📖 Biblical Definition
The hin was the standard Mosaic-law liquid-measure unit — roughly 3.7 liters (about one US gallon). It was used for oil, wine, and water in tabernacle offerings (Exodus 29:40; 30:24; Leviticus 23:13; Numbers 15:4-10; 28:7). The just hin is required by the law alongside the just ephah: "Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt" (Leviticus 19:36). The verse is striking: the LORD’s authority over redemption is paired with His authority over honest measures. Worship and trade are governed by the same God. False measures defile both the marketplace and the altar.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Standard Mosaic liquid measure (~3.7 liters / ~1 gallon).
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The standard liquid-measure unit in Mosaic law, equivalent to about 3.7 liters (about 1 US gallon). Used for oil, wine, and water in tabernacle offerings: a fourth-hin of oil with a tenth-ephah of flour for the meal-offering, etc. The just hin is required (Lev 19:36) alongside the just ephah.
📖 Key Scripture
Leviticus 19:36 — "Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am the LORD your God."
Numbers 28:5 — "And a tenth part of an ephah of flour for a meat offering, mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil."
Ezekiel 45:24 — "And he shall prepare a meat offering of an ephah for a ram, and an ephah for a bullock, and an hin of oil for an ephah."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Lost from common usage; the just-measures principle largely operationalized differently in modern commerce, often badly.
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Modern liquid measures are highly regulated — in theory. In practice, dishonest measures recur: thinned wine, watered milk, deceptive packaging. The hin and ephah laws apply in principle wherever measures are used.
Recover the principle: just measures are part of righteousness. Quietly check that your weights are honest.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew hin.
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['Hebrew', 'H1969', 'hin', 'hin (liquid measure)']
Usage
"Just hin: ~1 gallon liquid measure."
"Used with ephah of flour in meal offerings."
"Honest measures = righteousness."