Convert Shekel (Biblical Hebrew) (shekel) to Talent (Biblical Hebrew) (talent (H)) instantly.
About these units
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.
Talent (Biblical Hebrew) (talent (H))
The Hebrew talent was a very large mass unit, typically estimated around 34–36 kilograms, though exact values varied by period and region. It represented an enormous economic value—equivalent to years of wages for a common laborer—and was primarily used for measuring gold and silver in royal and temple contexts. Talents appear frequently in Biblical texts, often symbolizing wealth, tribute, or divine offerings. Their usage suggests a sophisticated economic system capable of handling large-scale trade and taxation. Because talents were too heavy for ordinary transactions, they were divided into 60 minas, which were further subdivided into shekels. Modern biblical scholars rely heavily on talent estimates to translate ancient economic references into contemporary terms.