Tables of Measures, Weights and Money in the Bible
Tables of Measures, Weights and Money in the Bible
These tables are based upon the latest and highest authorities, as Schrader, Brandis and F. W. Madden (Jewish Coinage and Money), Whitehouse and Bissell. Updates to the monetary values were added by Josh Bond on 3/28/2012.
I. MEASURE OF LENGTH
ft.in.
Digit, or finger. Jer 52:21,. 79/100
4 digits =1 palm. Exo 26:25, 3 17/100
3 palms = 1 span. Exo 28:16, 9 52/100
2 spans = 1 cubit. Gen 6:15,17
4 cubits=1 fathom. Act 27:28,64
6 cubits = 1 Teed. Eze 40:3; Eze 40:5,96
1 Roman foot, 11 64/100
5 Roman feet = 1 Roman pace,410
6 Roman ft. = 6 Greek ft. = Greek fathom,681/100
625 Roman ft. = 1 furlong (Greek stadium), .6069
1 Roman mile = about 9/10 of an English mile,4854
15 furlongs = Sabbath day’s journey. Compare Joh 11:18 with Act 1:12.-
2. MEASURE OF CAPACITY (Dry)
pks.pts.
1 4/5 kab (cab) = 1 omer, 5
6 ” 3 omers = 1 seah, 11
18 ” 3 seah = 1 ephah, 33
180 ” 10 ephahs = 1 homer or kor 32
3. MEASURE OF CAPACITY (Liquid)
gals.qts.pts.
1 log, Lev 14:10,.. about 4/5
4 logs = 1 cab (kab),.. ” 3
3 kabs == 1 hin. Exo 30:24, “5
2 hins = 1 seah,… “10
3 seahs = 1 bath or ephah, 1Ki 7:26,… “301
10 ephahs=1 kor or homer. Eze 45:14,….” 755
4. WEIGHT (Troy)
lbs.oz.grs.
1 gerah.Exo 30:13, 12 65/100
10 gerahs= 1 bekah.Exo 38:26, 126
lbs.oz.grs.
2 bekahs = 1 shekel. Gen 23:15. 13
60 shekels = 1 maneh. Eze 45:129,7300
60 manehs = Kikkar (Heb. Kikkar. Exo 25:29); or king’s talent, 1581240
5. SILVER MONEY
(According to Bissell’s Bib. Antiq.)
[An inflation calculator, using the US government’s numbers, shows you should multiply each value below by 24 to see today’s value. So $.03 in 1900 equals about $.72 today. That estimate is probably on the low side since the US government is not intelectually honest with inflation numbers.]
cents.
1 gerah =.03 65/100
10 gerahs = 1 bekah,.36
2 bekahs = 1 shekel,.73
60 shekels = 1 maneh,$43.80
50 manehs = 1 talent,$2190.00
(According to Madden and Whitehouse.Old Testament period.)
1 shekel (holy shekel),.64
50 shekels = 1 maneh or mina,$32.00
60 manehs or minas = 1 talent,1920.00
6. GOLD MONEY (Troy oz. = $19.47 6/10)
[NOTE: As of 3/28/2012, the price of gold is $1,650. $20 was a lot of money when this text was written, fairly comparable to today’s $1,650 price of gold. You can multiply the prices below by 85 to arrive at today’s values. An inflation calculator, using the US government’s numbers, shows you should multiply each value below by 24 to see today’s value. So $5.35 in 1900 equals about $128.13 today. That estimate is probably on the low side since the US government is not intelectually honest with inflation numbers]
According to Bissell.
1 shekel (gold),$5.35
100 shekels = 1 maneh,535.00
100 manehs = 1 talent,53,500.00
(According to Madden and Whitehouse.Old Testament period?)
1 shekel,$9.60
50 shekels = 1 maneh or mina,480.60
60 manehs or minas = 1 talent,28,800.00
7. ROMAN COPPER MONEY
(New Testament period, coins were:)
1 lepton = 1 mite,about 1/8 ct.
2 leptons or mites = 1 quadrans, (the farthing of Mat 5:26),
4 quadrans = 1 as, (the farthing of Mat 10:29),” 1 ct.
(The “as” of N. T. times was much reduced from the earlier coin of that denomination.)
8. SILVER GREEK AND ROMAN MONEY
(According to Madden and Whitehouse.New Testament Period.)
[An inflation calculator, using the US government’s numbers, shows you should multiply each value below by 24 to see today’s value. So $.03 in 1900 equals about $.72 today. That estimate is probably on the low side since the US government is not intelectually honest with inflation numbers.]
1 denarius = 1 “penny” (Mat 22:16;) drachma or 16 ases,cents. about .16
2 denarii or drachmas = didrachma, ” .32
4 drachmas = stater or shekel,.64
30 shekels (Attic) = 1 mina or$19.10
60 minas or shekels = 1 talent (Attic),1,146.00
1 denarius “penny ” = 1 drachma= .18 3/10
2 denarii = didrachma ( shekel)= .36 6/10
4 ” = 2 didrachma (shekel)= .73 8/10