Conservapedia

Biblical weights and measures

Old Testament Weights and Measures
Weights
Type of Weight Old Testament Measure
(approximate equivalent) 		Imperial Measure
(approx. equivalent) 		Metric Measure
(approx. equivalent) 		Biblical References
Bekah
Half-shekel, 10 gerahs
0.22 oz
6.2 g
 Exodus 38:26
Dram
Hebrew: adarkon
lit, a handful of drachmae or darics
0.31 oz
8.8 g
 1st Chr 29:7, Ezra 2:69, Ezra 8:27, Ne 7:70-72
Gerah
1/20 of a shekel
0.022 oz
0.62 g
 Exodus 30:13, Lev 27:25, Num 3:47, Num 18:16 Eze 45:12
Gerah
1/20 of a shekel
0.022 oz
3 kg
 Ex 30:13, Lev 27:25, Num 3:47, Num 18:16 Eze 45:12
Pound
Heb. mnah
300 shekels
6.6 lbs
0.62 g
 1 King 10.17, Ezra 2:69, Neh 7:71-72
Shekel
20 gerahs
2 bekahs
0.44 oz
12.4 g
 Gen 23:15-16, Exo 21:32
Shekel of the sanctuary
0.5 oz
14.2 g
 Exodus 38:24-25, Lev 27:3-7, Num 7:13-14, Num 18:16
Shekel after the king's weight
Unk; entire weight estimated to have been about 6 lbs / 2.7 kg.
 2 Sam 14:26
Talent
Heb. kikar
3,000 shekels
66 lbs.
30 kg
 Exodus 25:39, Exodus 37:24, Exodus 38:24-25, 1 King 9:14, 28, 2 King 5:5, 22-23
Lengths
Type of Length Old Testament Measure
(approximate equivalent) 		Imperial Measure
(approx. equivalent) 		Metric Measure
(approx. equivalent) 		Biblical References
Cubit[1]
Heb. ammah
2 spans
from elbow to fingertip
17.5 inches
445 mm
 Gen 6:15-16, Exo 26:28
Royal cubit
2 spans
plus 1 handbreadth
20.5 inches
521 mm
 2 Chr 3:3, Eze 40:5
Handbreadth
Heb. tophach
width of hand at the base
3 inches
76 mm
 Exo 37:12, 2 Chr 4:5, Ps 39:5
Reed
Heb. qaneh
6 cubits
105 inches
2.67 meters
 Eze 40:3, 5-8, Eze 41:8, Eze 42:16-19
Span[2]
Heb. zereth
width of outstretched hand
3 handbreadths
9 inches
229 mm
 Exo 28:16, Exo 39:9, 1 Sam 17:4, Isa 40:12
Liquid Measures
Type of liquid measure Old Testament Measure
(approximate equivalent) 		Imperial Measure
(approx. equivalent) 		Metric Measure
(approx. equivalent) 		Biblical References
Bath
6 hins
9 gallons
34 liters
 1 Ki 7:26, 38, 2 Chr 2:10, 2 Chr 4:5, Ezr 7:22, Isa 5:10, Eze 45:10-11, 14
Hin
12 logs
1.5 gallons
5.7 liters
 Exo 29:40, Exo 30:24, Lev 19:36, Num 15:7, Eze 46:5
Homer
10 baths
90 gallons
340 liters
 Eze 45:11, 14
Log
less than 1 pint
0.5 liter
 Lev 14:10, 12, 15, 21, 24
Dry Measures
Type of dry measure Old Testament Measure
(approximate equivalent) 		Imperial Measure
(approx. equivalent) 		Metric Measure
(approx. equivalent) 		Biblical References
Cab
4 logs
3.5 pints
2 liters
 2 Ki 6:25
Ephah
10 omers
0.95 bushels
34 liters
 Exo 16:36, Lev 5:11, Lev 6:20, Lev 19:36, Num 5:15, Num 28:5, Ruth 2:17
Homer
10 ephahs
9.5 bushels
340 liters
 Lev 27:16, Num 11:32, Isa 5:10, Ruth 45:11,13, Hos 3:2
Measure
Heb: seah
6 cabs
20 pints
11 liters
 2 Ki 7:1,16,18
Omer
7 logs
10% of an ephah
6.5 pints
3.6 liters
 Exo 16:16,18,32,33,36
Money
Type of money Hebrew name used U.S. dollar value
(approx. equivalent) 		British pound value
(approx. equivalent) 		Biblical References
Piece of money
Heb: qsitah[3]
$ 0.64
£ 0.43
 Gen 33:19, Jos 24:32
Piece of silver
Heb: keseph
$ 0.26
£ 0.17
 Gen 20:16
Shekel
Heb: shekel
$ 0.16
£ 0.11
 Exo 30:15, Lev 5:15
Talent
Heb: kikar
"circle"[4]
substantial[5]
substantial
 Exo 25:39, 1 Kings 9:14
New Testament Weights and Measures
Weights
Type of Weight New Testament Measure
(approximate equivalent) 		Imperial Measure
(approx. equivalent) 		Metric Measure
(approx. equivalent) 		Biblical References
Pound
Greek: litra
12 oz
34 kg
 Rev 16:21, John 19:39
Talent
Greek: talanton
75 lbs
340 g
 John 12:3, John 19:39
Length
Type of length New Testament Measure
(approximate equivalent) 		Imperial Measure
(approx. equivalent) 		Metric Measure
(approx. equivalent) 		Biblical References
Cubit
Greek: pechus
elbow to fingertip, or 2 spans
18 in
450 mm
 Matt 6:27, Luke 12:25
Fathom
Greek: orguia
6 feet
1.83 m
 Acts 2:28
Furlong
Greek: stadion
660 feet
200 m
 Luke 24:13, John 6:19, Rev 14:20, Rev 21:16
Mile
Greek: milion
Roman mile
4,986 feet[6]
1,520 m
 Luke 24:13, John 6:19, Rev 14:20, Rev 21:16
Liquid Measures
Type of liquid measure New Testament Measure
(approximate equivalent) 		Imperial Measure
(approx. equivalent) 		Metric Measure
(approx. equivalent) 		Biblical References
Firkin
Greek: metretes
Heb: bath
9 gallons
34 liters
 John 2:6
Dry Measures
Type of dry measure New Testament Measure
(approximate equivalent) 		Imperial Measure
(approx. equivalent) 		Metric Measure
(approx. equivalent) 		Biblical References
Bushel
Greek: modios
2 dry gallons
8.8 liters
 Matt 4:21, Matt 5:15, Luke 11:33
Money[7]
Type of money Greek name used U.S. dollar value
(approx. equivalent) 		British pound value
(approx. equivalent) 		Biblical References
Drachme[8]
Greek: drachme[9]
$ 0.16
£ 0.11
 Luke 15:8
Farthing
Greek: kodrantes
2 lepta[10]
$ 0.01[11]
£ 0.01[12]
 Matt 5:26
Farthing (2)
Greek: assarion
8 lepta[13]
$ 0.01
£ 0.01[14]
 Matt 10:29, Luke 12:6
Mite
Greek: lepton
0.5 of a kodrantes/farthing[15]
$ 0.01[16]
£ 0.01[17]
 Mark 12:42, Luke 12:59, Luke 21:2
Pence
Greek: denaria
[18]
$ 0.20
£ 0.13
 Matt 18:28, Mark 14:5, Luke 7:41, John 12:5
Penny
Greek: denarion
[19]
$ 0.20
£ 0.13
 Matt 20:2,9,10,13, Matt 22:19, Mark 6:37, Mark 12:15, Luke 20:24, John 6:7, Rev 6:6
Piece of money
Greek: stater
[20]
$ 0.64
£ 0.43
 Matt 17:27
Piece of silver
Greek: argurion
[21]
$ 0.16
£ 0.11
 Matt 27:3
Pound
Greek: mina
100 denaria[22]
$ 20.00
£ 13.00
 Luke 19:13,16,18,20,24,25
Talent
Greek: talanton
60 mina[23]
$ 1,200.00
£ 800.00
 Matt 18:24, Matt 25:15,16,20,22,24,25,28
Tribute
Greek: didrachmon
[24]
$ 0.32
£ 0.21
 Matt 17:24, Matt 22:19
Time
Old Testament Time
Unit of Time Name Time covered Biblical References
Watch
Morning watch
2:00 AM to 6:00 AM
 Exo 14:24
Middle watch
10:00 PM to 2:00 AM
 Jud 7:19
New Testament Time
Unit of Time Name Time covered Biblical References
Watch
First watch
6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
 not mentioned
Second watch
9:00 PM to 12:00 midnight
 Luke 12:38
Third watch
Midnight to 3:00 AM
 Luke 12:38
Fourth watch
3:00 AM to 6:00 AM
 Matt 14:25

