What Is This Tool?
This converter allows you to translate weights from mina, an ancient Greek unit, into shekels, a Biblical Hebrew measure. It supports understanding and comparing historical weights used in Near Eastern and biblical economic contexts.
How to Use This Tool?
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Enter the amount in mina (Biblical Greek) you want to convert
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Select mina as the starting unit and shekel as the target unit
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Click the convert button to see the equivalent weight in shekels
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Use the results to assist with historical interpretations or research
Key Features
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Converts ancient units of weight used in biblical and Greek traditions
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Provides a straightforward formula to convert mina (Biblical Greek) to shekel (Biblical Hebrew)
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Facilitates historical and archaeological research by enabling unit comparisons
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Browser-based and easy to use without the need for specialized knowledge
Examples
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2 mina (Biblical Greek) equals approximately 59.65 shekel (Biblical Hebrew)
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0.5 mina (Biblical Greek) equals approximately 14.91 shekel (Biblical Hebrew)
Common Use Cases
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Translating ancient monetary and weight records between Greek and Hebrew systems
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Interpreting biblical temple contributions, fines, and trade amounts
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Supporting archaeological and biblical scholarship involving ancient units
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Enabling museum curators and numismatists to compare historical weights
Tips & Best Practices
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Always consider the historical and regional context when interpreting the results
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Use this tool as a guide alongside archaeological and textual evidence
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Combine converted data with scholarly research for comprehensive understanding
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Be aware that units varied across periods and locations, affecting accuracy
Limitations
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The weights of mina and shekel fluctuated by time and place, making conversions approximate
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Modern conversions cannot fully capture all historical variations and meanings
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Reliability depends on available archaeological and textual data, which may be incomplete
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the mina (Biblical Greek) used for?
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The mina was an ancient mass unit used for weighing precious metals and recording large monetary amounts in Greek and Near Eastern contexts.
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How many shekels equal one mina?
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One mina (Biblical Greek) equals approximately 29.82 shekels (Biblical Hebrew).
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Why are conversions between mina and shekel approximate?
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Because the exact weight of mina and shekel varied across different regions and historical periods, conversions serve as approximate guides.
Key Terminology
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Mina (Biblical Greek)
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An ancient unit of mass used to weigh precious metals and record monetary amounts in Greek and Near Eastern contexts, typically around 430 grams but varying by region and period.
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Shekel (Biblical Hebrew)
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An ancient Near Eastern unit of mass used in Israelite commerce and ritual, commonly estimated around 11.3 grams but variable depending on historical context.