SHEKEL

The shekel was properly and only a weight. It was used especially in weighing uncoined gold and silver: "The land is worth 400 shekels of silver...Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver-in the audience of the sons of Heth," Ge 23:15,16. In such cases the word shekel is often omitted in the Hebrew, as in Ge 20:16 37:28, where our translators have supplied the word "pieces," but improperly, because coined money was not then known. See MONEY. Between the sacred shekel, Ex 30:13, and the shekel after the "king’s weight," 2Sa 14:26, there would seem to have been a difference; but this and many think the phrase "shekel of the sanctuary" simply means a full and just shekel, according to the temple standards. The first coin, which bore the name of shekel was struck after the exile in the time of the Maccabees, and bore the inscription, Shekel of Israel. Bockh, whose authority in matters pertaining to ancient weights and measures is very high, fixes it proximately at 274 Paris grains. It is the coin mentioned in the New Testament, Mt 26:15, etc., where our translators have rendered it by "pieces of silver."

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Shekel. Shekel
Weight, the common standard both of weight and value among the Hebrews. It is estimated at 220 English grains, or a little more than half an ounce avoirdupois. The “shekel of the sanctuary” (Ex. 30:13; Num. 3:47) was equal to twenty gerahs (Ezek. 45:12). There were shekels of gold (1 Chr. 21:25), of silver (1 Sam. 9:8), of brass (17:5), and of iron (7). When it became a coined piece of money, the shekel of gold was equivalent to about 2 pound of our money. Six gold shekels, according to the later Jewish system, were equal in value to fifty silver ones.

The temple contribution, with which the public sacrifices were bought (Ex. 30:13; 2 Chr. 24:6), consisted of one common shekel, or a sanctuary half-shekel, equal to two Attic drachmas. The coin, a stater (q.v.), which Peter found in the fish’s mouth paid this contribution for both him and Christ (Matt. 17:24, 27). A zuza, or quarter of a shekel, was given by Saul to Samuel (1 Sam. 9:8).

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SHEKEL. → A weight, equal to twenty gerahs Ex 30:13; Nu 3:47; Eze 45:12 → Used to weigh silver Jos 7:21; Jud 8:26; 17:2,3 → Fractions of, used in currency Ex 30:13; 1Sa 9:8; Ne 10:32 → Used to weigh
* Gold Ge 24:22; Nu 7:14,20-86; Jos 7:21; 1Ki 10:16
* Cinnamon Ex 30:23
* Hair 2Sa 14:26
* Iron 1Sa 17:7
* Myrrh Ex 30:23
* Rations Eze 4:10

→ Fines paid in De 22:19,29 → Fees paid in 1Sa 9:8 → Sanctuary revenues paid in Ex 30:13; Ne 10:32 → Of different standards
* Of the sanctuary Ex 30:13
* Of the king' s weight 2Sa 14:26

→ Corrupted Am 8:5

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shekel. Shekel, n. a Jewish coin in value 55 cents

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Shek″el (?), n. [[Heb. shegel, fr. shāgal to weigh.]] 1. 1. An ancient weight and coin used by the Jews and by other nations of the same stock.
☞ A common estimate makes the shekel equal in weight to about 130 grains for gold, 224 grains for silver, and 450 grains for copper, and the approximate values of the coins are (gold) $5.00, (silver) 60 cents, and (copper half shekel), one and one half cents. 2. 2. pl. A jocose term for money.