Lexical Definition

‎שֶׁקֶל‎ sheqel (sheh'-kel) shekel ^H:N-M
from ‎שָׁקַל‎

shekel.

• probably a weight
• used as a commercial standard

1) shekel
1a) the chief unit of weight or measure
1a1) gold-1/10000 of a talent and equal to 220 grains
1a2) silver-1/3000 of a talent and equal to 132 grains
1a3) copper-1/1500 of a talent and equal to 528 grains

See Greek: δίδραχμον · δραχμή

Brown-Driver-Briggs

Aramaic form: תְּקַל
‎שֶׁ֫קֶל‎₈₇ noun masculine^{Lev 27:6} a weight, shekel (originally = weight; late Hebrew = coin GACooke^{Inscr. 356}); — absolute ‎׳‎‎שׁ‎ Amos 8:5 +, ‎שָׁ֑קֶל‎ Exod 38:29 +; plural ‎שְׁקָלִים‎ Josh 7:21 +; construct ‎שִׁקְלֵי‎ 1Chr 21:25 — shekel, as standard weight Amos 8:5 of weight of bronze armour 1Sam 17:5, iron spear-head v1Sam 17:7, +2Sam 21:16b (see ‎מִשְׁקָל‎), hair 2Sam 14:26, food Ezek 4:10 implying value, of wedge of gold Josh 7:21 (JE); of nails in temple (gold) 2Chr 3:9 usually a definite weight of silver (used in payment. or valuation) Exod 21:32 (E), Josh 7:21 (JE), 1Sam 9:8; 2Sam 24:24; 2Kgs 7:1 (twice in verse); 2Kgs 7:16 (twice in verse); 2Kgs 7:18 (twice in verse); 2Kgs 15:20; Jer 32:9; Ezek 45:12 (twice in verse) (see infra), and ( = coin, from time of Darius I) Neh 5:15; Neh 10:33*; Lev 5:15; Lev 27:3; Lev 27:4; Lev 27:5 (twice in verse) (all P), +53 t. P; also ‎׳‎‎מַחֲצִית הַשּׁ‎ Exod 30:13 (twice in verse); Exod 30:15; Exod 38:26 (= ‎בֶּקַל‎), all half-shekel, atonement-money; compare ‎׳‎‎שְׁלִישִׁית הַשּׁ‎ Neh 10:33* one-third; also ‎׳‎‎רֶבַע שׁ‎ 1Sam 9:8 one-fourth if shekel; ‎׳‎‎שׁ‎ = 20 ‎גֵּרָה‎ (‎׳‎‎ג‎ otherwise unknown) Ezek 45:12; Exod 30:13; Lev 27:25; Num 3:47 50 ‎׳‎‎שׁ‎ = one maneh Ezek 45:12 (read ‎וַחֲמִשִּׁים‎ for ‎וחמשׁה‎ [and ‎עֶשְׂרֵה‎ for ‎עֲשָׂרָה‎ preceding], ᵐ5^A Boeckh Hi-Sm Co Toy Da Krae Berthol); ‎הַקֹּדֶשׁ‎ ‎׳‎‎שׁ‎ Exod 30:13; Exod 30:24; Lev 5:15; Num 3:47; Num 3:50; Num 7:13 + 21 t. P; land estimated in ‎׳‎‎שׁ‎ of gold 1Chr 21:25 ‎׳‎‎שׂ‎ also often omitted after number — ‎׳‎‎שׁ‎ was of two standards, one one-half the other; actual weights (and values) varied, but most persistent were: (1) gold, 252 2/3 grams Troy (or 126 1/3), modern equivalent approximately £2 1 S., or $10; (2) silver, 224 1/2 grams (nearly 1/2 ounce) = ‎הַקֹּדֶשׁ‎ ‎׳‎‎שׁ‎ (see above), or 112 1/4, modern equivalent approximately 2s. 9d., or 67 with; ‎בְּאֶבֶן הַמֶּלֶךְ‎ ‎׳‎‎שׁ‎ 2Sam 14:26 is dubious; if late (Bu HPS Löhr Now) it probably reference to a Babylonian or Persian scale (compare S-C^pap ‎באבני מלכא‎ often); 60 (or 50) ‎׳‎‎שׁ‎ = 1 mina, 60 minas= 1 talent(see ‎מָנֶה‎ ,‎כִּכָּר‎). See especially ARSK^{Hast. DB WEIGHTS AND MEASURES,and MONEY}.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References