Table of Weights and Measures
BIBLICAL UNIT
APPROXIMATE AMERICAN EQUIVALENT
APPROXIMATE METRIC EQUIVALENT
Weights
talent (60 minas)
75 pounds
34 kilograms
mina (50 shekels)
1 1/4 pounds
560 grams
shekel (2 bekas)
2/5 ounce
11.5 grams
pim (2/3 shekel)
1/4 ounce
7.8 grams
beka (10 gerahs)
1/5 ounce
5.7 grams
gerah
1/50 ounce
0.6 gram
daric
1/3 ounce
8.4 grams
Length
cubit
18 inches
45 centimeters
span
9 inches
23 centimeters
handbreadth
3 inches
7.5 centimeters
stadion (pl. stadia)
600 feet
183 meters
Capacity
Dry Measure
cor [homer] (10 ephahs)
6 bushels
220 liters
lethek (5 ephahs)
3 bushels
110 liters
ephah (10 omers)
3/5 bushel
22 liters
seah (1/3 ephah)
7 quarts
7.5 liters
omer (1/10 ephah)
2 quarts
2 liters
cab (1/18 ephah)
1 quart
1 liter
Liquid Measure
bath (1 ephah)
6 gallons
22 liters
hin (1/6 bath)
1 gallon
3.8 liters
log (1/72 bath)
1/3 quart
0.3 liter
The figures of the table are calculated on the basis of a shekel equaling 11.5 grams, a cubit equaling 18 inches and an ephah equaling 22 liters. The quart referred to is either a dry quart (slightly larger than a liter) or a liquid quart (slightly smaller than a liter), whichever is applicable. The ton referred to in the footnotes is the American ton of 2,000 pounds. These weights are calculated relative to the particular commodity involved. Accordingly, the same measure of capacity in the text may be converted into different weights in the footnotes.
This table is based upon the best available information, but it is not intended to be mathematically precise; like the measurement equivalents in the footnotes, it merely gives approximate amounts and distances. Weights and measures differed somewhat at various times and places in the ancient world. There is uncertainty particularly about the ephah and the bath; further discoveries may shed more light on these units of capacity.