Weights and measures in the Bible
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 = 7 ⁄ 6 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 = 2 ⁄ 3 cubits | 30.0 - 30.5 cm | Dtn 2.5 EU | |
Span | 12 fingers = 1 ⁄ 2 cubit | 22.5-22.9 cm | Ex 28.16 EU | |
ṭĕp̄aḥ טֱפַח | Hand width | 1 ⁄ 4 cubit | 6 fingers =11.2 - 11.5 cm | Ex 25.25 EU |
'eṣba' אֶצְבַּע | finger | 1 ⁄ 16 feet = 1 ⁄ 24 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 1 ⁄ 2 feet | approx. 75 cm | 2 Sam 6.13 EU |
foot | 2 ⁄ 3 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 | 1 ⁄ 3 epha | 7.3 - 13 l | 2 Kings 7.1 EU |
Gomer / Omer | 1 ⁄ 10 epha | 2.2 - 4 l | Ex 16.36 EU |
Tenth ( Issaron ) | 1 ⁄ 10 epha | 2.2 - 4 l | Ex 29.40 EU |
Kab / Qab | 1 ⁄ 18 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 | 1 ⁄ 6 bat | 3.7 - 6.5 l | Ex 29.40 EU |
log | 1 ⁄ 72 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 | 1 ⁄ 2 shekels | 6 - 6.8 g | Gen 24.22 EU |
Gera / גרה | 1 ⁄ 20 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
- ↑ Christian Carl J. Bunsen : Complete Bible work for the community with a Bible atlas. Part 1, FA Brockhaus, Leipzig 1858, S. CCCLXXIX.
- ↑ a b c Christian Karl Josias Bunsen, Adolf Kamphausen, Heinrich Julius Holtzmann: Complete Bible work for the community . FA Brockhaus, 1858, S. CCCLXXIX, CCCLXXX