A biblical unit of measurement the width of a hand from one side to the other, about 8 centimeters or 3 inches.
About Handbreadth
A measure of length equal to one-sixth of a cubit or just under 7.6 centimeters (three inches) in length. The fingers, up to four (Jeremiah 52:21), made a handbreadth; three handbreadths made a handstretch or span (Exodus 28:16).
See Weights and Measures.
Key References
And make a rim around it a handbreadth wide and put a gold molding on the rim.
It was a handbreadth thick, and its rim was fashioned like the brim of a cup, like a lily blossom. It could hold two thousand baths.
These are the measurements of the altar in long cubits (a cubit and a handbreadth): Its gutter shall be a cubit deep and a cubit wide, with a rim of one span around its edge. And this is the height of the altar:
All Scripture References (8)
Exodus (2)
And make a rim around it a handbreadth wide and put a gold molding on the rim.
And he made a rim around it a handbreadth wide and put a gold molding on the rim.
1 Kings (1)
It was a handbreadth thick, and its rim was fashioned like the brim of a cup, like a lily blossom. It could hold two thousand baths.
2 Chronicles (1)
It was a handbreadth thick, and its rim was fashioned like the brim of a cup, like a lily blossom. It could hold three thousand baths.
Psalms (1)
Surely every man goes about like a phantom; surely he bustles in vain; he heaps up riches not knowing who will haul them away.
Ezekiel (3)
And I saw a wall surrounding the temple area. Now the length of the measuring rod in the man’s hand was six long cubits (each measuring a cubit and a handbreadth), and he measured the wall to be one rod thick and one rod high.
The double-pronged hooks, each a handbreadth long, were fastened all around the inside of the room, and the flesh of the offering was to be placed on the tables.
These are the measurements of the altar in long cubits (a cubit and a handbreadth): Its gutter shall be a cubit deep and a cubit wide, with a rim of one span around its edge. And this is the height of the altar: