What Is This Tool?
This converter transforms weight values measured in grains, a traditional small mass unit, into bekans, a Biblical Hebrew measure historically linked to half a shekel. It assists users in connecting modern mass measurements to ancient Hebrew weight units relevant in Biblical studies and archaeology.
How to Use This Tool?
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Enter the weight value you wish to convert in grains [gr].
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Select the target unit as bekan (Biblical Hebrew).
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Click the convert button to see the equivalent weight in bekans.
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Use the output to assist in interpreting Biblical, archaeological, or historical contexts.
Key Features
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Converts precise grain values to bekan units based on an established conversion rate.
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Supports scholarly interpretation of ancient Hebrew weights for historical and religious research.
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Helpful for relating modern small mass units used in ballistics and pharmaceuticals to Biblical measurements.
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Browser-based interface requiring no installation.
Examples
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50 grains equals approximately 0.5684 bekans.
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100 grains is about 1.1368 bekans.
Common Use Cases
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Analyzing half-shekel temple tax or census contributions mentioned in Biblical texts.
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Interpreting amounts of silver for offerings and payments in ancient Hebrew law.
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Supporting archaeological and numismatic studies related to ancient Hebrew monetary weights.
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Converting small modern weights used in ballistics to ancient Biblical weight units.
Tips & Best Practices
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Use the converter as a guide for scholarly interpretation rather than exact scientific measurement.
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Consider historical variability in shekel standards when applying conversion results.
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Refer to related Biblical and archaeological sources to contextualize conversion values.
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Verify conversions when comparing archaeological finds or ancient texts due to regional differences.
Limitations
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Bekan values represent approximate weights due to varying ancient shekel standards.
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Grain is a modern standardized unit, whereas bekan measurements depend on historical interpretation.
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Conversion results should be used cautiously for archaeological or Biblical comparisons.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What does one grain [gr] represent?
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One grain is a traditional mass unit equal to precisely 64.79891 milligrams and is used for very small weight measurements such as in ballistics and pharmaceuticals.
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What is a bekan in Biblical terms?
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The bekan is a Biblical Hebrew weight unit representing half of a shekel, used historically for temple taxes and silver offerings.
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Why does the conversion from grain to bekan vary?
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Because ancient shekel standards differed across time and regions, the bekan's exact weight is approximate and based on scholarly reconstructions.
Key Terminology
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Grain [gr]
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A traditional small unit of mass equal to 64.79891 milligrams, commonly used in ballistics and pharmaceuticals.
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Bekan (Biblical Hebrew)
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A Biblical Hebrew weight unit representing half of a shekel, used for measuring silver and temple taxes in ancient times.
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Shekel
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An ancient unit of weight varying by time and region, with the bekan defined as half of its value.