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shekel

Archaic Terms
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

An ancient Hebrew unit of weight and currency, approximately 0.4 ounces or 11 grams; fundamental to biblical and ancient Near Eastern contexts.

Detailed Definition
The shekel, from Hebrew "šeqel" (to weigh), measured roughly 11 grams (0.4 ounces) and functioned as both weight and currency in ancient Israel and surrounding regions. Biblical texts frequently reference shekels in commercial, legal, and religious contexts. In poetry engaging with biblical themes, ancient Near East, or Judaic tradition, shekel provides authentic measurement and cultural signifier. The term evokes biblical narrative, ancient commerce, and Judaic heritage. Poets employed shekels when treating biblical or ancient Near Eastern subjects, adding cultural authenticity and connecting to scriptural tradition and ancient economic systems.
Example
Example in poetry:
In biblical poetry translations, "thirty shekels of silver, the price of betrayal" makes Judas's payment specific and culturally authentic; Poetry about ancient commerce might reference "merchants weighed shekels of gold, currency and weight identical"; In verse about ancient Near East, "temple offerings calculated in shekels, sacred and commercial transactions using same measure"; Historical poetry about biblical times describes "everything weighed—no coins yet, only shekels of precious metal changing hands"; Modern religious poetry often invokes "the thirty shekels—precise number echoing through two millennia"; Poetry exploring value uses "shekels—ancient weight bearing modern meaning, measurement transformed into metaphor for all transactions."
Additional Notes
The shekel's dual role as weight unit and currency makes it fundamental to biblical and ancient Near Eastern contexts. Students should understand that shekel (approximately 11 grams or 0.4 ounces) appears extensively in biblical texts concerning commerce, temple offerings, and value. The term derives from Hebrew "šeqel" meaning "to weigh," emphasizing that ancient currency was literally weighed metal. Understanding biblical weight hierarchy (gerah < bekah < shekel < mina < talent) helps students grasp ancient measurement systems. In poetry engaging with biblical themes, ancient commerce, or Judaic heritage, maintaining "shekel" preserves scriptural authenticity and cultural context. The shekel appears in famous biblical stories—Joseph sold for twenty shekels, Judas's thirty pieces of silver (though those were likely denarii, confusion persists). Students should recognize shekels as both literal measurement and symbolic reference to biblical narrative. Related terms include bekah (half shekel), gerah (1/20 shekel), and talent. For students translating biblical poetry or writing about ancient Near East, understanding shekel adds authenticity. The shekel can represent ancient commerce, biblical authority, the connection between weight and value, or Judaic cultural heritage. Modern Israeli currency (also "shekel") creates contemporary resonance.
Also Known As
shekel weight Hebrew shekel
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