandon (Qal active) (166×)H8121 1. sun (celestial body) (133×)H7126 1. offer, present sacrificially (122×)H6828 1. north, cardinal direction (120×)H2351 1. outside, exterior space (119×)H5104 1. river, stream (119×)H7341 1. width, breadth (101×)G1563 1. there (95×)H7126 2. draw near, approach (95×)G2281 1. sea, large body of water (91×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
πῆχυς (Aeolic dialect πᾶχυς Refs 7th c.BC+, ὁ, genitive πήχεος LXX+5th c.BC+: genitive plural πήχεων Refs 3rd c.BC+; later contraction πηχῶν Refs 5th c.BC+, Moer.p.327 P.:—forearm, from wrist to elbow, Refs 5th c.BC+; opposed to βραχίων, Refs 5th c.BC+: in Poets, generally, arm, ἀμφὶ δ᾽ ἑὸν φίλον υίὸν ἐχεύατο πήχεε λευκώ Refs 8th c.BC+; λευκὸν ἀντείνασα π. Refs 5th c.BC+; λαιὸν ἔπαιρε π. Refs __2…