Bedsteads in the Bible

Hebrew: עֶרֶשׂ —transliteration: `eres —meaning: bedstead, bed, couch ir sickbed —occurrences: 10

This word is used by Moses in Deuteronomy 3 in describing an unusual artifact made of iron on display in an Ammonite city.

…only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of the Rephaim. Behold, his bedstead was an iron bedstead; it is in Rabbah [modern Amman, Jordan] of the sons of Ammon. Its length was nine cubits, and its width four cubits by ordinary cubit. —Deuteronomy 3:11 excerpt

If we assume a minimum cubit of 18 inches, then this bed was 13.5 x 6 feet (4.7 x 1.8 meters).

If we assume the longer ordinary cubit of 20.24 inches, then this bed was 15.2 x 6.75 feet (4.6 x 2.1 meters).

Elsewhere the Hebrew word eres is translated “couch,” “bed,” or “sickbed.”

…My bed will comfort me… —Job 7:13 excerpt

…my couch… —Psalm 6:6 excerpt

Yahweh will sustain him upon his sickbed… —Psalm 41:3 excerpt

…the comfort of my bed… —Psalm 132:3 excerpt

I have spread my couch with coverings… —Proverbs 7:16 excerpt

…our couch is luxuriant! —Song of Songs 1:16 excerpt

…With the corner of a bed [mittah] and the cover of a couch! [`eres] —Amos 3:12 excerpt

Those who lie down on beds [mittah] of ivory and sprawl on their couches [`eres]… —Amos 6:4 excerpt

More information

• What is a biblical cubit?
• Iron in the Bible
• What is Rabbah?
• Who and what is Og?
• What are the giants in the Bible?
• Who are the Rephaim?
• Beds in the Bible
• Bed chambers in the Bible
• Couches in the Bible
• Houses in the Bible