Bushel

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

Bushel ( ὁ μόδιος,  Matthew 5:15,  Mark 4:21,  Luke 11:33—a Lat. word with a Gr. form).—The Roman modius , equal to 16 sextarii , or approximately one English peck, was not a measure in common use in Jewish households. Although the definite article is probably generic (‘ the bushel,’ so Revised Version NT 1881, OT 1885), the measure which would lend itself naturally to our Lord’s illustration, and that to which He actually referred, was the Hebrew seah measure used by the housewife in preparing the daily bread. While the seah measure varied in size according to locality, it is generally regarded as being equal to one modius and a quarter, though Josephus ( Ant. ix. iv. 5) states: ‘A seah is equal to an Italian modius and a half.’

To the influence of Roman customs was no doubt due the substitution of modius for seah in the report of the saying ( Matthew 5:15 etc.); and in like manner, since no importance was attached by our Lord to exactness of measure, the familiar ‘bushel’ of earlier English versions has been retained by the Revised Version NT 1881, OT 1885, although ‘peck’ would be a more accurate rendering.

The saying of our Lord is as picturesque as it is forcible. It gives us a glimpse into a Galilaean home, where the commonest articles of furniture would be the lamp, the lampstand, the seah measure, and the couch. And who could fail to apprehend the force of the metaphor? ‘When the word has been proclaimed, its purpose is defeated if it be concealed by the hearers; when the lamp comes in, who would put it under the modius or the couch of the triclinium  ?’ (Swete on  Mark 4:21).

Literature.—Art. ‘Weights and Measures’ in Hasting's Dictionary of the Bible iv. 911a, 913b, and the Encyc. Bibl. iv. col. 5294 f.

Alex. A. Duncan.

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

1: Μόδιος (Strong'S #3426 — Noun Masculine — modios — mod'-ee-os )

was a dry measure containing about a peck,  Matthew 5:15;  Mark 4:21;  Luke 11:33 .

King James Dictionary

BUSH'EL, n. A dry measure, containing eight gallons, or four pecks. The standard English bushel,by Stat.12 . Henry VII., contains eight gallons of wheat, each gallon eight pounds of wheat, troy weight, the pound, twelve ounces troy, the ounce, twenty sterlings, and the sterling,thirty two grains of wheat growing in the middle of the ear. The contents are 2145.6 solid inches, equivalent to 1131 ounces and 14 pennyweights troy.

The English bushel is used also in the U. States.

Bushel signifies both the quantity or capacity, and the vessel which will contain the quantity.

1. In popular language, a large quantity indefinitely. 2. The circle of iron in the nave of a wheel in America, called a box. See Bush.

Webster's Dictionary

(1): (n.) A large indefinite quantity.

(2): (n.) A quantity that fills a bushel measure; as, a heap containing ten bushels of apples.

(3): (n.) The iron lining in the nave of a wheel. [Eng.] In the United States it is called a box. See 4th Bush.

(4): (v. t. & i.) To mend or repair, as men's garments; to repair garments.

(5): (n.) A dry measure, containing four pecks, eight gallons, or thirty-two quarts.

(6): (n.) A vessel of the capacity of a bushel, used in measuring; a bushel measure.

Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types

 Matthew 5:15 (b) A type of business affairs under which some Christians bury their testimony. (See also  Luke 11:33).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Bushel. See Weights and Measures .

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Bushel.  Matthew 5:15. See Measures.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Used in the New Testament to express the Greek modius, which was about a peck by our measure.

Holman Bible Dictionary

Weights And Measures

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

BUSHEL . See Weights and Measures.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

See Weights Andmeasurfs

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

is used in the Auth. Vers. to express the Greek Μόδιος , Latin Modius, a Roman measure for dry articles, equal to one sixth of the Attic medimnus (see Smith's Dict. Of Class. Antiq. s.v. Modius), and containing 1 gall. 7,8576 pints, or nearly one peck English measure ( Matthew 5:15;  Mark 4:21;  Luke 11:33). (See Measure).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

boosh´el ( μόδιος , módios ): A dry measure containing about a peck, but as it is used in the New Testament ( Matthew 5:15;  Mark 4:21;  Luke 11:33 ) it does not refer to capacity but is used only to indicate a covering to conceal the light.

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Bushel is used in the Authorized Version to express a measure of about a peck.