Sheckle

Sheckle or shekel

Sheckle or shekel is an ancient unit of weight or value. especially : a Hebrew unit equal to about 252 grains troy (about 16.3 grams)

2. : a coin weighing one shekel.

A half Sheckle is about 8 grams of silver.

The Hebrew shekel was the 50th part of a mina, and as a weight about 224 grains.

Shekel is any of several ancient units of weight or of currency in ancient Israel, from the Hebrew root ש-ק-ל (ShinKufLamed) meaning 'weigh' (שָׁקַל šaqal 'to weigh', שֶׁקֶל šeqel 'a standard weight'), common with other Semitic languages like Akkadian.

In the first century a shekel was equated with the Greek tetradrachm (equal to four drachms), which was a silver coin of the weight of nearly 14 grams.

A US dime weighs 2.268 grams.

A silver quarter weighs about 6.25 grams. This is because quarters made before 1965 are 90% silver and 10% copper.

Half a shekel therefore would be in the value of nearly 7 grams of silver, and could be equated with the Greek didrachm (equal to two drachms).

What is the value of about 7 grams of stamped silver? The New Testament provides an estimated value of a similar silver coin.

Shekel in the text

Exodus 30:13 This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel [is] twenty gerahs:) an half shekel [shall be] the offering of the LORD.

The phrase shekel of the sanctuary is mentioned 25 times in the Bible.

A a didrachmon or double drachma, a silver coin equal to two Attic drachmas or one Alexandrian, or one half a shekel which was "an offering to the LORD"

The half shekel as the "shekel of the sanctuary" was an expression that you were still a part of the Tens. You were saying I am counted among you. The tribes of Israel with the Levites and the Early Christians community with the early Church functioned as a network of congregations or free assemblies that supported one another in Pure Religion through freewill offerings. Unlike the governments of the world, they did not depend on taxation but charity.

"Every one that passeth among them that are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering unto the LORD. 15 The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when they give an offering unto the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls.16 And thou shalt take the atonement money of the children of Israel, and shalt appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; that it may be a memorial unto the children of Israel before the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls." Exodus 30:14

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This token offering, this "shekel of the sanctuary", allowed the Church in the wilderness who were the Levites to know who was still numbered amongst them and where they were connected in the living network which was the kingdom of God. As that "memorial" the whole nation knew where they fit in this alternative network of liberty.

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The One word translated shekel is the Hebrew noun לקשׁ or sheqel which also appears as a verb לקשׁ or shaqal some 22 times but is not translated shekel but weigh, pay, throughly, receive, receiver and spend.

01235 ^עקב^ beqa‘ \@beh’- kah\@ from 01234; n m; {See TWOT on 271 @@ "271a"} AV-half a shekel 1, bekah 1; 2

1) half, part also called "shekel of the sanctuary" or "holy shekel"

2) half a shekel (meton)

There appears to be at least three different shekels, one of silver, gold and copper.

01626 ^הרג^ gerah \@gay-raw’\@ from 01641 (as in 01625); n f; {See TWOT on 386 @@ "386b"} AV-gerah 5; 5

1) gerah, a weight, a 20th part of a shekel, equal to the weight of 16 barley grains or 4 to 5 carob beans

01641 ^ררג^ garar \@gaw-rar’\@ a primitive root; v; {See TWOT on 386} AV-catch 1, destroy 1, chew 1, saw 1, continuing 1; 5

1) to drag, drag away

1a) (Qal) to drag away

1b) (Niphal) to chew the cud

1c) (Poal) sawn (participle)

1d) (Hithpoel) roaring (participle)

Appearances in the Bible

Genesis 23:15 My lord, hearken unto me: the land is worth four hundred shekels <08255> of silver; what is that betwixt me and thee? bury therefore thy dead.

Genesis 23:16 And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron; and Abraham weighed<08254> to Ephron the silver, which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels <08255> of silver, current money with the merchant.

Exodus 21:32 If the ox shall push a manservant or a maidservant; he shall give unto their master thirty shekels <08255> of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.

Exodus 30:13 This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel <08255> after the shekel <08255> of the sanctuary: (a shekel <08255> is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel <08255> shall be the offering of the LORD.

Exodus 30:15 The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel <08255>, when they give an offering unto the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls.

Exodus 30:24 And of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel <08255> of the sanctuary, and of oil olive an hin:

Exodus 38:24 All the gold that was occupied for the work in all the work of the holy place, even the gold of the offering, was twenty and nine talents, and seven hundred and thirty shekels <08255>, after the shekel <08255> of the sanctuary.

