H4373 H4373
computation, number, valuation
A term referring to numerical calculation or reckoning, used in two related but distinct Priestly contexts. In Exodus 12:4, it denotes counting persons to determine proper lamb portions for Passover—practical household math. In Leviticus 27:23, it refers to the priest's calculation of monetary valuation for dedicated property—legal/economic assessment. Both senses share the core idea of careful numerical determination, whether counting heads or computing worth. The term reflects the Priestly tradition's characteristic precision about quantities and values.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Numerical calculation or reckoning, appearing in two Priestly legal contexts. Exodus 12:4 uses it for counting persons to determine Passover lamb portions ('according to the number of persons'). Leviticus 27:23 employs it for priestly assessment of a field's monetary value. Both instances emphasize careful, precise computation—whether of people or property worth. Cross-linguistic evidence (Spanish suma/número, French/German amount/number) recognizes this as technical vocabulary for numerical reckoning in cultic-legal contexts. 2×
AR["بِ-حَسَبِ", "مِقْدَارَ"]·ben["গণনা-অনুসারে", "পরিমাণ"]·DE["amount-von", "durch-Zahl-von"]·EN["amount-of", "by-number-of"]·FR["amount-de", "par-nombre-de"]·heb["ב-מכסת", "מכסת"]·HI["गिनती-के-अनुसार", "मात्रा"]·ID["jumlah", "menurut-jumlah"]·IT["amount-di", "da-numero-di"]·jav["cacah", "miturut-cacah"]·KO["수에-따라", "액수를"]·PT["quantia-de", "segundo-conta-de"]·RU["по-числу", "сумму"]·ES["la-suma-de", "según-número-de-"]·SW["hesabu-ya-", "kwa-hesabu"]·TR["miktarını-", "sayısınca-"]·urd["رقم", "شمار-کے-مطابق"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† מִכְסָה n.f. computation (f. of מֶכֶס); hence— a. number, Ex 12:4 (P). b. valuation, worth, Lv 27:23 (P).