21:17a

And he measured its wall to be 144 cubits: The Greek does not say which measurement of the wall is 144 cubits. The Berean Standard Bible and some English versions (Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition, God’s Word, NET Bible, English Standard Version, King James Version) translate the Greek literally. For example, the Revised Standard Version says:

He also measured its wall, a hundred and forty-four cubits

Other English versions interpret this measurement in two ways:

(1) The measurement refers to the height of the wall. For example:

He measured its wall, and this was a hundred and forty-four cubits high (New Jerusalem Bible)

(2) The measurement refers to the thickness of the wall, as in the Berean Standard Bible. For example:

Then he measured the walls and found them to be 216 feet thick (New Living Translation (2004))

If you interpret this measurement, it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because 21:12 speaks of a great, high wall.

144 cubits: A “cubit” is a measure of length from a man’s fingertip to his elbow. One cubit is about 45 centimeters (1.5 feet). So this phrase refers to about 66 meters (216 feet). You may want to:

• Use the Jewish unit of measure as the Berean Standard Bible does. You may then want to explain the distance in a footnote. For example:

This is about 66 meters.
-or-
This is 216 feet.

• Use the common unit of measure in your area. For example:

66 meters
-or-
216 feet (Good News Translation)
-or-
86 paces

You may then want to explain the literal words in a footnote. For example:

Literally: “144 cubits.” The cubit is the Jewish unit of measure of length. It is the length from the fingertip to the elbow (about 45 centimeters).

21:17b

by the human measure: This phrase indicates that the angel used the cubit that people use. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

by man’s measurement (New International Version)
-or-
according to the cubit used by people

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