7Q400

7Q400 refers to a small, ancient clay jar discovered in 1970 during the excavation of Qumran Cave 7, located on the northwestern shore of the Dead Sea in modern-day Israel. The jar is notable for its inscription, which contains the only known example of a complete Hebrew word written in the ancient Hebrew script from the Second Temple period (roughly 500 BCE–70 CE). The inscription reads "שבעים ארבע מאות" (sheva'im arba'im me'ot), which translates to "seventy-four hundred" in English.

The jar itself is a standard type used for storing liquids, such as olive oil or wine, and dates to the 1st century BCE. Its discovery is significant for scholars studying the Hebrew language, script, and the Qumran community, which produced the Dead Sea Scrolls. The inscription provides a rare linguistic artifact from the period, offering insights into the scriptural conventions and possible numerical notations of the time.

The jar was initially part of a larger collection of artifacts found in Qumran Cave 7, which also yielded fragments of biblical texts and other scrolls. While the 7Q400 jar is not as famous as some of the more complete Dead Sea Scrolls, its inscription remains a key reference point for paleographers and historians studying ancient Hebrew script. The jar is currently housed in the Israel Antiquities Authority collections, though it is occasionally exhibited in museums and scholarly publications. Its study continues to contribute to broader understanding of the cultural and linguistic context of the region during the late Second Temple period.