Exodus 38:25 And the silver of them that were numbered of the congregation was an hundred talents, and a thousand seven hundred and threescore and fifteen shekels <08255>, after the shekel <08255> of the sanctuary:

Exodus 38:26 A bekah for every man, that is, half a shekel <08255>, after the shekel <08255> of the sanctuary, for every one that went to be numbered, from twenty years old and upward, for six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty men.

Exodus 38:29 And the brass of the offering was seventy talents, and two thousand and four hundred shekels <08255>.

Leviticus 5:15 If a soul commit a trespass, and sin through ignorance, in the holy things of the LORD; then he shall bring for his trespass unto the LORD a ram without blemish out of the flocks, with thy estimation by shekels <08255> of silver, after the shekel <08255> of the sanctuary, for a trespass offering:

Leviticus 27:3 And thy estimation shall be of the male from twenty years old even unto sixty years old, even thy estimation shall be fifty shekels <08255> of silver, after the shekel <08255> of the sanctuary.

Leviticus 27:4 And if it be a female, then thy estimation shall be thirty shekels <08255>.

Leviticus 27:5 And if it be from five years old even unto twenty years old, then thy estimation shall be of the male twenty shekels <08255>, and for the female ten shekels <08255>.

Leviticus 27:6 And if it be from a month old even unto five years old, then thy estimation shall be of the male five shekels <08255> of silver, and for the female thy estimation shall be three shekels <08255> of silver.

Leviticus 27:7 And if it be from sixty years old and above; if it be a male, then thy estimation shall be fifteen shekels <08255>, and for the female ten shekels <08255>.

Leviticus 27:16 And if a man shall sanctify unto the LORD some part of a field of his possession, then thy estimation shall be according to the seed thereof: an homer of barley seed shall be valued at fifty shekels <08255> of silver.

Leviticus 27:25 And all thy estimations shall be according to the shekel <08255> of the sanctuary: twenty gerahs shall be the shekel <08255>.

Numbers 3:47 Thou shalt even take five shekels <08255> apiece by the poll, after the shekel <08255> of the sanctuary shalt thou take them: (the shekel <08255> is twenty gerahs:)

Numbers 3:50 Of the firstborn of the children of Israel took he the money; a thousand three hundred and threescore and five shekels, after the shekel <08255> of the sanctuary:

Numbers 7:13 And his offering was one silver charger, the weight thereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels <08255>, after the shekel <08255> of the sanctuary; both of them were full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

Numbers 7:19 He offered for his offering one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels <08255>, after the shekel <08255> of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

Numbers 7:25 His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels <08255>, after the shekel <08255> of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

Numbers 7:31 His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels <08255>, after the shekel <08255> of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

Numbers 7:37 His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels <08255>, after the shekel <08255> of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

Numbers 7:43 His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty shekels, a silver bowl of seventy shekels <08255>, after the shekel <08255> of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

Numbers 7:49 His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels <08255>, after the shekel <08255> of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

Numbers 7:55 His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels <08255>, after the shekel <08255> of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

Numbers 7:61 His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels <08255>, after the shekel <08255> of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

Numbers 7:67 His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels <08255>, after the shekel <08255> of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

Numbers 7:73 His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels <08255>, after the shekel <08255> of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

Numbers 7:79 His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels <08255>, after the shekel <08255> of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

Numbers 7:85 Each charger of silver weighing an hundred and thirty shekels, each bowl seventy: all the silver vessels weighed two thousand and four hundred shekels, after the shekel <08255> of the sanctuary:

Numbers 7:86 The golden spoons were twelve, full of incense, weighing ten shekels apiece, after the shekel <08255> of the sanctuary: all the gold of the spoons was an hundred and twenty shekels.

Numbers 18:16 And those that are to be redeemed from a month old shalt thou redeem, according to thine estimation, for the money of five shekels <08255>, after the shekel <08255> of the sanctuary, which is twenty gerahs.

Numbers 31:52 And all the gold of the offering that they offered up to the LORD, of the captains of thousands, and of the captains of hundreds, was sixteen thousand seven hundred and fifty shekels <08255>.

Joshua 7:21 When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels <08255> of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels <08255> weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.

1 Samuel 9:8 And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel <08255> of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.

1 Samuel 17:5 And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels <08255> of brass.

1 Samuel 17:7 And the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam; and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels <08255> of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.

