Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:
The standard of Hebrew weights and measures was kept in the sanctuary
(Lev. 19:35-36). A copy of said standard was kept in the household (Deut. 25:13-16). The destruction of the ancient standard with the tabernacle led to the adoption of the various weights and measures of such countries as the Hebrews happened to be subject to or in commercial interaction with. Hence the subject of Hebrew weights and measures is full of perplexity and uncertainty. See various weights and measures under their respective headings.
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Avoirdupois
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Pounds
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Ounces
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Drams
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Gerah (1/20 of a shekel)
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0.439
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Bekah (½ of a shekel)
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4.390
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Shekel
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8.780
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Maneh or pound (60 shekels)
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2
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0
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14.800
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Talent, kikkah (50 maneh)
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102
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14
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4.000
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Talent of lead (Zech. 5:7), "weighty piece" (margin)
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Talent (Rev. 16:21): if Attic = about 55 lbs.
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Pound, λίτρα (John 12:3; 19:39): about 12 oz. avoirdupois
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£
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s.
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d.
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Gerah (1/20 of a shekel)
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0
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0
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1.5
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Ex. 30:13
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Bekah, beqa (½ of a shekel)
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0
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1
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3
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Gen. 24:22
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Shekel
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0
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2
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6
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Gen. 23:15
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Dram (daric, a Persian gold coin) about
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1
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2
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0
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1 Chron. 29:7
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Maneh or pound, 60 shekels
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7
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10
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0
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Ezek. 45:12
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Talent of Silver
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375
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0
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0
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Ezra 7:22
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Talent of Gold
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6000
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0
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0
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Ex. 25:39
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£
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s.
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d.
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Mite, λεπτόν
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0
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0
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3/32
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Mark 12:42
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Farthing, κοδράντης
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0
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0
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3/16
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Matt. 5:26
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Farthing, άσσάριον
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0
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0
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¾
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Matt. 10:29
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Penny, δηνάριον
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0
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0
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7¾
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Matt. 20:2
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Piece of silver, δραχμή
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0
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0
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7¾
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Luke 15:8-9
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Tribute money, δίδραχμον
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0
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1
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3½
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Matt. 17:24
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Piece of money, στατήρ
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0
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2
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7
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Matt. 17:27
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Pound, μνά
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3
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4
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7
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Luke 19:13-25
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Talent (Roman), τάλαντον
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193
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15
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0
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Matt. 18:24
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Piece of silver, άργύριον
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0
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2
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6
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Matt. 26:15
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Money, άργύριον
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indefinite
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Matt. 25:18
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Measure
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Conversion
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Example
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Caph
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0.552
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pints
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Log (1.3 caphs)
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0.718
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pints
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Lev. 14:10-24
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Cab (4 logs)
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2.872
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pints
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2 Kings 6:25
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Hin (12 logs)
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1.077
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gallons
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Ex. 29:40
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Bath, Ephah (72 logs)
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6.462
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gallons
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1 Kings 7:26
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Cor, Homer (720 logs)
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64.620
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gallons
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Ezek. 45:14
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Pot, ξέστης
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0.960
