Topic
Shekel
26 passages cited, from 4 classic reference works.
These works date from 1884–1915 and are in the public domain. They reflect the Protestant scholarship of their time: their history, archaeology and dates can be out of date, and where they interpret, other traditions read the text differently. The verses are shown in the King James Version, the wording these works were written against.
The verses
The passages the works cite, those cited by more of them first.
- Exodus 30:13Easton · Nave A weight, equal to twenty gerahs
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.
- Numbers 3:47Easton · Nave A weight, equal to twenty gerahs
Thou shalt even take five shekels apiece by the poll, after the shekel of the sanctuary shalt thou take them: (the shekel is twenty gerahs:)
- 1 Samuel 9:8Easton · Nave Fractions of, used in currency
And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.
- Ezekiel 45:12Easton · Nave A weight, equal to twenty gerahs
And the shekel shall be twenty gerahs: twenty shekels, five and twenty shekels, fifteen shekels, shall be your maneh.
- Matthew 17:27Easton · ISBE
Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.
- Genesis 24:22Nave Used to weigh — Gold
And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold;
- Exodus 30:23Nave Used to weigh — Cinnamon
Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels,
- Numbers 7:14Nave Used to weigh — Gold
One spoon of ten shekels of gold, full of incense:
- Numbers 7:20–86Nave Used to weigh — Gold
One spoon of gold of ten shekels, full of incense: One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering: One kid of the goats for a sin offering: And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs…
- Deuteronomy 22:19Nave Fines paid in
And they shall amerce him in an hundred shekels of silver, and give them unto the father of the damsel, because he hath brought up an evil name upon a virgin of Israel: and she shall be his wife; he may not put her away all his days.
- Deuteronomy 22:29Nave Fines paid in
Then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel’s father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife; because he hath humbled her, he may not put her away all his days.
- Joshua 7:21Nave Used to weigh silver
When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver…
Show 14 more
- Judges 8:26 Nave Used to weigh silver
- Judges 17:2 Nave Used to weigh silver
- Judges 17:3 Nave Used to weigh silver
- 1 Samuel 17:7 Nave Used to weigh — Iron
- 2 Samuel 14:26 Nave Used to weigh — Hair
- 1 Kings 10:16 Nave Used to weigh — Gold
- 2 Kings 5:5 ISBE
- 1 Chronicles 21:25 Easton
- 2 Chronicles 3:9 ISBE
- 2 Chronicles 24:6 Easton
- Nehemiah 10:32 Nave Fractions of, used in currency
- Ezekiel 4:10 Nave Used to weigh — Rations
- Amos 8:5 Nave Corrupted
- Matthew 17:24 Easton
In the reference works
Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897) · 11 references
Weight, the common standard both of weight and value among the Hebrews. It is estimated at 220 English grains, or a little more than half an ounce avoirdupois. The “shekel of the sanctuary” (Ex. 30:13; Num. 3:47) was equal to twenty gerahs (Ezek. 45:12). There were shekels of gold (1 Chr. 21:25), of silver (1 Sam. 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 pound 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 (Ex. 30:13; 2 Chr. 24:6), consisted of one common shekel, or a sanctuary half-shekel, equal to two Attic drachmas. The coin, a stater (q.v.), which Peter found in the fish’s mouth paid this contribution for both him and Christ (Matt. 17:24, 27). A zuza, or quarter of a shekel, was given by Saul to Samuel (1 Sam. 9:8).
Smith's Bible Dictionary (1884) · 0 references
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915) · 3 references
shek'-'-l, shek'-el, she'-kel, she'-kul (sheqel): A weight and a coin. The Hebrew shekel was the 50th part of a mina, and as a weight about 224 grains, and as money (silver) was worth about 2 shillings 9d., or 66 cents (in 1915). No gold shekel has been found, and hence, it is inferred that such a coin was not used; but as a certain amount of gold, by weight, it is mentioned in 2Ch 3:9 and is probably intended to be supplied in 2Ki 5:5. The gold shekel was 1/60 of the heavy Babylonian mina and weighed about 252 grains. In value it was about equal to 2 British pounds and 1 shilling, or about $10.00 (in 1915). See MONEY; WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. In the Revised Version (British and American) of Mt 17:27 "shekel" replaces "piece of money" of the King James Version, the translation of stater.
See STATER.
H. Porter
In the topical indexes
Nave's Topical Bible (1896) · 28 references, grouped by sub-topic
- → A weight, equal to twenty gerahs Ex 30:13; Nu 3:47; Eze 45:12
- → Used to weigh silver Jos 7:21; Jud 8:26; 17:2,3
- → Fractions of, used in currency Ex 30:13; 1Sa 9:8; Ne 10:32
- → Used to weigh
- → Fines paid in De 22:19,29
- → Fees paid in 1Sa 9:8
- → Sanctuary revenues paid in Ex 30:13; Ne 10:32
- → Of different standards
- → Corrupted Am 8:5
Texts: Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897); Smith's Bible Dictionary (1884); International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915); Nave's Topical Bible (1896), from the CrossWire SWORD modules (public domain). Verse references were parsed from the works' own markup and checked against the KJV verse list.