What Is This Tool?
This tool allows users to convert weight and mass values from the didrachma, an ancient Greek coin and weight measure, to the gerah, a small Biblical Hebrew unit of mass. It supports the interpretation of historical and biblical references to silver weights and monetary values.
How to Use This Tool?
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Enter the weight value you wish to convert in didrachma.
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Select the source unit as didrachma (Biblical Greek).
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Choose the target unit as gerah (Biblical Hebrew).
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Click convert to see the equivalent weight in gerah.
Key Features
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Converts weight from didrachma (Biblical Greek) to gerah (Biblical Hebrew) using established conversion rates.
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Supports historical, biblical, archaeological, and numismatic applications.
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Browser-based and easy to use without requiring installation.
Examples
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1 Didrachma converts to approximately 11.93 Gerah.
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2 Didrachma converts to approximately 23.86 Gerah.
Common Use Cases
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Interpreting biblical and ancient texts referencing silver coinage or temple taxes.
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Archaeological and numismatic analysis of Greek coins and Hebrew weights.
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Economic and historical reconstructions comparing ancient monetary systems.
Tips & Best Practices
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Consider the historical context as the didrachma’s mass and silver content varied regionally and over time.
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Be aware that the exact weight of a gerah depends on the shekel standard used in the biblical period.
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Use this converter as a comparative tool rather than for exact scientific measurement.
Limitations
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Didrachma’s mass and silver content differ by region and era, causing conversion variability.
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Gerah weights vary depending on the shekel standard, from approximately 0.57 to 0.7 grams.
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Precise conversions may differ slightly due to historical and scholarly interpretation variability.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What does one didrachma represent in terms of silver weight?
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The didrachma was a Greek coin and weight usually equal to two drachmae, roughly around 8.6 grams of silver, though actual weights varied by region and era.
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What is a gerah in Biblical terms?
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A gerah is an ancient Hebrew unit of mass defined as one twentieth of a shekel, used as the smallest weight standard for accounting and law in the Hebrew Bible.
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Why is the conversion between didrachma and gerah useful?
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It helps relate Greek silver coin weights to Hebrew weight standards, aiding in the interpretation of biblical monetary amounts, archaeological finds, and historical studies.
Key Terminology
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Didrachma (Biblical Greek)
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An ancient Greek coin and weight equal to two drachmae, used in biblical and Hellenistic contexts for measuring silver weight.
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Gerah (Biblical Hebrew)
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A small Biblical Hebrew unit of mass equal to one twentieth of a shekel, used for accounting and law.
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Shekel
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A larger ancient Hebrew unit of weight, of which the gerah is a twentieth part.