In biblical times, measurements of volume were crucial for various aspects of daily life, including trade, religious rituals, and domestic activities. While the term "gallon" as understood in modern English does not appear in the Bible, the concept of liquid measurement is present, often through ancient units such as the bath, hin, and ephah. These measurements were integral to the Israelites' understanding of quantities, particularly in the context of offerings and trade.

Ancient Measurements:

1. Bath: The bath was a unit of liquid measure used in ancient Israel, roughly equivalent to 22 liters or about 5.8 gallons. It is mentioned in the context of Solomon's temple, where large quantities of oil and wine were stored and used. For example, in 1 Kings 7:26, the molten sea in Solomon's temple is described as holding "two thousand baths."

2. Hin: The hin was a smaller unit of liquid measure, approximately 3.7 liters or about 1 gallon. It is frequently mentioned in the context of offerings. In Exodus 30:24, the recipe for the sacred anointing oil includes a hin of olive oil.

3. Ephah: While primarily a dry measure, the ephah is sometimes used in contexts that imply liquid measurement. It is approximately equivalent to 22 liters or about 5.8 gallons. In Ezekiel 45:11, the ephah is mentioned alongside the bath, indicating a standardization of measurements.

Biblical Context:

In the Bible, precise measurements were essential for maintaining the integrity of religious practices. The Law of Moses provided specific instructions for offerings, which often included precise quantities of oil, wine, and other liquids. For instance, in Leviticus 23:13, the grain offering is to be accompanied by "a quarter of a hin of wine."

The use of standardized measurements ensured fairness in trade and commerce, as seen in Leviticus 19:35-36: "You must not use dishonest measures of length, weight, or volume. You shall maintain honest scales and weights, an honest ephah, and an honest hin."

Symbolic Significance:

Measurements in the Bible often carry symbolic significance, reflecting abundance, judgment, or divine provision. For example, the overflowing cup in Psalm 23:5 symbolizes abundance and blessing: "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows."

In prophetic literature, measurements can symbolize judgment or restoration. In Isaiah 5:10, the prophet laments the judgment on Israel, stating, "For ten acres of vineyard shall yield but a bath, and a homer of seed shall yield but an ephah."

Conclusion:

While the modern concept of a gallon is not directly found in the Bible, understanding ancient measurements like the bath, hin, and ephah provides insight into the daily life and religious practices of biblical times. These measurements underscore the importance of precision and integrity in worship and commerce, reflecting broader themes of justice and divine provision throughout Scripture.3355. metretes -- a measurer, a measure
... metretes Phonetic Spelling: (met-ray-tace') Short Definition: a measure, amphora
Definition: a measure, amphora, about 39.39 liters or 8.75 gallons. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3355.htm - 6k

3426. modios -- modius, a dry measure of one peck
... of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: modios Phonetic Spelling: (mod'-ee-os)
Short Definition: a dry measure, nearly two English gallons Definition: a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3426.htm - 6k

4568. saton -- seah, a (Heb.) measure (equiv. to about one and a ...
... and a half pecks). Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: saton Phonetic
Spelling: (sat'-on) Short Definition: nearly three English gallons Definition: a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4568.htm - 7k

2884. koros -- a cor (a Hebrew measure equiv. to about 15 bushels)
... 15 bushels). Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: koros Phonetic Spelling:
(kor'-os) Short Definition: a dry measure, 120 gallons Definition: (Hebrew ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2884.htm - 6k

943. batos -- a bath, an Israelite liquid measure
... Noun, Masculine Transliteration: batos Phonetic Spelling: (bat'-os) Short Definition:
a bath, a liquid measure between eight and nine gallons Definition: a bath ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/943.htm - 6k

Second Great Group of Parables.
... 6 And he said, A hundred measures of oil. [The measure mentioned here is the Hebrew
bath, which corresponded roughly to a firkin, or nine gallons.] And he said ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xcii second great group of 5.htm

Jesus Works his First Miracle at Cana in Galilee.
... The room is a rude chapel, and at one side stand two old stone mortars, one holding
about eight gallons and the other about ten, now used for immersing infants ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xxii jesus works his first.htm

The First Miracle.
... The six water-pots, on this occasion, each held two or three firkins, meaning, it
is supposed, the Hebrew bath, a measure of seven and a half gallons. ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/the first miracle.htm

The Waterpots at Cana
... Some have raised a question about the great quantity of wine, for I suppose there
must have been no less than one hundred and twenty gallons, and probably more ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 26 1880/the waterpots at cana.htm

The Marriage Feast in Cana of Galilee - the Miracle that is a Sign ...
... [1748] The common Palestinian bath' was equal to the Roman amphora, containing about
5 ?� gallons, while the Sepphoris bath' corresponded to the Attic metretes ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter iv the marriage feast.htm

How Jesus Sowed Wheat.
... Joseph also took a little of the same wheat, for the blessing of Jesus to his house.
Footnotes: [1769] The modius or modium was almost exactly two gallons. ...
/.../unknown/the gospel of thomas/chapter x how jesus sowed wheat.htm

Hiram, the Inspired Artificer
... It was capable of containing from fifteen to twenty thousand gallons of
water, and the ornamentation was elaborate exceedingly. ...
/.../milligan/men of the bible some lesser-known/hiram the inspired artificer.htm

I Will Take one Case that Will Serve Both as Symbol and Example...
... Yellow is a bright pigment; mustard is a pungent pleasure. But to look at these
seas of yellow is to be like a man who should swallow gallons of mustard. ...
/.../chesterton/whats wrong with the world/chapter 35 i will take.htm

The Wedding at Cana
... said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." Six stone water-jars (such as
the Jews used in washing) were there; each jar would hold about twenty gallons. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/the wedding at cana.htm

Note a the Following Extract of a Letter I Received from the Rev. ...
... "On leaving the harbor we called on some brethren, who, with their neighbors, carried
down several gallons of milk, and distributed among the wounded. ...
/.../note a the following extract.htm

Gallons (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Gallons (2 Occurrences). Luke 16:6 He said,'A
hundred batos of oil.' He said to him,'Take your bill, and ...
/g/gallons.htm - 6k

Firkin
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Used only in John 2:6; the Attic amphora, equivalent to
the Hebrew bath (qv), a measure for liquids containing about 8 7/8 gallons. ...
/f/firkin.htm - 7k

Bath (13 Occurrences)
... 45:10, 14). It contained 8 gallons 3 quarts of our measure. ... BATH. (bath):
A liquid measure equal to about 9 gallons, English measure. ...
/b/bath.htm - 22k

Vat (7 Occurrences)
... especially, a liquid measure in Belgium and Holland, corresponding to the hectoliter
of the metric system, which contains 22.01 imperial gallons, or 26.4 ...
/v/vat.htm - 9k

Gallio (3 Occurrences)

/g/gallio.htm - 10k

Pool (25 Occurrences)
... Fund. These underground caverns are about thirty-five in number, and are
capable of storing about ten million gallons of water. ...
/p/pool.htm - 40k

Homer (6 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) A Hebrew measure containing, as a liquid measure, ten baths, equivalent
to fifty-five gallons, two quarts, one pint; and, as a dry measure, ten ephahs ...
/h/homer.htm - 9k

Urn (1 Occurrence)
... 2. (n.) Fig.: Any place of burial; the grave. 3. (n.) A measure of capacity for
liquids, containing about three gallons and a haft, wine measure. ...
/u/urn.htm - 7k

Gallop (1 Occurrence)

/g/gallop.htm - 7k

What happened to Mary? | GotQuestions.org

What are the modern equivalents of biblical weights and measures? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus