How much is six measures of barley in biblical times?

Answer 1

"...six measures..." also translates to "...six ephahs...". Trying to figure out how much that is in modern terms is difficult at best. Since there is variation between US and British measurement systems, I was looking for one consistent conversion measurement and chose liters. However, there are at least six different amounts given for a ephah: 7.7 l, 22 l, 33 l, 35 l, 36.44 l, and 40.32 l. These translate to somewhere between 1.31 and 6.87 bushels (US). Assuming barley in those times had approximately the same test weight, that means Ruth carried back somewhere between 63 and 330 pounds. (See The Bible -- Book of Ruth, Ch. 3, Vs. 15-17)

Another perspective:If your question refers to Ruth 3, there is no way to know for certain. "Measure" in Ruth 3:15 is a verb, not a noun, so what Ruth was given to carry was "six measured amounts;" probably six armfuls. ("Ephah" in the Modern or New King James is misleading; the word for an ephah is not present in Ruth 3.)

Answer 2

In biblical times, a measure of barley was equivalent to approximately 22 liters or 6 gallons. Therefore, six measures of barley would have been around 132 liters or 36 gallons. Barley was a common staple in ancient times and was used for various purposes, including food, animal feed, and making beverages like beer.

Answer 3

In biblical times, six measures of barley referred to approximately 8-10 bushels (about 220-280 liters) based on historical measurements. This would have been a significant amount of barley, likely enough to sustain a family for an extended period or used for trade.

Answer 4

528