H5432 H5432
by measure; with careful measurement, precisely and carefully (possibly an emphatic construction)
This difficult phrase appears in Isaiah 27:8, likely meaning 'by measure' or 'in/by measured degree.' The construction may be an emphatic repetition of the word for measure (seʾāh): 'by the seʾāh, the seʾāh'—that is, carefully measured, not excessively. The context describes God's judgment of Israel as measured and restrained: 'In measure, when sending her away, you contended with her.' Unlike the total destruction inflicted on enemies, God's discipline of His people is calibrated, limited, proportional. The phrase emphasizes divine restraint—judgment carefully measured rather than poured out in full fury.
Senses
1. sense 1 — By measure, with careful measurement or in measured degree. Isaiah 27:8 uses this phrase to characterize God's judgment of Israel as calibrated rather than total: 'by measure, when sending her away.' Spanish 'con medida' (with measure) captures the careful proportioning. The phrase contrasts with unlimited vengeance—God measures His discipline, neither excessive nor indiscriminate, maintaining redemptive restraint even in judgment. 1×
AR["بِمِقْدَارٍ"]·ben["পরিমাপে-পরিমাপে"]·DE["[בסאסאה]"]·EN["By-measure"]·FR["[בסאסאה]"]·heb["ב-סאסאה"]·HI["माप-से"]·ID["Dengan-ukuran"]·IT["[בסאסאה]"]·jav["kalayan-ukuran-ukuran"]·KO["헤아림-으로"]·PT["Com-medida"]·RU["мерой-за-мерой"]·ES["Con-medida"]·SW["Kwa-kipimo"]·TR["Olcuyle-olcuyle"]·urd["ناپ-سے-ناپ-کر"]
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
† [סֵאסֵא] vb. Pilpēl , whence Inf. בְּסַאסְאָהּ (MT בְּסַאסְּאָה) Is 27:8 = by driving her (it) away (conj. from ‖ בְּשַׁלְּחָהּ), according to Hi Ew Di Du CheHpt. Am RVm > = בִּסְאָה סְאָה by the seʾāh, the seʾāh, i.e. (Ges§ 123 c, 133 k) by exact measure Vrss (not 𝔊, Ges De cf. AV RV, which is prob. Rabbin. conceit. (On format. cf. טאטא, and v. Ges§ 55 f. Sta§§ 112 a Anm. 2; 238.)