Measures, coins and hours
How much each measure of the Bible was, said in today's measures. Every value is approximate: they changed with time and place, and where the estimates differ we give the range.
Length
finger
handbreadth
about 3 in (7.5 cm) approximate
The width of the hand, four fingers; a sixth of a cubit.
span
about 9 in (22 cm) approximate
The open hand, thumb to little finger: half a cubit.
cubit
about 18 in (45 cm) approximate
From the elbow to the fingertips. Ezekiel's «measuring cubit» was a handbreadth longer, about 20½ in (52 cm).
measuring reed
fathom
about 6 ft (1.85 m) approximate
Both arms outstretched; used to sound the depth of the sea.
stadion
mile
Weight
gerah
beka
shekel
about 0.4 oz (11.4 g) approximate
The basic weight. Before coins, silver was paid by weighing it in shekels.
mina
about 1¼ lb (570 g) approximate
Fifty shekels (Ezekiel 45:12 counts sixty).
talent
about 75 lb (34 kg) approximate
The largest weight: three thousand shekels (Exodus 38:25-26).
pound (litra)
Money
Money is given in days' wages: a denarius was the pay for a day's work (Matthew 20:2).
lepton
a 128th of a day's wage: the smallest coin approximate
Two lepta made a quadrans (Mark 12:42).
quadrans
assarion
a 16th of a day's wage approximate
A Roman copper coin; sixteen made a denarius.
denarius
a laborer's wage for one day approximate
A Roman silver coin (Matthew 20:2). The others are measured by it.
drachma
two-drachma tax
about two days' wages approximate
Every Jew's yearly tax for the temple: the half shekel of Exodus 30:13.
stater
daric
mina
talent
about six thousand days' wages: some twenty years' pay approximate
About six thousand denarii.
Grain and flour
kab
quart (choenix)
omer
about 2 qt (2.2 L) approximate
A tenth of an ephah (Exodus 16:36): one person's manna for a day.
modius (measuring basket)
about 9 qt (9 L) approximate
The Roman measure for grain; at home it was the measuring basket (Matthew 5:15).
seah
about 7 qt (7 L); other estimates up to 13 L approximate
A third of an ephah.
ephah
about 23 qt (22 L); other estimates up to 36 L approximate
Ten omers. For grain what the bath is for liquids (Ezekiel 45:11).
homer
about 6 bushels (220 L) approximate
Ten ephahs (Ezekiel 45:11). The same word also means «clay».
kor
about 6 bushels (220 L); other estimates up to 370 L approximate
The same as a homer (Ezekiel 45:14).
Liquids
log
pitcher (xestes)
hin
about 1 gal (3.7 L) approximate
A sixth of a bath; used for the oil and wine of the offerings.
bath
about 6 gal (22 L); other estimates up to 37 L approximate
For liquids what the ephah is for grain (Ezekiel 45:11).
metretes
about 10 gal (39 L) approximate
A Greek measure; each jar at Cana held two or three (John 2:6).
Hours and watches
hour
a twelfth of the day, counted from sunrise approximate
Hours were longer in summer and shorter in winter.
third hour about 9 a.m. · Mark 15:25 sixth hour about noon · John 4:6 seventh hour about 1 p.m. · John 4:52 ninth hour about 3 p.m. · Acts 3:1 tenth hour about 4 p.m. · John 1:39 eleventh hour about 5 p.m. · Matthew 20:6 third hour of the night about 9 p.m. · Acts 23:23 watch (Old Testament)
a turn of guard duty: the night in three approximate
The first, the middle one (Judges 7:19) and the morning watch (Exodus 14:24).
first dusk to about 10 p.m. middle about 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. · Judges 7:19 morning about 2 a.m. to dawn · Exodus 14:24 watch (New Testament)
a turn of guard duty: the night in four, as the Romans counted it approximate
Mark 13:35 names them: evening, midnight, cockcrow and early morning.
first about 6 to 9 p.m. second about 9 p.m. to midnight · Luke 12:38 third midnight to about 3 a.m. fourth about 3 a.m. to dawn · Matthew 14:25