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.
Omrekenaar
Weight
| Eenheid | Gelijk aan | Grootte | Bijbelplaatsen |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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 doorgaans 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 doorgaans 0,57 g
|
Exodus 30:13, Ezechiël 45:12 |
|
Beka
OT
בֶּקַע beqa
Half a shekel.
|
= 1/2 × Shekel |
≈ 5–6,5 g doorgaans 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 doorgaans 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 doorgaans 570 g
|
1 Koningen 10:17, Ezechiël 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 doorgaans 34,2 kg
|
Exodus 38:25, 1 Koningen 10:14, 2 Samuel 12:30 |
|
Pound (litra)
NT
λίτρα litra
The Roman pound, about 327 g.
|
≈ 322–329 g doorgaans 327 g
[1]
|
Johannes 12:3, Johannes 19:39 | |
|
Talent (Greek)
NT
τάλαντον talanton
The Greek talent, about 26 kg for the Attic one; other standards were heavier.
|
≈ 20–41 kg doorgaans 26 kg
[1][3]
|
Openbaring 16:21 |
Bedragen en maten in de Schrift
| Plaats | Bijbelplaatsen | Hoeveelheid | 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 Koningen 10:14 | 666 × Talent | ≈ 19 980–25 974 kg |
| A pound of pure nard | Johannes 12:3 | 1 × Pound (litra) | ≈ 322–329 g |
| Myrrh and aloes for the burial | Johannes 19:39 | 100 × Pound (litra) | ≈ 32,2–32,9 kg |
| Hailstones of a talent | Openbaring 16:21 | 1 × Talent (Greek) | ≈ 20–41 kg |
Bronnen
- 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