What Is a Cubit, a Talent, or a Shekel?
Bible Measurement Guide
Biblical Unit Converter
| Biblical Unit | Description | Imperial (Feet/Inches) | Metric (Meters) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cubit | Forearm length | ||
| Day's Journey | Distance walked in a day | ||
| Fingerbreadth | Width of a finger | ||
| Furlong | 1/8 of a Roman mile | ||
| Handbreadth | Width of a hand | ||
| Span | Hand span (thumb to little finger) |
| Biblical Unit | Description | US Dollar | Euro | British Pound |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assarion | Small Roman coin | |||
| Bekah | About a half a shekel | |||
| Daric | Persian gold coin | |||
| Denarius | Roman silver coin | |||
| Gerah | 1/20 of a shekel | |||
| Lepton/Widow's Mite | Smallest Jewish coin | |||
| Mina | 50 shekels | |||
| Pim | 2/3 of a shekel | |||
| Shekel | Standard unit of weight | |||
| Talent | 60 minas | |||
| Quadrans | Roman bronze coin |
| Biblical Unit | Description | Imperial (Pounds/Ounces) | Metric (Kilograms) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bekah | Half a shekel | ||
| Gerah | 1/20 of a shekel | ||
| Kesitah | Unit of unknown value | ||
| Mina | 50 shekels | ||
| Pim | 2/3 of a shekel | ||
| Shekel | Standard unit of weight | ||
| Talent | 60 minas |
In the Bible, measurements like cubits, shekels, talents, and ephahs describe size, weight, and value in ancient Israel. A cubit was roughly 18 inches, a shekel was about 11 grams of silver, and a talent equaled 75 pounds. These units are found in stories like Noah’s Ark, Goliath’s height, temple instructions, and Jesus’ parables. This guide converts them into modern terms for clarity in Bible study and preaching.
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Bible Measurement Converter Table - Quick Reference
| Unit | Approximate Modern Value | Biblical Example |
|---|---|---|
| Shekel | ≈ 11.5 g (0.4 oz) | 30 shekels – price of a slave (Exodus 21:32) |
| Talent | ≈ 75 lbs (34 kg) | 10,000 talents – unpayable debt (Matthew 18:24) |
| Cubit | ≈ 18 in (45 cm) | Noah’s Ark: 300 cubits long (Genesis 6:15) |
| Span | ≈ 9 in (23 cm) | Goliath’s height: 6 cubits and a span (1 Samuel 17:4) |
| Bath | ≈ 6 gallons (22 liters) | Used for temple vessels (1 Kings 7:26) |
| Ephah | ≈ 5.8 gallons (22 liters) | Gideon’s offering (Judges 6:19) |
| Mite | 1/128 denarius | Widow’s offering (Luke 21:2) |
| Denarius | 1 day’s wage (silver coin) | Daily pay for vineyard workers (Matthew 20:2) |
| Mina | ≈ 1.25 lbs (0.6 kg) of silver | Parable of the Minas (Luke 19:13) |
Quick Answers
How long is a cubit in the Bible?
A cubit is about 18 inches or 45 centimeters—the length from the elbow to fingertips. Noah’s Ark was 300 cubits long, or roughly 450 feet.
How much is a shekel worth?
A shekel weighed around 11.5 grams (0.4 oz) of silver. It was roughly equal to a day’s wage in Old Testament times.
What is a talent in the Bible?
A talent was a unit of weight, about 75 pounds (34 kg). One talent of gold today would be worth over $2 million.
What is a mite in the Bible?
A mite (lepton) was the smallest coin in circulation—worth 1/128 of a denarius, or less than a penny today.
What is a denarius?
A denarius was a Roman silver coin equal to one day’s wage for a laborer (Matthew 20:2).
What is a mina in the Bible?
A mina was a unit of currency equal to 50–60 shekels, or about 1.25 pounds (0.6 kg) of silver.
How tall was Goliath?
Goliath stood 6 cubits and a span—around 9 feet 9 inches tall (1 Samuel 17:4).
How big was Noah’s Ark?
Genesis 6:15 describes it as 300 cubits long, 50 wide, 30 high—about 450 x 75 x 45 feet.
What is a bath in the Bible?
A bath was a unit of liquid measure, equal to about 6 gallons (22 liters). It was used for temple vessels.
What is an ephah in the Bible?
An ephah measured about 5.8 gallons (22 liters) of dry goods. Gideon offered an ephah of flour in Judges 6:19.
What is a Sabbath day’s journey?
Roughly 2,000 cubits, or 0.6 miles (1 km)—the maximum allowed distance to walk on the Sabbath (Acts 1:12).
What is a handbreadth?
A handbreadth was about 3 inches (7.5 cm)—the width of four fingers (1 Kings 7:26).
What is a homer?
A homer was a large dry measure, about 220 liters (6 bushels). Ten homers equaled one ephah (Ezekiel 45:11).
Discover the meaning and value of a shekel in the Bible. Learn how this ancient currency shaped Israel’s economy, worship, and theology—and what it can teach us about justice, generosity, and God’s priorities.