What Is This Tool?
This converter transforms the ancient Biblical Hebrew unit of weight called bekan into grams. It helps users interpret historical weights in modern SI units to support research in biblical scholarship, archaeology, and related fields.
How to Use This Tool?
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Enter the value in bekan units that you want to convert
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Select bekan as the source unit and gram as the target unit
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Click the convert button to get the equivalent weight in grams
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Use the result to aid interpretation of ancient weight measures
Key Features
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Converts bekan (Biblical Hebrew) to grams accurately based on established modern approximations
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Supports understanding of ancient weights in contemporary measurement context
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Browser-based tool requiring no installation
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Ideal for researchers, students, and enthusiasts studying biblical or archaeological measurements
Examples
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Convert 2 bekan: 2 × 5.7 g = 11.4 g
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Convert 0.5 bekan: 0.5 × 5.7 g = 2.85 g
Common Use Cases
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Assessing the half-shekel temple tax or census contributions described in Biblical passages
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Describing silver amounts for offerings and legal payments in Biblical laws
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Conducting numismatic and archaeological analysis of ancient Hebrew silver weights
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Translating ancient weight measurements in theological and historical research contexts
Tips & Best Practices
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Use the converter to cross-check archaeological findings against modern units
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Apply the results in historical studies to quantify Biblical laws and offerings more clearly
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Remember the bekan value used is an approximation derived from ancient shekel standards
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Combine unit conversion with contextual research for thorough interpretations
Limitations
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The bekan's precise mass varies due to historic differences in shekel standards
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The 5.7 grams value is a scholarly approximation, not an exact fixed measure
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Ancient measurement inconsistencies mean conversions may not be perfectly precise
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is a bekan (Biblical Hebrew)?
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A bekan is an ancient Biblical Hebrew unit of weight equal to half a shekel, used historically in the Hebrew Bible.
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How many grams are in one bekan?
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One bekan is approximately equal to 5.7 grams based on modern scholarly estimates.
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Why convert bekan to grams?
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Converting bekan to grams allows understanding and interpreting ancient Biblical weights within modern scientific and commercial contexts.
Key Terminology
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Bekan (Biblical Hebrew)
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An ancient unit of weight from the Hebrew Bible, typically defined as half of a shekel.
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Gram [g]
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An SI-derived unit of mass defined as one thousandth of a kilogram, used to measure small masses.
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Shekel
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An ancient unit of weight used in Biblical times, varying in exact value depending on historical standards.