What Is This Tool?
This converter translates the biblical Hebrew shekel, an ancient unit of mass, into grams, the modern metric measure. It helps to bridge historical measurements with current standards for various scholarly and practical purposes.
How to Use This Tool?
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Enter the value in shekel (Biblical Hebrew) that you want to convert.
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Select shekel as the input unit and gram as the output unit.
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Click the convert button to see the equivalent mass in grams.
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Use the results to interpret ancient measurements in contemporary terms.
Key Features
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Converts shekel (Biblical Hebrew) weight measurements into gram units.
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Based on a historical average value relating ancient and modern mass units.
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Supports understanding of ancient trade, taxation, and ritual weight standards.
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Browser-based tool requiring no downloads or installations.
Examples
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2 Shekels (Biblical Hebrew) converts to 22.8 grams.
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0.5 Shekel (Biblical Hebrew) converts to 5.7 grams.
Common Use Cases
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Analyzing temple contributions and census taxes mentioned in biblical texts.
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Interpreting silver payments and fines in ancient Israelite commerce.
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Researching weights for offerings and legal contracts from biblical times.
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Supporting archaeological and biblical scholarship involving historical mass units.
Tips & Best Practices
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Use the conversion as an approximate guide for historical and academic studies.
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Combine with contextual information to fully understand ancient measurement references.
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Be aware that exact shekel masses varied historically and geographically.
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Consult experts for precision requirements beyond basic conversion.
Limitations
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The biblical shekel's exact mass varied by period and place; 11.4 grams is only an estimate.
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Conversion discrepancies might occur with artifacts from different ancient contexts.
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This tool is designed for academic and interpretive uses, not for practical weighing.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is a shekel in biblical context?
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It is an ancient unit of mass used in Israelite commerce and ritual, commonly considered to weigh about 11.4 grams.
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Why convert shekels to grams?
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Converting shekels to grams helps translate ancient weights into modern units for historical, archaeological, and religious analyses.
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Is the conversion from shekel to gram exact?
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No, the conversion uses an approximate average value as the shekel's weight varied over time and location.
Key Terminology
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Shekel (Biblical Hebrew)
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An ancient Near Eastern unit of mass cited in biblical texts, approximately equal to 11.4 grams and composed of 20 gerahs.
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Gram [g]
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The metric SI-derived unit of mass defined as one thousandth of a kilogram, used for measuring small masses.
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Gerah
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A smaller unit of mass in biblical tradition; twenty gerahs make up one shekel.