Table of Weights and Measures

and Monetary Units

The following table is based on the best generally accepted information available for biblical weights, measures, and monetary units. All equivalents are approximate. Weights and measures varied somewhat in different times and places in the ancient world. Most weights, measures, and monetary units are also explained in footnotes on the pages where they occur in the ESV text.

Biblical UnitApproximate American and Metric EquivalentsEquivalent
bathA bath was about 6 gallons or 22 liters1 ephah
bekaA beka was about 1/5 ounce or 5.5 grams10 gerahs
corA cor was about 6 bushels or 220 liters10 ephahs
cubitA cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters6 handbreadths
daricA daric was a coin of about 1/4 ounce or 8.5 grams 
denariusA denarius was a day’s wage for a laborer 
ephahAn ephah was about 3/5 bushel or 22 liters10 omers
gerahA gerah was about 1/50 ounce or 0.6 gram1/10 beka
handbreadthA handbreadth was about 3 inches or 7.5 centimeters1/6 cubit
hinA hin was about 4 quarts or 3.5 liters1/6 bath
homerA homer was about 6 bushels or 220 liters10 ephahs
kabA kab was about 1 quart or 1 liter1/22 ephah
lethechA lethech was about 3 bushels or 110 liters5 ephahs
logA log was about 1/3 quart or 0.3 liter1/72 bath
minaA mina was about 1 1/4 pounds or 0.6 kilogram50 shekels
omerAn omer was about 2 quarts or 2 liters1/10 ephah
pimA pim was about 1/3 ounce or 7.5 grams2/3 shekel
seahA seah was about 7 quarts or 7.3 liters1/3 ephah
shekelA shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams2 bekas
spanA span was about 9 inches or 22 centimeters3 handbreadths
stadionA stadion was about 607 feet or 185 meters 
talentA talent was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms60 minas