← H8254 H8256 →

שֶׁקֶל

𐤔𐤒𐤋

sheqel

H8255 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שקל to weigh, to measure by weight

Definition

A unit of weight standardized in ancient Israelite society, primarily used for commerce, taxation, and sacrificial regulations; also refers to the weight-measure itself and, by extension, to a quantity of metal (often silver or gold) measured by this standard. In later contexts, the term comes to denote a monetary equivalent, becoming both a unit of currency and a weight, depending on the period and context.

Semantic Range

standard unit of weight, measure of silver or gold by weight, unit of value for commerce or taxation, monetary unit (in late biblical and post-biblical contexts)

Root / Etymology

From the root שָׁקַל (to weigh, to measure by weight), שֶׁקֶל is a noun formation that originally denoted a specific measure of weight.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, שֶׁקֶל refers foremost to a standard measure of weight—roughly 11 grams, though this varied by period and region. It was most commonly used for precious metals such as silver or gold, not referring to coins in the monarchic period, but rather to weighed amounts of metal (cf. passages like Gen 23:15–16; Exod 30:13–15). During the First Temple period, commerce and religious obligations (e.g., the sanctuary tax) were denominated in shekels as weights. Only in the late biblical and especially post-exilic (Persian) periods does שֶׁקֶל also come to refer to a coinage system, as coin-minting was introduced. The term 'shekel' is retained in some English Bibles, though there is potential for misunderstanding, as it functions as both a measure of weight and, later, as currency. In the Second Temple period and beyond, particularly under Persian and Hellenistic influence, coined shekels circulated, but in most biblical contexts, the term denotes weight and not coin. Distinguished from related terms like כִּכָּר (kikkar, 'talent') and מָנֶה (maneh, 'mina'), which refer to larger weights. The modern Israeli currency 'shekel' is named after this ancient term, but functions solely as coinage and not as a weight.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from שָׁקַל; probably a weight; used as a commercial standard; shekel.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

שקל (sh-q-l) — to weigh, to measure by weight

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4946 מִשְׁקוֹל by weight-measure
H4948 מִשְׁקָל by the weight
H4949 מִשְׁקֶלֶת plumb-weight
H8254 שָׁקַל I will weigh out
H831 אַשְׁקְלוֹן Ashkelon the Weighing-Place

Word Forms

9 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H8255-01 בְּ/שֶׁ֣קֶל besheqel HR/Ncmsc by the shekel by a sheqel-weight 31
H8255-07 שֶֽׁקֶל sheqel HNcmsc shekel weighing-unit of 22
H8255-06 שְׁקָלִ֗ים sheqalim HNcmpa shekels standard weight-units 20
H8255-03 הַ/שֶּׁ֖קֶל hasheqel HTd/Ncmsa the shekel the weight-unit 5
H8255-05 שָֽׁקֶל shaqel HNcmsa shekels standard weight-unit 4
H8255-02 הַ/שָּׁ֑קֶל hashaqel HTd/Ncmsa the shekel the weight-standard 3
H8255-08 שִׁקְלֵ֣י shiqeley HNcmpc shekels weight-units of 1
H8255-09 וְ/הַ/שֶּׁ֖קֶל vehasheqel HC/Td/Ncmsa and-the-shekel and the weight-standard 1
H8255-04 לִ/שְׁקָלִ֖ים lisheqalim HR/Ncmpa shekels for weight-units 1

Occurrences in Scripture

88 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H8255-07 Genesis 23:15 שֶֽׁקֶל sheqel HNcmsc shekels weighing-unit of
H8255-07 Genesis 23:16 שֶׁ֣קֶל sheqel HNcmsc shekels weighing-unit of
H8255-06 Exodus 21:32 שְׁקָלִ֗ים sheqalim HNcmpa shekels standard weight-units
H8255-03 Exodus 30:13 הַ/שֶּׁ֖קֶל hasheqel HTd/Ncmsa the shekel the weight-unit
H8255-01 Exodus 30:13 בְּ/שֶׁ֣קֶל besheqel HR/Ncmsc according to the shekel by a sheqel-weight
H8255-03 Exodus 30:13 הַ/שֶּׁ֔קֶל hasheqel-2 HTd/Ncmsa the shekel the weight-unit
H8255-03 Exodus 30:13 הַ/שֶּׁ֔קֶל hasheqel-3 HTd/Ncmsa the shekel the weight-unit
H8255-02 Exodus 30:15 הַ/שָּׁ֑קֶל hashaqel HTd/Ncmsa shekel the weight-standard
H8255-01 Exodus 30:24 בְּ/שֶׁ֣קֶל besheqel HR/Ncmsc shekels by a sheqel-weight
H8255-07 Exodus 38:24 שֶׁ֖קֶל sheqel HNcmsa shekels weighing-unit of
← H8254 Hebrew Lexicon H8256 →