“A days journey” silewp2014 003.
Before we leave the translation of “half a furrow,” I suggest that the translator consult other English translations for additional ideas of rewording this phrase; for example, NCV renders it as: “over a half-
acre of ground,” which turns the distance into the size of a prescribed area. The use of a לֶבֶח ḥebel “measuring line” for measuring land is attested to several times in such books of
the Old Testament as Psalms 16:6 used figuratively; 78:55; Amos 7:17; Zechariah 2:1 [MT5]; Micah 2:5; cf. II Samuel 8:2. However, we have no indication that there was a standardized length for the
measuring line. The nautical unit σ̓ργʋɩά unit orguiá “fathom,” which occurs only twice in Acts 27:28, matches a man’s
arms stretched out horizontally. It is generally understood to be approximately 1.80 meters NP: 1.85 meters. For the Acts reference above, LN suggest: “…about 40 meters... about 30 meters.”
A στάδιος stádios or “stade” consisted of 600 feet. Since the “foot” differed in distinct regions, the stade differed too; namely, from 178 to 192 meters. For the New Testament many favor the Alexandrian stade
measuring 185 meters, although this too is debatable. Thus, in a verse like Luke 24:13 in NIV we have: “Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem,” which one might also render as: “…about 11 kilometers.”
A ὁδός σαββάτου hodós sabbátou; that is, “a Sabbath day’s walk” was, according to Jewish sources, 2,000 cubits long, which matches some 900 meters. However, others arrive at anywhere between 800
and 1,100 meters. The footnote on NIV’s rendering of Acts 1:12; namely, “They returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city,” states: “This is about 34 of
a mile or about 1,100 meters.” Another expression that could equally be used in the text is: “…close to about one kilometer.” This is particularly acceptable, if the translator wants only to express the
distance. However, heshe might also want to take into consideration the discussion regarding this term under section 7.1 “Original measurements versus modern equivalents”.
The Roman μίλιον mílion “mile” was 1,479 meters long. But in the only place where the mile occurs, which is Matthew 5:41, NIV renders it as: “If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two
miles.” The exact distance does not seem to be in focus, although TH points out: “One mile was presumably the distance a Roman soldier could force a Jew to carry his equipment.” In this case,
something like “a kilometer” should work just as well in most translations.