Bible Dictionaries
Weights

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Reduced to English troy-weight, the Hebrew weights were:
  • The gerah (Leviticus 27:25; Numbers 3:47 ), a Hebrew word, meaning a grain or kernel, and hence a small weight. It was the twentieth part of a shekel, and equal to 12 grains.

  • Bekah (Exodus 38:26 ), meaning "a half" i.e., "half a shekel," equal to 5 pennyweight.

  • Shekel, "a weight," only in the Old Testament, and frequently in its original form (Genesis 23:15,16; Exodus 21:32; 30:13,15; 38:24-29 , etc.). It was equal to 10 pennyweight.

  • Ma'neh, "a part" or "portion" (Ezekiel 45:12 ), equal to 60 shekels, i.e., to 2 lbs. 6 oz.

  • Talent of silver (2 Kings 5:22 ), equal to 3,000 shekels, i.e., 125 lbs.

  • Talent of gold (Exodus 25:39 ), double the preceding, i.e., 250 lbs.

    Copyright Statement
    These dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain.
    Bibliography Information
    Easton, Matthew George. Entry for 'Weights'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/​dictionaries/​eng/​ebd/​w/weights.html. 1897.
    StudyLight.org © 2001-2025
    Powered by Lightspeed Technology