What is a…
Shekel
Hebrew: שֶׁקֶל —transliteration: shekel or sheqel —meaning: a a measure of weight called a shekel
This is the common standard both of weight and value among the Hebrews.
“…the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver… Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver…” —Genesis 23:15-16 KJV excerpt
“If the ox shall push a manservant or a maidservant; he shall give unto their master thirty shekels of silver…” —Exodus 21:32 KJV excerpt
This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel shall be the offering of the LORD. The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel… —Exodus 30:13-15 KJV excerpt
It is estimated at 220 English grains, or a little more than half an ounce avoirdupois. The “shekel of the sanctuary” (Exodus 30:13; Numbers 3:47) was equal to twenty gerahs in Ezek. 45:12.
There were shekels of gold (1 Chronicles 21:25), of silver (1 Samuel 9:8), of brass (17:5), and of iron (7).
When it became a coined piece of money, the shekel of gold was equivalent to about 2 pounds of our money. Six gold shekels, according to the later Jewish system, were equal in value to fifty silver ones.
The temple contribution, with which the public sacrifices were bought (Exodus 30:13; 2 Chronicles 24:6), consisted of one common shekel, or a sanctuary half-shekel, equal to two Attic drachmas.
The coin, a stater, which Peter found in the fish’s mouth paid this contribution for both him and Christ (Matthew 17:24, 27).
A zuza, or quarter of a shekel, was given by King Saul to Samuel (1 Samuel 9:8).
More information
- What is a gerah?
- Biblical Weights and Measures
- Coins of the Bible
- About money in the Bible