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Goliath's height is provided in cubits in the 1 Samuel 17:4, putting his height at 9.5 feet.
  2. ↑ In addition to cubits, the "span" is also used in the measurement of Goliath's height, as provided in the 1 Samuel 17:4.
  3. ↑ called "pieces of silver" in Job 42:11
  4. ↑ a reference to the shape of the talent itself, and not the weight
  5. ↑ Both dollar and pound amounts are unknown due to the approximate weight of the talent, which was estimated to be about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms
  6. ↑ or 0.944 length of a modern mile
  7. ↑ Exchange rates listed here are based upon 1st century rates and their modern equivalent.
  8. ↑ a day's wage
  9. ↑ known also as the drachma or denarius
  10. ↑ 2 of the mites, Mark 12:42
  11. ↑ usually a quarter of this amount
  12. ↑ usually a sixth of this amount
  13. ↑ 2 of the mites, Mark 12:42
  14. ↑ usually 2 thirds of this amount
  15. ↑ 2 of the mites, Mark 12:42
  16. ↑ 1/8 of this amount
  17. ↑ 1/12 of this amount
  18. ↑ 16 assaria farthings in Matt 10:29
  19. ↑ 16 assaria
    a day's wages
  20. ↑ New Testament shekel
    4 days' wages
  21. ↑ The word drachme is used for this in Luke 15:8
  22. ↑ Or 100 pennies in Matt 20:2
  23. ↑ Or 60 pounds in Luke 19:13
  24. ↑ New Testament half-shekel; 2 days' wages
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