Bible Unit and Measuremets Converted

What is a Bible Measurement Converter?

I lost count of how many times I’ve been prepping for a bible study or sermon and asked, “How long was a cubit?” or “What was a shekel worth, again?” How many shekels in a talent? (3000)

So I created this converter.

The bible, as you know, frequently uses ancient units of measurement (cubits, talents, stadia, ephahs). This tool will help you convert those measurements to contemporary measurements.

The default value is 1, but you may enter another value and the totals will instantly populate.

In 1 Samuel 17:4 we read, “And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.”

How tall was Goliath?

To figure that out, you’d click on distance, enter “6” and see that 6 cubits = 9 feet (imperial units) and 2.74 (meters). You would then enter “1” for span and see that it is 9 inches. Could you imagine seeing anyone 9’9” tall!?

Biblical Units of Measurement: Quick Reference Chart

Ever Wonder . . . Frequently Asked Questions about Bible Measurements

What Is a Shekel in the Bible?

A shekel was both a unit of weight and currency in ancient Israel, roughly 11 grams (0.39 oz). It was most often silver, though rare gold shekels existed.

• As a weight: ~11 g (0.4 oz)

• As currency: typically 1 shekel = 1 day’s wage for a laborer

Biblical examples:

• Exodus 30:13 – Temple tax: half-shekel per person

• Judges 17:10 – Levite’s salary: 10 shekels per year

• Matthew 26:15 – Judas received 30 shekels to betray Jesus

💡 Did you know? Gold shekels were hundreds of times more valuable than silver ones.

What Is a Talent in the Bible?

A talent was a massive unit of weight, approximately 75 pounds (34 kg), used primarily to measure gold or silver.

• Matthew 18:24 – A servant owed 10,000 talents (possibly billions today)

• Matthew 25:14–30 – Even the servant given one talent managed 75 pounds of gold!

💡 Did you know? 1 Kings 10:14 reports Solomon received 666 talents of gold annually—about 50,000 pounds (22,700 kg).

How Many Shekels in a Talent?

There are 3000 shekels in a Talent.

How much did a talent weigh in Jesus' time?

In Jesus’ time, a talent typically weighed about 75 pounds (around 34 kilograms).

This was a substantial weight, used mainly as a measure for precious metals like silver and gold. Because it was so heavy, a talent represented a very large sum of money or value—often used in parables to illustrate great wealth or responsibility (like in the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30).

How Far Was a Day’s Journey in the Bible?

A day’s journey was the distance a person or group could travel in one day, typically 20–25 miles (32–40 km).

• Luke 2:44 – Mary and Joseph traveled a day’s journey before realizing Jesus was missing

• Numbers 11:31 – God sent quail to cover a day’s journey in each direction

💡 Did you know? A camel caravan might travel up to 30 miles per day, while a solo traveler would go less.

How Long Is a Furlong in the Bible?

A furlong (Greek: stadion) was about 607 feet (185 meters)—roughly 1/8 of a mile.

• Luke 24:13 – Emmaus was 60 furlongs (≈7.5 miles) from Jerusalem

💡 Did you know? The word "stadium" comes from the same root—ancient race tracks were often one furlong long.

How Long Is a Cubit in the Bible?

A cubit was about 18 inches (45 cm)—the length from a man’s elbow to fingertips. The royal cubit (Egyptian) was slightly longer: about 20.5 inches (52 cm).

• Genesis 6:15 – Noah’s Ark: 300 cubits long (≈450 feet)

• 1 Kings 6:2 – Solomon’s Temple: 60 cubits long

• 1 Samuel 17:4 – Goliath: 6 cubits and a span (over 9 feet tall)

💡 Did you know? The cubit was one of the most commonly used measurements across the ancient Near East.

What Is a Denarius in the Bible?

A denarius was a Roman silver coin worth one day’s wage for a common laborer.

• Matthew 20:2 – Workers hired for one denarius a day

• Matthew 22:19–21 – Jesus used a denarius to teach about paying taxes to Caesar

💡 Did you know? Luke 10:35 – The Good Samaritan gave two denarii to cover an injured man's care.

What Is a Widow’s Mite?

A mite (Greek: lepton) was the smallest and least valuable coin in circulation, worth 1/128 of a denarius.

• Mark 12:42, Luke 21:2 – The poor widow gave two mites

💡 Did you know? Her two mites were worth less than a single penny today—yet Jesus praised her gift as greater than all others.

How Much Is a Mina in the Bible?

A mina was a unit of weight and currency, typically 50 shekels or about 1.25 pounds (0.6 kg) of silver.

• Luke 19:11–27 – Jesus' Parable of the Minas emphasizes faithful stewardship

• Ezekiel 45:12 – Lists a mina as 60 shekels, showing regional variation

💡 Did you know? A mina was worth about 3 months' wages for a worker.