What Is This Tool?
This converter helps change values from the gerah, an old Hebrew unit of mass, into scruples used historically in pharmacy. It is designed for those working with biblical texts, archaeological artifacts, and historical medical documents.
How to Use This Tool?
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Enter the amount in gerah (Biblical Hebrew) units you wish to convert
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Select gerah as the original unit and scruple (apothecary) as the target unit
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Click convert to obtain the equivalent weight in scruples
Key Features
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Converts gerah (Biblical Hebrew) units to apothecary scruples [s.ap]
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Supports weight and mass measurements related to historical and biblical contexts
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Browser-based and easy to use for scholars, students, and researchers
Examples
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5 Gerahs convert to approximately 2.199 Scruples
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10 Gerahs convert to approximately 4.398 Scruples
Common Use Cases
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Interpreting biblical weights and monetary values involving shekels and gerahs
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Comparing small archaeological metal weights to biblical standards
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Translating historical pharmaceutical ingredient weights from apothecary units into modern measurements
Tips & Best Practices
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Verify the shekel standard used when interpreting gerah mass values for specific historical contexts
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Use the conversion primarily for archival and scholarly purposes
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Cross-check converted values when applying to archaeological or pharmaceutical research for accuracy
Limitations
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Gerah mass varies depending on the adopted shekel standard, affecting conversion precision
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Scruple is a historical unit no longer in common use, limiting everyday practical applicability
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Conversions are best suited for interpretation of ancient texts and archival material rather than modern measurements
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is a gerah in biblical terms?
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A gerah is an ancient Biblical Hebrew unit of mass roughly one twentieth of a shekel, used for accounting and legal measures in biblical texts.
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What is an apothecary scruple used for?
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The apothecary scruple is a historical mass unit used in pharmacy and medicine for weighing ingredients in older pharmaceutical texts.
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Can I use this conversion for modern pharmaceutical measurements?
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No, the scruple is a historical unit, so this conversion is mainly useful for interpreting archival and scholarly pharmaceutical data.
Key Terminology
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Gerah (Biblical Hebrew)
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An ancient Hebrew weight unit equal to one twentieth of a shekel, used in biblical law and accounting.
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Scruple (apothecary) [s.ap]
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A historical pharmaceutical weight unit equal to 20 grains, used in medicine and pharmacy.
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Shekel
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A larger biblical Hebrew mass unit of which the gerah is one twentieth part.