Shekel
Artifactsâš¡ IN BRIEF (SUMMARY)
The shekel functioned as both a unit of weight and a coin in ancient Israel, historically valued at approximately 2 shillings 9 pence or 66 cents, with no gold shekels discovered archaeologically despite textual references to specific gold weights.
What is the meaning of Shekel in the Bible?
The shekel functioned as both a unit of weight and a coin in ancient Israel, historically valued at approximately 2 shillings 9 pence or 66 cents, with no gold shekels discovered archaeologically despite textual references to specific gold weights.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding the shekel clarifies the economic context of biblical transactions, such as the price of Joseph or the temple tax, revealing the material realities and monetary standards of the ancient Israelite economy.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Shekel in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Shekel clarify?
Source Attribution & Provenance
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been editorially modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and formatted for fast contextual reference.