Matthew 6:27

27. Add one cubit to his stature To provide food and to eat food is man’s duty; to regulate the digestive process, the growth, the size, comes within the prerogative of God. We can do our part, and God takes care of the rest.

The word cubit (Latin, cubitus) signifies primarily the human arm, from the elbow to the end of the longest finger. This part of the human frame (like the foot) became, very anciently, a measure of external objects. The ancient Egyptian cubit was six handbreadths, or two spans, a span being the measure from the end of the thumb to the end of the little finger of the extended hand. These are somewhat variable measures, but the cubit was about eighteen inches.

Some have rendered the word stature here by the word life, and would improve the meaning by making our Lord ask whether we can add a cubit to life a very odd phrase indeed. Dr. Stier, in his learned work, The Words of Jesus, supposes himself to have settled the question in favour of this meaning by showing that in Matthew 6:26-27 our Lord illustrates the life alone, and in Matthew 6:28-30 the body alone. This is true; but it proves just the reverse of Dr. Stier’s conclusions. The body, as the subject of clothing only, is spoken of in 28-30. In 27 the life is, indeed, the subject, but the life as developing the growth and stature attained. The Greek word for stature does not properly signify life, except as measured by the growth. It is derived from a word signifying how great, and the reference to size and growth is never lost from the word. Cubit is a very uncommon measurement of time, though the ordinary one of stature. The obvious meaning is, man may provide food, but God regulates the growth.

Upon the phraseology of this verse Mr. Roberts remarks:

“This form of speech is sometimes used to humble those of high pretensions. Thus a man of low caste who has become rich, and who assumes authority over his better born though poor neighbours, will be asked: ‘What, has your money made you a cubit higher?’ that is, in the scale of being. Is a man ambitious of rising in society? a person who wishes to annoy him will put his finger to his elbow, and showing him that part to the tip of the middle finger, ask: ‘Friend, will you ever rise thus much [a cubit] after all your cares?’ ‘Yes, yes; the low caste thinks himself a cubit taller, because he has got the favour of the king.’”