Weights in the Bible

The shekel is the root of the biblical weights: a mina is fifty shekels, a talent is sixty minas. Silver and gold were weighed in the same units, so Old Testament money repeats these names.

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Amount

Enter a non-negative number up to 1 000 000: 2, 0.5 or 1/4.

From

= 20 Gerah

In metric units: ≈ 10–13 g, typically 11.4 g

Weight

Unit	Equals	Size	Scripture
Shekel OT שֶׁקֶל sheqel The basic weight, about 11.4 g by inscribed Judean weights. There were heavier royal and sanctuary shekels.		≈ 10–13 g typically 11.4 g ^[1][2]	Genesis 24:22, Exodus 30:13, 2 Samuel 14:26
Gerah OT גֵּרָה gerah The smallest weight, a twentieth of a shekel.	= 1/20 × Shekel	≈ 0.5–0.65 g typically 0.57 g	Exodus 30:13, Ezekiel 45:12
Beka OT בֶּקַע beqa Half a shekel.	= 1/2 × Shekel	≈ 5–6.5 g typically 5.7 g	Genesis 24:22, Exodus 38:26
Pim OT פִּים pim Two thirds of a shekel; known from weights found in excavations, it explains a verse that was long obscure.	= 2/3 × Shekel	≈ 6.67–8.67 g typically 7.6 g	1 Samuel 13:21
Mina OT מָנֶה maneh Fifty shekels, about 570 g. Ezekiel reckons a mina of sixty shekels.	= 50 × Shekel	≈ 500–650 g typically 570 g	1 Kings 10:17, Ezekiel 45:12
Talent OT כִּכָּר kikkar The largest weight: sixty minas, 3000 shekels (Exodus 38:25–26), about 34 kg.	= 60 × Mina	≈ 30–39 kg typically 34.2 kg	Exodus 38:25, 1 Kings 10:14, 2 Samuel 12:30
Pound (litra) NT λίτρα litra The Roman pound, about 327 g.		≈ 322–329 g typically 327 g ^[1]	John 12:3, John 19:39
Talent (Greek) NT τάλαντον talanton The Greek talent, about 26 kg for the Attic one; other standards were heavier.		≈ 20–41 kg typically 26 kg ^[1][3]	Revelation 16:21

Sums and measures in Scripture

Passage	Scripture	Amount	Equivalent
Goliath's coat of mail	1 Samuel 17:5	5 000 × Shekel	≈ 50–65 kg
Goliath's spearhead	1 Samuel 17:7	600 × Shekel	≈ 6–7.8 kg
Absalom's hair	2 Samuel 14:26	200 × Shekel	≈ 2–2.6 kg
Solomon's gold in a year	1 Kings 10:14	666 × Talent	≈ 19 980–25 974 kg
A pound of pure nard	John 12:3	1 × Pound (litra)	≈ 322–329 g
Myrrh and aloes for the burial	John 19:39	100 × Pound (litra)	≈ 32.2–32.9 kg
Hailstones of a talent	Revelation 16:21	1 × Talent (Greek)	≈ 20–41 kg

Sources

Marvin A. Powell. Weights and Measures // The Anchor Bible Dictionary, ed. D. N. Freedman. Vol. 6. New York: Doubleday, 1992
R. B. Y. Scott. Weights and Measures of the Bible // The Biblical Archaeologist 22, no. 2 (1959)
Weights and Measures; Money // The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, rev. ed., ed. G. W. Bromiley. Vol. 3–4. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1986–1988