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.
Convertitore
Weight
| Unità | Equivale a | Grandezza | Passi biblici |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Shekel
AT
שֶׁקֶל sheqel
The basic weight, about 11.4 g by inscribed Judean weights. There were heavier royal and sanctuary shekels.
|
≈ 10–13 g in genere 11,4 g
[1][2]
|
Genesi 24:22, Esodo 30:13, 2 Samuele 14:26 | |
|
Gerah
AT
גֵּרָה gerah
The smallest weight, a twentieth of a shekel.
|
= 1/20 × Shekel |
≈ 0,5–0,65 g in genere 0,57 g
|
Esodo 30:13, Ezechiele 45:12 |
|
Beka
AT
בֶּקַע beqa
Half a shekel.
|
= 1/2 × Shekel |
≈ 5–6,5 g in genere 5,7 g
|
Genesi 24:22, Esodo 38:26 |
|
Pim
AT
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 in genere 7,6 g
|
1 Samuele 13:21 |
|
Mina
AT
מָנֶה maneh
Fifty shekels, about 570 g. Ezekiel reckons a mina of sixty shekels.
|
= 50 × Shekel |
≈ 500–650 g in genere 570 g
|
1 Re 10:17, Ezechiele 45:12 |
|
Talent
AT
כִּכָּר kikkar
The largest weight: sixty minas, 3000 shekels (Exodus 38:25–26), about 34 kg.
|
= 60 × Mina |
≈ 30–39 kg in genere 34,2 kg
|
Esodo 38:25, 1 Re 10:14, 2 Samuele 12:30 |
|
Pound (litra)
NT
λίτρα litra
The Roman pound, about 327 g.
|
≈ 322–329 g in genere 327 g
[1]
|
Giovanni 12:3, Giovanni 19:39 | |
|
Talent (Greek)
NT
τάλαντον talanton
The Greek talent, about 26 kg for the Attic one; other standards were heavier.
|
≈ 20–41 kg in genere 26 kg
[1][3]
|
Apocalisse 16:21 |
Somme e misure nella Scrittura
| Passo | Passi biblici | Quantità | Equivalente |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goliath's coat of mail | 1 Samuele 17:5 | 5 000 × Shekel | ≈ 50–65 kg |
| Goliath's spearhead | 1 Samuele 17:7 | 600 × Shekel | ≈ 6–7,8 kg |
| Absalom's hair | 2 Samuele 14:26 | 200 × Shekel | ≈ 2–2,6 kg |
| Solomon's gold in a year | 1 Re 10:14 | 666 × Talent | ≈ 19 980–25 974 kg |
| A pound of pure nard | Giovanni 12:3 | 1 × Pound (litra) | ≈ 322–329 g |
| Myrrh and aloes for the burial | Giovanni 19:39 | 100 × Pound (litra) | ≈ 32,2–32,9 kg |
| Hailstones of a talent | Apocalisse 16:21 | 1 × Talent (Greek) | ≈ 20–41 kg |
Fonti
- 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