What are the modern equivalents of biblical weights and measures?

Answer  
  

The use of weights and measurements was common in ancient times, just like it is today. The problem is that the words used for various measurements were usually specific to that culture. Today, most people don’t know what a “shekel” is or what is the difference between a “furlong” and a “fathom.” Some Bible translations have replaced the archaic words with modern equivalents or approximations. Other translations simply transliterate the Greek and Hebrew words for the measurements.  
  

Below are several terms and their approximated equivalents in both metric and imperial measurements. Since some ancient terms varied by area, we have differentiated Greek and Hebrew measurements.  
  

**Weights:**  
  

*Hebrew:*  

Talent (3,000 shekels or 60 minas, sometimes translated “100 pounds”)  

   34\.272 kg  

   75\.6 lbs  

Mina (50 shekels, sometimes translated “pound”)  

   571\.2 g  

   1\.26 lbs  

Shekel   

   11\.424 g  

   0\.403 oz  

Pim (2/3 shekel?)  

   7\.616 g  

   0\.258 oz  

Beca (1/2 shekel)  

   5\.712 g  

   .201 oz  

Gerah (1/20 shekel)  

   0\.571 g  

   0\.02 oz  
  

*Greek:*  

Litra (30 shekels, sometimes translated “pound”)  

   0\.4 kg  

   12 oz   

Talent   

   40 kg  

   88 lbs  

Mina  

   571\.2 g  

   1\.26 lbs  
  

**Linear Measurements:**  
  

*Hebrew:*  

Reed (6 cubits)  

   2\.7 m  

   8 3/4 ft or 3 yds  

Cubit (2 spans, sometimes translated “yard,” “half a yard,” or “foot”)  

   0\.5 m  

   18 in.  

Span (1/2 cubit or 3 handbreadths)  

   23 cm  

   9 in.  

Handbreadth (1/6 cubit, 1/3 span, or 4 fingers, sometimes translated “3 or 4 inches”)  

   8 cm  

   3 in.  

Finger  

   1\.8 cm  

   0\.73 in.  
  

*Ezekiel’s Cubit (found in Ezekiel 40:5\):*  

Reed (6 of Ezekiel’s cubits)  

   3\.1 m  

   10 ft, 2\.4 in.  

Cubit (7 handbreadths)  

   0\.5 m  

   20\.4 in.  
  

*Greek:*  

Milion (8 stadia, sometimes translated “mile”)  

   1\.5 km  

   1,620 yds or 0\.9 mi  

Stadion (1/8 milion or 400 cubits, sometimes translated “mile,” “furlong,” or “race”)  

   185 m  

   1/8 mi  

Kalamos (6 cubits, sometimes translated “rod,” “reed,” or “measuring rod”)  

   3 m  

   3 1/3 yds  

Fathom (4 cubits, sometimes translated “6 feet”)  

   2 m  

   2 yds  

Cubit (sometimes translated “yard,” “half a yard,” or “foot”)  

   0\.5 m  

   18 in.  
  

**Dry Measures:**  
  

*Hebrew:*  

Kor (10 ephahs, sometimes translated “cor,” “homer,” “sack,” “measures,” “bushels”)  

   220 L  

   5\.16 bsh or 200 qts  

Letek (5 ephahs, sometimes translated “half homer” or “half sack”)  

   110 L  

   2\.68 bsh  

Ephah / Bath (10 omers, sometimes translated “bushel,” “peck,” “deal, “part,” “measure,” or “6 or 7 pints”)  

   22 L  

   3/5 bsh  

Seah (1/3 ephah, sometimes translated “measure,” “peck,” or “large amount”)  

   7\.3 L  

   7 qts  

Omer / Issaron (1/10 ephah, sometimes translated “tenth of a deal” or “six pints”)  

   2 L  

   2\.09 qts  

Cab (1/18 ephah, sometimes translated “cab”)  

   1 L  

   1 qt  
  

*Greek:*  

Koros (10 ephahs, sometimes translated “sack,” “measure,” “bushel,” or “500 quartsbus”)  

   525 L  

   14\.9 bsh  

Modios (4 omers, sometimes translated “bushel,” “bowl,” “peck,” “corn\-measure,” or “meal\-tub”)  

   9 L  

   1 pk or 1/4 bsh  

Saton (1/3 ephah, sometimes translated “measure,” “peck,” or “large amount”)  

   7\.3 L  

   7 qts  

Choinix (1/18 ephah, sometimes translated “measure” or “quart”)  

   1 L  

   1 qt  

Xestes (1/2 cab, sometimes translated “pot,” “pitcher,” “kettle,” “copper bowl,” or “vessels of bronze”)  

   0\.5 L  

   1 1/6 pts  
  

**Liquid Measures:**  
  

*Hebrew:*  

Cor / Homer  

   208 L  

   55 gal  

Bath (1 ephah, sometimes translated “gallon,” “barrel,” or “liquid measure”)  

   22 L  

   5\.5 gal  

Hin (1/6 bath, sometimes translated “pints”)  

   4 L  

   1 gal (4 qts)  

Log (1/72 bath, sometimes translated “pint” or “cotulus”)  

   0\.3 L  

   0\.67 pt  
  

*Greek:*  

Metretes (10 hins, sometimes translated “firkins” or “gallons”)  

   39 L  

   10 gal  

Batos (1 ephah, sometimes translated “gallon,” “barrel,” or “measure”)  

   22 L  

   6 gal  

Xestes (1/8 hin, sometimes translated “pot,” “pitcher,” “kettle,” “copper bowl,” or “vessel of bronze”)  

   0\.5 L  

   1 1/6 pts  
  

**Coins and Monies:**  

Denarius / Denarion: a day’s wage (“penny” in KJV)  

Daric / Drachma / Dram: a coin weighing 1/4 oz or 8\.5 g   

Lepta: the smallest Greek copper coin; of unknown weight (translated “mite” in KJV)  

Kodrantess: the smallest Roman copper coin; of unknown weight (translated “mite” in KJV)  
  

