Category:Shekel

Shek"el, n. Etym: [heb. shegel, fr. shagal to weigh.]

1. An ancient weight and coin used by the jews and by other nations Of the same stock.

Note: 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. pl.

Defn: a jocose term for money.

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---excerpt from the Illustrated Bible Dictionary

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" (Exodus 30:13; Numbers 3:47) was equal to twenty gerahs (Ezekiel 45:12). There were shekels of gold (1 Chronicles 21:25), of silver (1 Samuel 9:8), of brass (1 Samuel 17:5), and of iron (1 Samuel 17:7). 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 (Exodus 30:13; 2 Chronicles 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 (Matthew 17:24, Matthew 17:27). A zuza, or quarter of a shekel, was given by Saul to Samuel (1 Samuel 9:8).