You Have Questions.  The Bible Has Answers.

Biblical Weights and Measures


Bible Weights and Measures

 

Biblical
Unit

Equivalent to

 

Comments

 

Examples
in Bible*

Bath
= 1 ephah
= 22 liters metric
= 5.8 U.S. Gallons
 
Used as a measurement of liquids. The equivalence values are based on the Old Testament use of bath as a liquid measurement.
 
1Kings 7:26;
Isaiah 5:10
         
Cubit
= 43-53 centimeters metric
= 17 to 21 inches U.S.
 
Used as a measurement of length. Cubits are based on the distance between the tip of the middle finger and the elbow.
 
Matthew 6:27;
Luke 12:25;
Revelation 21:17
         
Ephah
(Epha)
= .62 bushels
= 22 liters metric
= 20 dry quarts U.S.
 
Used as a dry measure.
 
Exodus 16:36;
1Samuel 17:17;
Zechariah 5:6
         
Farthing
= 2 mites
= 1/4th of a cent U.S.
 
Used as a measure of money in the New Testament.
 
Matthew 5:26, 10:29
Mark 12:42
Luke 12:6
         
Gerah
= 1/20th of a Shekel
= .57 grams metric
= .02 ounces U.S.
 
Used as a measure of weight and sum of money. It is the smallest weight and smallest piece of money used among Hebrews.
 
Leviticus 27:25;
Numbers 3:47;
Exodus 30:13
         
Hin
= 1/6th of a Bath
= 3.7 liters metric
= 1 Gallon U.S.
 
Used as a measurement of liquids.
 
Exodus 29:40, 30:24
Numbers 15:4
          

Biblical Unit

 

Equivalent to

 

Comments

 

Examples in Bible*

Homer
(Cor)
 
Used as Dry Measure
= 10 Ephahs
= 211 liters metric
= 6 bushels U.S.

Used as Liquid Measure
= 10 Baths
= 220 liters metric
= 58 Gallons U.S.
 
Can be used as a dry or liquid measurement.
 
Ezekiel 45:11, 13-14;
          
Mina
 
= 50 shekels
= 1/60th talent
= 567 grams metric
= 1.26 pounds U.S.
 
Used as a measure of weight and sum of money. The word translated pound in Ezra 2:69 comes from Hebrew Mina. The word translated maneh in Ezekiel 45:12 also comes from Mina.
 
Ezra 2:69;
Ezekiel 45:12
          
Mite
 
= 1/2 Roman quadran
= 1/2 farthing
= 1/8th of a cent U.S.
 
Used as a measure of money in the New Testament. The word translated mite in Luke's account of a poor widow giving two mites to the temple comes from the Greek word lepton. This Greek word means the smallest bronze of copper coin used.
 
Luke 12:59, 21:2
          
Omer
 
= 1/10 ephah
= 2.2 dry liters metric
=2 dry quarts U.S.
 
Used as a dry measure. The word omer is sometimes translated as sheaf — specifically, an amount of grain large enough to require bundling. An omer of barley was a traditional offering on the second day of Passover during the period of Temple sacrifice.
 
Exodus 16:22, 32-33, 36
          
Penny
 
= 16 cents U.S.
 
Used as a measure of money. The word translated pence or pennyworth in the New Testament comes from the Greek word denarion which can also mean penny.
 
Matthew 18:28, 20:2, 9
Mark 6:37, 14:5
          
Pound
 
Used as Weight
= 100 shekels

Used as Money
(New Testament)

= 100 Roman denarii
= 100 Greek drachmas
= $16.00 U.S.
 
Used as a measure of weight and money. When used in the Old Testament for weight, the word translated pound comes from the Hebrew word maneh or mina. When used in the New Testament for money, such as is the case in Jesus' parable of the pounds (Luke 19), the word translated pounds comes from the Greek word for mina.
 
1Kings 10:17; Ezra 2:29;
Nehemiah 7:71-72;
Luke 19:13, 16, 18
          
Sabbath
Day's
Journey
 
= 2,000 cubits
= .91 Kilometers metric
= 1,000 yards U.S.
 
A Sabbath day's journey, according to Jewish tradition, was the maximum allowable distance one could travel on the Sabbath and not violate the law.
 
Acts 1:12;
Joshua 3:4
          
Shekel
 
= 20 gerahs
= 11.4 grams metric
= .4 ounces U.S.
 
Used as a measure of weight and money.
 
Genesis 23:15-16;
Exodus 21:32, 30:13;
          
Span
 
= .5 cubits
= 22.8 centimeters metric
= 9 inches U.S.
 
Used as a measure of length. A span is the width of a spread out human hand from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the pinky finger.
 
Exodus 28:16;
1Samuel 17:4;
Ezekiel 43:13
          
Talent
 
= 3,000 shekels
= 60 minas
= 34.3 kilograms metric
= 75 U.S. pounds
 Used as a measure of weight and money.
If in today's money an ounce of Gold is worth $900 U.S., one talent is worth around $1,080,000 U.S. !
 
Exodus 38:24-29
1Kings 9:14
Matthew 18:24, 25:15-18
Revelation 16:21
 
 
Additional Bible Study Materials
BASIC RULES
for Profitable Bible Studies
Bible Study
QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE
BASIC Definitions
of COMMON Christian Terms
Meaning of
SYMBOLIC WORDS in the Bible
How to MARK Your Bible
for EFFECTIVE Bible Study!
 


 
   
 
 

Visit the BEST Web Sites!

 
 
 
THE Bible Study Web Site at BibleStudy.org
You Have Questions.  The Bible Has Answers!