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pints
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Mark 7:4,8
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Measure, βάτος
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7.500
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gallons
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Luke 16:6
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Firkin, μετρητής
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8.625
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gallons
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John 2:6
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Measure, κόρος
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64.133
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gallons
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Luke 16:7
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Measure
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Conversion
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Example
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Log
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0.718
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pints
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Cab (4 logs)
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2.872
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pints
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2 Kings 6:25
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Omer (1.8 cabs)
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5.169
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pints
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Ex. 16:16,36
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Tenth deal (tenth of an Ephah)
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5.169
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pints
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Ex. 29:40
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Measure, seah (6 cabs)
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2.154
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gallons
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1 Sam. 25:18
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Ephah (18 cabs)
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6.462
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gallons
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Lev. 5:11
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Half Homer, lethek (90 cabs)
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4.040
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bushels
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Hos. 3:2
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Homer, chomer (180 cabs)
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8.081
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bushels
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Lev. 27:16
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Measure, χõινιξ
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2.000
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pints
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Rev. 6:6
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Bushel, μόδιος
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2.000
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gallons
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Matt. 5:15
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Measure, σάτον
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2.875
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gallons
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Matt. 13:33
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Measure
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Conversion
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Example
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Finger or Digit, etsba
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0.7584
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inches
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Jer. 52:21
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Handbreadth or Palm (4 digits), tephach
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3.0337
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inches
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1 Kings 7:26
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Span, zereth (3 palms)
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9.1012
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inches
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Ex. 28:16
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Cubit, ammah, πήχυς (2 spans)
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18.2025
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inches
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Gen. 6:15
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Fathom, όρυιά (4 cubits)
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6.0675
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feet
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Acts 27:28
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Reed, qaneh (6 cubits)
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9.1012
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feet
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Ezek. 40:3-8
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Furlong, στάδιον (400 cubits)
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606.7500
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feet
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Luke 24:13
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Sabbath-day's journey (2000 cubits)
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3033.7500
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feet
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Acts 1:12
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Mile, μίλιον (3200 cubits)
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4854.0000
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feet
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Matt. 5:41
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Acre: as much land as a yoke of oxen would plow in a day
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1 Sam. 14:14
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Concise Bible Dictionary:
In the Old Testament money was weighed. The first recorded transaction in scripture is that of Abraham buying the field of Ephron the Hittite for four hundred shekels of silver, which Abraham “weighed” to Ephron (Gen. 23:15-16). The shekel here was a weight. Judas Maccabaeus, about B. C. 141, was the first to coin Jewish money, though there existed doubtless from of old pieces of silver of known value, which passed from hand to hand without being always weighed. Herod the Great coined money with his name on it; and Herod Agrippa had some coins; but after that the coins in Palestine were Roman.
The following tables must be taken approximately only: the authorities differ.
WEIGHTS.
The principal weights in use were as follows with their approximate equivalents:—
900006
It must be noted that there are two shekels mentioned in the Old Testament: one according to the “king’s weight,” probably the standard shekel used for all ordinary business (Ex. 38:29; Josh. 7:21; 2 Sam. 14:26; Amos 8:5); and another called the “shekel of the sanctuary,” of which it is said in Exodus 30:13; Leviticus 27:25; Numbers 3:47 and Numbers 18:16, “the shekel is 20 gerahs,” implying perhaps that the common shekel was different. Michaelis says that the proportion was as 5 to 3, the business shekel being the smaller.
This seems confirmed by the word maneh in the following passages. By comparing 1 Kings 10:17 with 2 Chronicles 9:16 it will be seen that a maneh equals 100 shekels (probably, for the word “shekels” has been added by the translators); whereas in Ezekiel 45:12 The maneh equals 60 shekels, because the latter would be shekels of the sanctuary. The passage in Ezekiel is obscure, but the sense appears to be that three weights (20, 25, and 15 shekels) should be their maneh, which makes, as in the above table, a maneh = 60 shekels. Some modern tables give the maneh as equal to 50 shekels, from the supposition that this is what is meant in Ezekiel 45:12 in the LXX. The maneh is translated “pound” “1 Kings 10:17; Ezra 2:69; Neh. 7:71-72).
The word bekah occurs in Exodus 38:26: it signifies “half,” and is “half shekel” in Exodus 30:13.
MONEY.
If the weights in the foregoing list be approximately correct, and silver be taken at 5/- per ounce, and gold at £4 per ounce Troy, the money value will be about
900007
With respect to “Piece of money” (Gen. 33:19; Job 42:11) and “Piece of silver” (Josh. 24:32) qesitah, Gesenius compares Genesis 33:19 with Genesis 23:16 and supposes the weight to equal 4 shekels.
900008
The Greek word ἀργύριον is the common word for “silver,” and “money,” as l’argent in French. “Piece of silver” in the AV is always ἀργύριον, except in Luke 15:8-9, where it is δραχμή.
The above gives no idea of the purchasing value of these sums, which often varied. A penny (δννάριον) was the usual daily wages of a working man: its purchasing value then must have been considerably more than it is now.
