Enciclopedia Cattolica Vol. IV, 1950 Sacred Scripture Particular topics

Cubitus

CUBITO

Italian original Cite

Also known as: Italian: 'ammh, ammah

CUBITUS. - A linear unit of measure of the ancient Hebrews, as of other Oriental peoples, corresponding to the length of the forearm, from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger. The common Hebrew cubit ('ammhili) was 6 palms and 24 fingers (458 mm.), but for sacred buildings the large cubit of 7 palms was used, equal to the royal Egyptian cubit, from which it perhaps derives, which corresponded to 525-30 mm. (Ez. 40:5; 43:13).

The common or short Egyptian cubit also has an exact counterpart in the Hebrew one. After the exile the Hebrews adopted Babylonian measures (Il Par. 3, 3), that is, the royal cubit of 556 mm. and the ordinary or short cubit of 495 mm.

Angelo Penna.

About this entry

By Angelo Penna

How we know signed in print

Translated from the Enciclopedia Cattolica, vol. IV (1950), col. 1032.

More by Angelo Penna: Cureton, William · Crescas, Ḥasdai · David (Heb. Dāwīdh "Beloved, Dear") · Reubeni, David · Core

Cite this article

Chicago

Penna, Angelo. “Cubito.” In Enciclopedia Cattolica, vol. IV, col. 1032. Città del Vaticano: Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico, 1950. https://azioneromana.com/article/cubito.

MLA

Penna, Angelo. “Cubito.” Enciclopedia Cattolica, vol. IV, Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico, 1950, col. 1032. Azione Romana, https://azioneromana.com/article/cubito.

BibTeX

@incollection{ec4_cubito,
  author    = {Penna, Angelo},
  title     = {Cubito},
  booktitle = {Enciclopedia Cattolica},
  volume    = {IV},
  pages     = {1032},
  note      = {Cited by column},
  publisher = {Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico},
  address   = {Città del Vaticano},
  year      = {1950},
  url       = {https://azioneromana.com/article/cubito}
}

One of some 20,000 entries brought back from the twelve printed volumes (1948–54). Spotted something? Help us improve it.