International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Shekel

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Shekel


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shek´'l, shek´el, shē´kel, shē´kul (שׁקל, sheḳel): A weight and a coin. The Hebrew shekel was the 50th part of a mina, and as a weight about 224 grains, and as money (silver) was worth about 2 shillings 9d., or 66 cents (in 1915). No gold shekel has been found, and hence, it is inferred that such a coin was not used; but as a certain amount of gold, by weight, it is mentioned in and is probably intended to be supplied in . The gold shekel was 1/60 of the heavy Babylonian mina and weighed about 252 grains. In value it was about equal to 2 British pounds and 1 shilling, or about $10.00 (in 1915). See MONEY; WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. In the Revised Version (British and American) of “shekel” replaces “piece of money” of the King James Version, the translation of στατήρ, statḗr. See STATER.