Convert Scruple (Apothecary) (s.ap) to Shekel (Biblical Hebrew) (shekel) instantly.
About these units
Scruple (Apothecary) (s.ap)
The scruple is an old apothecary unit equal to 20 grains or 1.2959782 grams, originating in ancient Greek and Roman medicine. Apothecaries used scruples for compounding herbal remedies, powders, and tinctures long before standardized metric systems were adopted. Its size made it ideal for preparing early pharmaceuticals where doses needed to be accurate but not excessively granular. Over centuries, the scruple appeared in medical recipes, early scientific writings, and even medieval charms and remedies. Although obsolete today, replaced by milligrams and grams, the scruple is vital for historians studying early medical texts, pharmacy records, and classical-era scientific practices.
Shekel (Biblical Hebrew) (shekel)
The shekel, approximately 11.3 grams, is the foundational Hebrew weight unit, originally used for silver-based transactions long before it became a monetary term. In Biblical contexts, shekels represent wages, prices, fines, and sacrificial offerings. The shekel's mass-based origins mean that early shekel "coins" were actually weighed pieces of silver rather than minted currency. The modern Israeli currency's name (the New Israeli Shekel) preserves the ancient term, linking present-day society to its deep historical roots.