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Shekel

שֶׁקֶל/SHEK-uhl/

“To Weigh”

Summary

The fundamental Hebrew unit of weight and money, used to measure precious metals and goods and later minted as coinage.

☩As a Weight

The shekel was the primary Hebrew standard of weight, used to measure precious metals such as gold, silver, and bronze, as well as various commodities. One shekel equaled twenty gerahs, and fifty shekels made up a mina. The 'shekel of the sanctuary' was a standard weight maintained for sacred purposes, ensuring honest measurements in all contributions to the tabernacle and temple.

Key verses:Exodus 30:13Numbers 3:47Ezekiel 45:12

☩As Currency

Silver was typically weighed in shekels for commercial transactions. Abraham paid Ephron four hundred shekels of silver for the cave of Machpelah, 'weighed out' according to the current commercial standard. Half-shekels and quarter-shekels were also used. The half-shekel was required as an annual temple tax from every male Israelite.

Key verses:Genesis 23:16Exodus 30:13Nehemiah 10:32

☩Various Uses

Shekels were used to measure gold ornaments, iron weapons like Goliath's spear head, fines for legal offenses, payments to seers, and even Absalom's luxuriant hair. The practice of corrupting the shekel—making it lighter than the standard—was condemned by the prophet Amos.

Key verses:Numbers 7:141 Samuel 17:7Deuteronomy 22:192 Samuel 14:26Amos 8:5

Related Verses84 mentions

Numbers· 30 verses

3:473:507:137:147:19

Exodus· 10 verses

21:3230:1330:1530:2330:24

Leviticus· 8 verses

5:1527:327:427:527:6

Judges· 5 verses

8:2617:217:317:417:10

See Also

Money
Money

References

  1. 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Shekel," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IX (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
  2. 2.James Orr (ed.), "Shekel," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. IV (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
  3. 3.John McClintock and James Strong, "Shekel," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IX (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
  4. 4.John McClintock and James Strong, "Shekel," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IX (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
  5. 5.John McClintock and James Strong, "Shekel," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IX (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
  6. 6.John McClintock and James Strong, "Shekel," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IX (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
  7. 7.John McClintock and James Strong, "Shekel," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IX (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).