Weights and measures in the Bible

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The following tables provide an overview of the weights and measures that appear in the Bible . As far as possible, the possible value is given in modern units of measurement, as well as exemplary Bible passages in which the respective unit is mentioned.

Length measurements

(different numbers due to different information)

Hebrew Unit of measurement composition Bible passage
qāneh קָנֶה rod 6 large cubits 2.70 - 3.15 m Ez 40.5  EU
Large cubit, also called a royal cubit 28 fingers = 76 cubits 52.5 cm Ez 40.5  EU
'ammāh אַמָּה Cubit 24 fingers 45.0 - 45.8 cm Gen 6.15  EU
foot 16 fingers = 23 cubits 30.0 - 30.5 cm Dtn 2.5  EU
Span 12 fingers = 12 cubit 22.5-22.9 cm Ex 28.16  EU
ṭĕp̄aḥ טֱפַח Hand width 06 fingers = 14 cubit 11.2 - 11.5 cm Ex 25.25  EU
'eṣba' אֶצְבַּע finger 116 feet = 124 cubits 1.875 - 1.9 cm Jer 52.21  EU

Distance measures

Unit of measurement composition Bible passage
Day march approx. 40 km Num 35.4  EU (indirect)
mile 2000 step = 8 stages approx. 1.5 km Mt 5.41  EU
Sabbath way 1200 paces = 2000 cubits approx. 0.9 km Acts 1.12  EU
Stadium (field) 250 paces = 625 feet approx. 188 m 2 Makk 11.5  EU
Thread ( fathom ) 6 feet = 4 cubits approx. 1.80 m Acts 27.28  EU
Step (corridor) 2 12 feet approx. 75 cm 2 Sam 6.13  EU
foot 23 cubits approx. 30 cm Dtn 2.5  EU

Volume measurements

Dry fabrics

Grains in particular are measured with these volume units.
(different numbers, since different information)

Unit of measurement composition Bible passage
Hómer 10 Epha 220 - 360 l Lev 27.16  EU
Letech / Letek 5 Epha 110 - 180 l Hos 3.2  EU
Epha / Efa 1 epha 22 - 40 l Ex 16.36  EU
Seah / Sea 13 epha 7.3 - 13 l 2 Kings 7.1  EU
Gomer / Omer 110 epha 2.2 - 4 l Ex 16.36  EU
Tenth ( Issaron ) 110 epha 2.2 - 4 l Ex 29.40  EU
Kab / Qab 118 epha 1.2 - 2.2 l 2 Kings 6.25  EU
bushel approx. 8.7 l Lk 11,33  LUT
Roman bushel approx. 9 l Mt 5.15  LUT
Measure w. Santon approx. 13 l Mt 13.33  EU

Liquid substances

(different numbers, since different information)

Unit of measurement composition Bible passage
Cor 10 bat approx. 220 - 400 l 1 Kings 5,2  EU ; Lk 16.7  EU
Bat / bucket 1 bat approx. 22.0 - 40 l 1 Kings 7.26  EU
To 16 bat 3.7 - 6.5 l Ex 29.40  EU
log 172 bat 0.3 - 0.5 l Lev 14.10  EU

The dimensional chain was different for dry and liquid things.

Generally it was true

  • 1 Chomer / Hissaron = 2 Letech = 10 Bath / Epha = 30 Seah = 60 Hin = 100 Homer = 180 Kab = 720 Log = 4320 eggshells

Applied to dry goods

  • 1 Kor = 2 Letech = 10 Epha = 30 Seah = 10 Homer = 180 Kab = 4320 eggshells = 10143.9 Parisian cubic inches
  • 1 bath = 6 hin = 72 log = 432 eggshells = 1014.39 Parisian cubic inches

Weights

(different numbers, since different information)

Unit of measurement composition Bible passage
Talent / ככר 3000 shekels = 60 mines 36 - 41 kg Ex 25.39  EU ; Mt 18.24  EU
Mine / מנה 50 shekels 600 - 685 g Ez 45.12  EU ; Lk 19.13  EU
Shekel / שׁקל 1 shekel 12-13.7 g Ex 38.24  EU
Beka / בקע 12 shekels 6 - 6.8 g Gen 24.22  EU
Gera / גרה 120 shekels 0.6-0.68 g Ex 30.13  EU
Litra 1 roman pound 320-330 g Joh 12,3  EU
Kesita / קשׂיטה approx. 46 g Gene 33.19  EU ; Job 42.11  EU
Pim approx. 8 g 1 Sam 13.21  EU

Coins and monetary units

Old Testament time

In Old Testament times there were no coins, instead the value of money was determined by weighing a precious metal . The talent, mine, shekel and kesita, were based on the Persian units, although the currency "shekel" is still valid in Israel today. It was only after the Babylonian exile ( 538 BC ) that the Israelites had minted money.

Persian time

Unit of measurement composition meaning Bible passage
Gold talent 10 silver talents 25.92 kg
Silver talent 60 silver mines
Silver mine 5 darics 100 shekels
Dareike 20 shekels 8.4 grams of 23 carat gold
Shekel 1/20 Dareike 5.6 g silver coin Gen 23.15-16  EU

New Testament time

In New Testament Palestine both Greek and Roman coins were in circulation at the same time. The following table gives an overview:

Monetary unit metal Division units Bible passage
Talent (unit) (Greek) silver 60 mines Mt 18.24  EU
Mine (large) silver 100 drachmas Lk 19.13  EU
Stater (tetradrachm, Greek) silver 4 drachmas, 1 shekel Mt 17.27  EU
Double drachm (Greek) silver 2 drachmas Mt 17.24  EU
Drachm (Greek) or Denarius (Roman) silver 16 Assaria, 6 obols Lk 15.8  EU
Assarion (Greek), As (Roman) copper 4 quadrantes Mt 10.29  EU
Quadrans (Roman) copper 2 Lepta Lk 12.59  EU
Obolos (Greek) copper 8 chalkoi ?
Chalkos (Greek) copper 1/48 drachma Mt 10.9  EU
Lepton (Greek) copper 1/128 drachma Mk 12.42  EU

A conversion according to today's value can be based on the fact that the daily wage of a worker according to Matthew ( Mt 20.1-16  EU ) was one denarius (or one drachma).

literature

  • Wolfgang Trapp : Small manual of the dimensions, numbers, weights and time calculation. Philipp Reclam Publishing House. 1998. ISBN 3-15-008737-6
  • Weights, Measures and Coins: The Bible, Standardized Translation (Appendix)
  • Joseph Levin Saalschütz: The Mosaic Law together with the complementary Talmudic-rabbinic provisions. Volume 1, Carl Heymann, Berlin 1853

Individual evidence

  1. Christian Carl J. Bunsen : Complete Bible work for the community with a Bible atlas. Part 1, FA Brockhaus, Leipzig 1858, S. CCCLXXIX.
  2. a b c Christian Karl Josias Bunsen, Adolf Kamphausen, Heinrich Julius Holtzmann: Complete Bible work for the community . FA Brockhaus, 1858, S. CCCLXXIX, CCCLXXX

Web links