Weights and measures of the Bible

Ever wondered what a cubit is? When is the third watch? How much is a denarius, an omer or a talent? Here’s a chart of time, weights and measures found in Scripture and how to convert them.

All values are approximate. Some measurements vary by era and location

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Jump to: ** Time; ** Lengths; ** Weights; ** Liquid Measures; ** Dry Measures; ** Money; ** Next **

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Time

Time

Sunrise	6 AM	06:00	Mk 16:2	<Convert>
First hour	7 AM	07:00		<Convert>
Second hour	8 AM	08:00		<Convert>
Third hour	9 AM	09:00	Mt 20:3	<Convert>
Fourth hour	10 AM	10:00		<Convert>
Fifth hour	11 AM	11:00		<Convert>
Sixth hour	Noon	12:00	Mt 20:5	<Convert>
Seventh hour	1 PM	13:00	Jn 4:52	<Convert>
Eighth hour	2 PM	14:00		<Convert>
Ninth hour	3 PM	15:00	Mt 20:5	<Convert>
Tenth hour	4 PM	16:00	Jn 1:39	<Convert>
Eleventh hour	5 PM	17:00	Mt 20:6-9	<Convert>
Sunset	6 PM	18:00	Luke 4:40	<Convert>
First watch of night	6 PM – 9 PM	18:00 – 21:00	Lam 2:19	<Convert>
Second watch	9 PM – midnight	21:00 – 00:00	Luke 12:38	<Convert>
Third watch	Midnight – 3 AM	00:00 – 03:00	Luke 12:38	<Convert>
Fourth watch	3 AM – 6 AM	03:00 – 06:00	Mt 14:25	<Convert>

Lengths

Lengths

Finger	0.73 inches	1.85 centimeters	Jer 52:21	<Convert>
Handbreadth (4 fingers)	2.92 inches	7.42 centimeters	Ex 25:25	<Convert>
Span	9 inches	22.86 centimeters	Ex 28:16	<Convert>
Cubit	18 inches	45.72 centimeters	Gen 6:15	<Convert>
Long Cubit	21 inches	53.34 centimeters	Eze 40:5	<Convert>
Rod (6 long cubits)	10.5 feet	3.20 meters	Eze 40:5	<Convert>
Fathom	6 feet	1.829 meters	Acts 27:28	<Convert>
Furlong (KJV)	1/8 mi., 660 feet	201.168 meters	Rev 14:20	<Convert>
Stadion	607 feet	185 meters	Luke 24:13	<Convert>
Sabbath day’s journey	2,000 cubits, 3,000 ft	914.4 meters	Acts 1:12	<Convert>
Day’s journey	20 miles	32.187 kilometers	1Ki 19:4	<Convert>

Weights

Weights

Gerah (1/20 shekel)	0.0201 ounces	0.57 grams	Exo 30:13	<Convert>
Beka (1/2 shekel)	0.201 ounces	5.7 grams	Gen 24:22	<Convert>
Pim (2/3 shekel)	0.268 ounces	7.6 grams	1Sam 13:21	<Convert>
Shekel (20 gerahs)	0.402 ounces	11.4 grams	Gen 23:15	<Convert>
Mina (50 shekels)	1.256 pounds	0.57 kg	Ezra 2:69	<Convert>
Talent (60 minas)	75.4 pounds	34.2 kg	Exo 25:39	<Convert>
Litra (Roman Pound)	12 ounces	340 grams	John 19:39	<Convert>

Liquid Mesaures

Liquid Measures

Log	0.33 quarts	0.31 liters	Lev 14:10	<Convert>
Hin (12 logs)	0.98 gallon	3.71 liters	Num 15:4	<Convert>
Bath (6 hins)	5.8 gallons	22 liters	1Ki 5:11	<Convert>
Homer (10 baths)	58 gallons	220 liters	Eze 45:11	<Convert>
Cor (10 baths)	58 gallons	220 liters	Eze 45:14	<Convert>
Bath (NT)	8.7 gallons	32.9 liters	Luke 16:6	<Convert>
Metretes (NT)	10.4 gallons	39.4 liters	John 2:6	<Convert>

Dry Measures

Dry Measures

Kab (1/18 ephah)	1.1 dry quarts	1.2 liters	2Ki 6:25	<Convert>
Omer (1/10 ephah)	2.0 dry quarts	2.2 liters	Exo 16:16	<Convert>
Seah (1/3 ephah)	6.7 dry quarts	7.3 liters	Gen 18:6	<Convert>
Ephah (10 omers)	0.624 bushels (5 dry gal.)	22 liters	Exo 16:36	<Convert>
Lethech (5 ephahs)	3.12 bushels (25 dry gal.)	110 liters	Hosea 3:2	<Convert>
Homer (10 ephahs)	6.24 bushels (50 dry gal.)	220 liters	Lev 27:16	<Convert>
Cor (10 ephahs)	6.24 bushels (50 dry gal.)	220 liters	1Ki 4:22	<Convert>
Cor (NT)	10 bushels (93 dry gal.)	350 liters	Luke 16:7	<Convert>

Money

Money

Denarius	Day’s wage		Mt 20:2	<Est. Current Value>
Drachma	apprx 0.035 oz. silver	apprx 1 gram silver	Luke 15:8	<Est. Current Value>
Didrachma (2 Drach.)	apprx 0.07 oz. silver	apprx 2 grams silver	Mt 17:24	<Est. Current Value>
Talent, silver	apprx 75.4 lb	apprx 34.24 kg	Ezra 8:26	<Est. Current Value>
Talent, gold	apprx 75.4 lb	apprx 34.24 kg	1Ki 9:28	<Est. Current Value>

More: Coins in the Bible

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