BIBLE DICTIONARY + WORD STUDY

Weights

Original Hebrew / Aramaic / Greek connected to this term

How to read this: there is rarely one magic “true meaning” hidden behind an English word. A lexicon records a word’s semantic range. The intended meaning is narrowed by grammar, sentence, author, historical usage and context.

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H6664

צֶ֫דֶק

tse.deq — righteousness

1) justice, rightness, righteousness 1a) what is right or just or normal, rightness, justness (of weights and measures) 1b) righteousness (in government) 1b1) of judges, rulers, kings 1b2) of law 1b3) of Davidic king, Messiah 1b4) of Jerusalem as seat of just government 1b5) of God's attribute 1c) righteousness, justice (in case or cause) 1d) rightness (in speech) 1e) righteousness (as ethically right) 1f) righteousness (as vindicated), justification (in controversy), deliverance, victory, prosperity 1f1) of God as covenant-keeping in redemption 1f2) in name of Messianic king 1f3) of people enjoying salvation 1f4) of Cyrus

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H3599

כִּיס

kis — purse

1) bag, purse 1a) for weights, money

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GREEK · G8326

μηχανή

mēchanē — a machine

1. = Lat. machina: 2. an instrument, machine for lifting weights and the like, (Herdotus Historicus); μ. Ποσειδῶνος, of the trident, (Aeschulus Tragicus); λαοπόροις μ., of Xerxes' bridge of boats, (Aeschulus Tragicus) 3. an engine of war, (Thucydides) 4. a theatrical machine , by which gods were made to appear in the air, (Plato Philosophus): hence proverbial of any sudden appearance, ὥσπερ ἀπὸ μηχανῆς (cf. Lat. deus ex machina), (Demosthenes Orator) 5. any contrivance , for doing a thing, (Herdotus Historicus), etc.: in plural μηχαναί, shifts, devices, arts, wiles , (Hesiod), attic; μηχαναῖς Διός by the arts of Zeus, (Aeschulus Tragicus); proverbial, μηχαναὶ Σισύφου (Aristophanes Comicus):—;Phrases, μηχανήν or μηχανὰς προσφέρειν (Euripides); εὑρίσκειν (Aeschulus Tragicus), etc.:—;with genitive, μ. κακῶν a contrivance against ills, (Euripides); but, μ. σωτηρίας a way of providing safety, (Aeschulus Tragicus) 6. οὐδεμία μηχανή [ ἐστι] ὅπως οὐ, with future, (Herdotus Historicus); also, μὴ οὐ, with infinitive, (Herdotus Historicus) 7. in adverb, phrases, ἐκ μηχανῆς τινος in some way or other, (Herdotus Historicus); μηδεμιῆι μηχανῆι by no means whatsoever, (Herdotus Historicus) (ML)

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GREEK · G9150

σταθμός

stathmos — a doorpost

1. a standing place for animals, Lat. stabulum, a stable, fold, (Iliad by Homer): a stye , (Odyssey by Homer): of men, a dwelling, abode , (Hesiod) 2. quarters, lodgings for travellers or soldiers, Lat. statio, (Xenophon Historicus) 3. in Persia, σταθμοί were stations on the royal road, where the king rested, (Herdotus Historicus): hence a day's journey, day's march , averaging about 5 parasangs or 15 miles, (Herdotus Historicus) 4. like Lat. statio, a station for ships, (Euripides) 5. an upright post, the bearing pillar of the roof, (Odyssey by Homer): a door-post , especially in plural, (Homer), attic 6. the balance , (Aristophanes Comicus); ἱστᾶν σταθμῷ τι πρός τι to weigh one thing against another, (Herdotus Historicus) 7. weight , σταθμὸν ἔχειν τάλαντον to weigh a talent, (Herdotus Historicus); absolute in accusative, ἴσα σταθμόν equal in weight , (Herdotus Historicus); ἡμιπλίνθια σταθμὸν διτάλαντα two talents in or by weight , (Herdotus Historicus):—;in plural weights , (Euripides), etc. (ML)

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Historical dictionary entry

Reduced to English troy-weight, the Hebrew weights were: (1.) The gerah (Lev. 27:25; Num. 3:47), a Hebrew word, meaning a grain or kernel, and hence a small weight. It was the twentieth part of a shekel, and equal to 12 grains. (2.) Bekah (Ex. 38:26), meaning “a half” i.e., “half a shekel,” equal to 5 pennyweight. (3.) Shekel, “a weight,” only in the Old Testament, and frequently in its original form (Gen. 23:15, 16; Ex. 21:32; 30:13, 15; 38:24-29, etc.). It was equal to 10 pennyweight. (4.) Ma’neh, “a part” or “portion” (Ezek. 45:12), equal to 60 shekels, i.e., to 2 lbs. 6 oz. (5.) Talent of silver (2 Kings 5:22), equal to 3,000 shekels, i.e., 125 lbs. (6.) Talent of gold (Ex. 25:39), double the preceding, i.e., 250 lbs.

Scripture references

Source: Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897). Historical dictionary wording reflects the scholarship and language of its era.

Compare other reference traditions

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