What Is This Tool?
This online unit converter allows users to transform mass measurements from the scruple (apothecary), a historical pharmaceutical weight, into the gerah (Biblical Hebrew), an ancient weight used in biblical accounting and law.
How to Use This Tool?
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Enter the numerical value in scruples (apothecary) you wish to convert
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Select 'scruple (apothecary) [s.ap]' as the input unit
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Choose 'gerah (Biblical Hebrew)' as the output unit
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Click convert to see the equivalent mass in gerahs
Key Features
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Converts apothecary scruples to Biblical Hebrew gerahs accurately using established ratios
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Supports understanding of historical pharmaceutical and biblical weight systems
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Browser-based tool requiring no installation
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Provides clear conversion examples for reference
Examples
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2 scruples (apothecary) equal 4.5472919298 gerah (Biblical Hebrew)
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0.5 scruple (apothecary) equals 1.13682298245 gerah (Biblical Hebrew)
Common Use Cases
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Interpreting historical pharmaceutical prescriptions recorded in apothecary units
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Converting ancient biblical weights for archaeological and numismatic research
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Relating historical masses from medicine and botany to biblical monetary and legal standards
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Assisting historians in economic reconstructions using these two weight units
Tips & Best Practices
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Understand the historical context of apothecary scruples and gerahs before conversion
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Use this tool as a guide for archival research and comparative studies
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Cross-check converted values when precision is critical due to historical variations
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Consider the gerah’s variability depending on the shekel standard chosen
Limitations
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Gerah weights vary slightly depending on the shekel standard adopted, causing minor uncertainties
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The apothecary scruple is an obsolete unit primarily for historical interpretation
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Modern applications require cautious use and contextual understanding
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Conversion results should be viewed as approximate guides rather than exact measurements
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is a scruple (apothecary)?
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A scruple (apothecary) is an old medical mass unit equal to 20 grains or about 1.296 grams, primarily used in historical pharmacy.
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What does the gerah represent in biblical terms?
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The gerah is an ancient Hebrew mass unit representing one twentieth of a shekel, used in biblical law and accounts.
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Can I use this converter for modern weight conversions?
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This tool is designed for historical conversions; modern weight applications require different units and standards.
Key Terminology
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Scruple (apothecary)
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A historic mass unit in pharmacy equal to 20 grains or about 1.296 grams.
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Gerah (Biblical Hebrew)
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An ancient biblical mass unit roughly equal to one twentieth of a shekel, used in accounting and law.
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Shekel
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A larger ancient Hebrew unit of mass from which the gerah is derived as one twentieth part.