What Is This Tool?
This tool converts gerah (Biblical Hebrew), an ancient unit of mass used in biblical times, into milligrams, a modern and precise unit for very small masses. It helps translate historical weights into contemporary terms.
How to Use This Tool?
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Enter the value in gerah (Biblical Hebrew) you want to convert
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Select gerah as the original unit and milligram [mg] as the target unit
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Click the convert button to see the result in milligrams
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Use the output to aid in analysis or historical interpretation
Key Features
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Converts ancient Biblical Hebrew masses (gerah) into milligrams [mg]
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Provides a straightforward interface for fast and simple conversions
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Supports interpretation of biblical, archaeological, and historical data
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Displays conversion results based on a standard approximation
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Browser-based and accessible without installation
Examples
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Convert 2 gerah: 2 × 570 mg = 1140 mg
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Convert 0.5 gerah: 0.5 × 570 mg = 285 mg
Common Use Cases
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Interpreting monetary amounts, fines, and offerings in biblical texts
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Comparing archaeological metal weights and coin fragments to Bible standards
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Translating ancient mass units into grams for historical economic studies
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Measuring and reporting precise small masses in laboratory settings
Tips & Best Practices
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Confirm the context to choose the appropriate shekel standard for accuracy
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Use the converter as a general guide due to variations in ancient units
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Reference the converted milligram values for scientific and research purposes
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Combine with other historical data for comprehensive analysis
Limitations
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The gerah’s exact mass depends on the shekel standard adopted, varying from about 0.57 to 0.7 grams
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The converter uses 570 mg as an approximation, which may reduce accuracy for detailed reconstructions
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Not suitable for legal or precision metrology applications requiring exact historical weights
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is a gerah in Biblical Hebrew context?
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A gerah is an ancient Biblical Hebrew mass unit equal to one twentieth of a shekel, used as the smallest standard weight for accounting and law in the Hebrew Bible.
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Why convert gerah to milligrams?
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Converting gerah to milligrams allows translation of ancient mass units into precise modern measurements for scientific, historical, archaeological, and economic analysis.
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Is the gerah to milligram conversion exact?
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No. The gerah’s mass varies depending on the shekel unit used, so converting at 570 mg per gerah is an approximation rather than an exact figure.
Key Terminology
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Gerah (Biblical Hebrew)
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An ancient unit of mass equal to one twentieth of a shekel, used in biblical times as the smallest standard weight.
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Milligram (mg)
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A unit of mass equal to one thousandth of a gram, commonly used to measure very small quantities in science and industry.
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Shekel
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A historical unit of weight and currency referenced in biblical texts, where 1 gerah is defined as one twentieth of a shekel.