A Half Shekel

A weight of about 5.75 grams, equal to 10 gerahs, used for measuring gold and silver.

About A Half Shekel

A six-gram weight that was called “half a shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel” (Exodus 38:26).

See Weights and Measures.

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The object itself Article

Form, use in ancient daily life, and how translators render the term.

Key References

Genesis 24:22

And after the camels had finished drinking, he took out a gold ring weighing a beka, and two gold bracelets for her wrists weighing ten shekels.

Exodus 38:26

a beka per person, that is, half a shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, from everyone twenty years of age or older who had crossed over to be numbered, a total of 603,550 men.

All Scripture References (2)

Genesis (1)
Genesis 24:22

And after the camels had finished drinking, he took out a gold ring weighing a beka, and two gold bracelets for her wrists weighing ten shekels.

Exodus (1)
Exodus 38:26

a beka per person, that is, half a shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, from everyone twenty years of age or older who had crossed over to be numbered, a total of 603,550 men.