Biblical weights and measures

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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
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
  1. ↑ Goliath's height is provided in cubits in the 1 Samuel 17:4.