Liquid Measure
900009
Dry Measure
900010
Long Measure
900011
The above measures are calculated from the cubit being the same as the Hebrew ammah and the Greek πῆχυς, which latter is found in Matthew 6:27; Luke 12:25: John 21:8; Revelation 21:17. This may be called the short cubit (perhaps not the shortest: See CUBIT). In Ezekiel 41:8 is the expression, “a full reed of six great cubits.” The “great cubit” is supposed to be a cubit and a handbreadth. This would make Ezekiel’s reed to be about 10.618 feet. By adding a sixth to any of the above measurements they will correspond to the great cubit. There can be no doubt, however, that the “furlong” and the “mile” were Greek measures.
Though all these reckonings are only approximate, they help to throw light upon many passages of scripture. Thus Isaiah 5:10 shows that there is a curse resting upon the fields of a covetous man. In Revelation 6:6 the quantities prove that the time then spoken of will be one of great scarcity.
From Anstey’s Doctrinal Definitions:
Leviticus 19:36. A just hin.
The hin was a liquid measure containing about ten pints.
“125. Omer Ephah” From Manners and Customs of the Bible:
Exodus 16:36. Now an omer is the tenth part of an ephah.
1. The omen or gomer was a dry measure supposed to contain two quarts, one pint, and one tenth, English corn measure.
2. The ephah is supposed to have contained three pecks, one quart, and a pint.
“134. The Cubit” From Manners and Customs of the Bible:
Exodus 25:10. Two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.
The word cubit is derived directly from the Latin cubitus, the lower arm. The Hebrew word is ammah, the mother of the arm, that is, the forearm. It is evidently a measure taken from the human body; as were other measures of length among the Hebrews and other nations. There seem to be two kinds of cubits, and some say three kinds, mentioned in Scripture. In Deuteronomy 3:11, we read of “the cubit of a man.” In 2 Chronicles 3:3, “cubits after the first [or old] measure” are spoken of. In Ezekiel 41:8, we are told of “great cubits,” each one of which, according to Ezekiel 40:5, “measured a cubit and a handbreadth.” Some writers suppose these to represent three different measures of length; while others regard the first and second as identical, thus making but two kinds of cubits. Whether two or three cannot now be determined. It is no easier to decide as to the length of any one of the cubits named. Various estimates of the Mosaic cubit have been given, varying from twelve inches to twenty-two. The ancient Egyptian cubit was nearly twenty-one inches, which some of the best authorities now estimate as the length of the Mosaic. Other authorities, however, equally worthy of consideration, claim that the length of the Mosaic cubit, as applied to the Tabernacle and Temple, was eighteen inches; and that the Jews did not use the cubit of twenty-one inches—which was Babylonian as well as Egyptian—until after the captivity.
“136. The Span” From Manners and Customs of the Bible:
Exodus 28:16. A span shall be the length thereof, and a span shall be the breadth thereof.
The span (zereth) is the distance between the extremities of the thumb and outside finger of the outstretched hand. It is half a cubit.
“140. Talents” From Manners and Customs of the Bible:
Exodus 38:24. Twenty and nine talents.
The gold talent, which is here spoken of, is supposed to have weighed 1,320,000 grains, or very nearly 230 pounds troy. Its money value is reckoned at £5,475, or over $27,000. The silver talent, mentioned in verse 25, was half the weight, that is, 660,000 grains, or almost 115 pounds troy. Its value is estimated at £340, or $1,700. Of course there was no coin which represented this sum. The word was used to designate large amounts of money. See Matthew 25:15.
“167. The Hin” From Manners and Customs of the Bible:
Leviticus 19:36. A just hin.
The hin was a liquid measure containing about ten pints.
“209. Weights” From Manners and Customs of the Bible:
Deuteronomy 25:13. Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights, a great and a small.
1. The marginal reading for “divers weights” is “a stone and a stone,” which is a literal rendering of the Hebrew. See also Proverbs 11:1; 16:11. Weights were no doubt originally made of different-sized stones, from which fact eben, a stone, was used to signify a weight, even after other materials were used for weights. We have the word “stone” in our own language to denote a weight of a certain size, and the Germans use the corresponding word stein for a similar purpose.
2. Oriental peddlers still have, as in ancient times, two sets of weights, one for buying and the other for selling. Allusion is made to this species of dishonesty in Proverbs 20:10 and in Micah 6:11.
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