Cubit is an ancient unit of linear measure, originally equal to the length of the forearm from the tip of the middle finger to the elbow, or about 17 to 22 inches (43 to 56 centimeters). It was used by Ancient Egyptians and by Muslims during the ages of the Islamic civilization. Cubit is mentioned in the Jewish and Christian Bibles when referring to Noah's ark "the length of the ark three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits."
Cubits were used historically as a standard measurement in many ancient civilizations. However, nowadays they are not widely recognized or used as a standard unit of measurement in modern systems.
The old unit of measurement refers to various systems of measurement that were used in the past, before the standardized system of measurement was introduced. Examples of old units of measurement include the cubit, the fathom, the league, and the stone.
A cubit is not considered a standard unit in the International System of Units (SI) because it is not a fixed and universally accepted measurement. The length of a cubit can vary depending on the culture and time period in which it is used, making it an imprecise and inconsistent measurement. Modern standards prefer precise and standardized units for universal usage and comparison.
The span, the length of an expanded human hand. Span is the width of a human hand, from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the pinky finger. In ancient times, a span was considered to be 1/2 cubit. The cubit, around 18 inches.A cubit is the first recorded unit of length and was one of many different standards of measurement used through history. The hekat was used in ancient Egypt, used to measure grain, bread, and beer. The unit of weight for metals was called the deben, about 91 grams. See the Related Links for more information.
The Royal Egyptian Cubit
Since it was based on the length of a forearm, it wasn't precise enough or standardized.
Using a cubit as a unit of measurement can be advantageous because it is based on the human body, making it easy to estimate and use consistently. It provides a tangible reference point for measurement, especially in ancient times when standardized units were not widely available. Additionally, cubits can be used for rough measurements in construction or carpentry work where precision is not necessary.
The oldest known standard of measurement is the cubit, which was used in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. The cubit was typically the length of the forearm from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger.
The cubit, an ancient measure known to have been used for over 4,000 years, was based on the distance between the tip of the middle finger and the elbow of an individual, about 17 to 22 inches. It's was abandoned many years ago when standard measurements were developed for international trade.
It was measured in cubits (about 18 inches).
Early people used units of measure such as body parts (e.g. handspan, foot, cubit) and natural objects (e.g. grain, seed, stone). These units were based on the human body and commonly available items for ease of measurement and comparison. Over time, standardized units like the cubit (length from elbow to fingertip) became more widely used for consistency in trade and construction.
The cubit which is about 0.5 metre in modern terms