2 Samuel 14:26 And when he polled his head, (for it was at every year’s end that he polled it: because the hair was heavy on him, therefore he polled it:) he weighed <08254> the hair of his head at two hundred shekels <08255> after the king’s weight.

2 Samuel 14:26 And when he polled his head, (for it was at every year’s end that he polled it: because the hair was heavy on him, therefore he polled it:) he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels <08255> after the king’s weight.

2 Samuel 24:24 And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels <08255> of silver.

2 Kings 7:1 Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel <08255>, and two measures of barley for a shekel <08255>, in the gate of Samaria.

2 Kings 7:16 And the people went out, and spoiled the tents of the Syrians. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel <08255>, and two measures of barley for a shekel <08255>, according to the word of the LORD.

2 Kings 7:18 And it came to pass as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, Two measures of barley for a shekel <08255>, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel <08255>, shall be to morrow about this time in the gate of Samaria:

2 Kings 15:20 And Menahem exacted the money of Israel, even of all the mighty men of wealth, of each man fifty shekels <08255> of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and stayed not there in the land.

1 Chronicles 21:25 So David gave to Ornan for the place six hundred shekels <08255> of gold by weight.

2 Chronicles 3:9 And the weight of the nails was fifty shekels <08255> of gold. And he overlaid the upper chambers with gold.

Nehemiah 5:15 But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels <08255> of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.

Nehemiah 10:32 Also we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel <08255> for the service of the house of our God;

Jeremiah 32:9 And I bought the field of Hanameel my uncle’s son, that was in Anathoth, and weighed <08254> him the money, even seventeen shekels <08255> of silver.

Ezekiel 4:10 And thy meat which thou shalt eat shall be by weight, twenty shekels <08255> a day: from time to time shalt thou eat it.

Ezekiel 45:12 And the shekel <08255> shall be twenty gerahs: twenty shekels <08255>, five and twenty shekels <08255>, fifteen shekels <08255>, shall be your maneh.

Amos 8:5 "Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel <08255> great, and falsifying the balances by deceit?"

Genesis 23:16 And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron; and Abraham weighed <08254> to Ephron the silver, which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant.

Exodus 22:17 If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay <08254> money according to the dowry of virgins.

2 Samuel 14:26 And when he polled his head, (for it was at every year’s end that he polled it: because the hair was heavy on him, therefore he polled it:) he weighed <08254> the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the king’s weight.

2 Samuel 18:12 And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive <08254> a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king’s son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.

1 Kings 20:39 And as the king passed by, he cried unto the king: and he said, Thy servant went out into the midst of the battle; and, behold, a man turned aside, and brought a man unto me, and said, Keep this man: if by any means he be missing, then shall thy life be for his life, or else thou shalt pay <08254> a talent of silver.

Ezra 8:25 And weighed <08254> unto them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, even the offering of the house of our God, which the king, and his counsellors, and his lords, and all Israel there present, had offered:

Ezra 8:26 I even weighed <08254> unto their hand six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels an hundred talents, and of gold an hundred talents;

Ezra 8:29 Watch ye, and keep them, until ye weigh <08254> them before the chief of the priests and the Levites, and chief of the fathers of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the LORD.

Ezra 8:33 Now on the fourth day was the silver and the gold and the vessels weighed <08254> in the house of our God by the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest; and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them was Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, Levites;

Esther 3:9 If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay <08254> ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king’s treasuries.

Esther 4:7 And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay <08254> to the king’s treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.

Job 6:2 Oh that my grief were throughly <08254> weighed <08254>, and my calamity laid in the balances together!

Job 28:15 It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed <08254> for the price thereof.

Job 31:6 Let me be weighed <08254> in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity.

Isaiah 33:18 Thine heart shall meditate terror. Where is the scribe? where is the receiver <08254>? where is he that counted the towers?

Isaiah 40:12 Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed <08254> the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?

Isaiah 46:6 They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh <08254> silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship.

Isaiah 55:2 Wherefore do ye spend <08254> money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

Jeremiah 32:9 And I bought the field of Hanameel my uncle’s son, that was in Anathoth, and weighed <08254> him the money, even seventeen shekels of silver.

Jeremiah 32:10 And I subscribed the evidence, and sealed it, and took witnesses, and weighed <08254> him the money in the balances.

Zechariah 11:12 And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed <08254> for my price thirty pieces of silver.