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Gerah

biblical_weight_and_money_unit theological_term standard

A gerah was a small ancient Hebrew unit of weight and monetary value, defined in Scripture as one-twentieth of a shekel.

At a Glance

Small ancient Hebrew weight and money unit; 20 gerahs = 1 shekel.

Key Points

Description

A gerah was a small unit of weight in ancient Israel that also functioned in monetary valuation, since precious metals were commonly measured by weight. In the Old Testament, it is chiefly important as a fraction of the shekel, with Scripture explicitly stating that twenty gerahs made one shekel. The term appears in legal, sanctuary, and census-related contexts, so its significance is practical and administrative rather than doctrinal in the narrow sense. A careful dictionary entry should describe it as an ancient Hebrew weight and valuation unit without pressing beyond what the biblical data clearly supports.

Biblical Context

Gerahs are mentioned in passages dealing with sanctuary valuation, vows, offerings, and ransom money. The clearest biblical statements define the gerah as a fixed fraction of the shekel, showing that Israel used a structured system of weights for covenant life and worship.

Historical Context

Like other ancient Near Eastern societies, Israel used metal by weight as a standard way to measure value. The gerah belonged to that broader economic world and helped express smaller amounts within the shekel system.

Jewish and Ancient Context

Ancient Israelite and later Jewish usage treated the gerah as a practical subunit in legal and cultic valuation. Its importance lies in the precision it brought to sanctuary payments and other measured transactions.

Primary Key Texts

Secondary Key Texts

Original Language Note

Hebrew גֵּרָה (gerāh), used for a small weight or coin-value unit; the term reflects a measurement system based on weight rather than modern currency.

Theological Significance

The gerah itself is not a major theological concept, but it reflects the biblical concern for honesty, precision, and ordered worship in financial and sacrificial matters. Its defined ratio to the shekel shows the care with which God ordered Israel's covenant life.

Philosophical Explanation

As a unit of measure, the gerah illustrates how Scripture values exactness in ordinary matters. Biblical law often connects worship with concrete material standards, reminding readers that spiritual obedience includes practical integrity.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not confuse the gerah with a coin in the modern sense, since it functioned primarily as a weight unit and valuation standard. Also avoid assigning a modern gram equivalent as if Scripture itself specified one; ancient standards could vary by period and context.

Major Views

There is little interpretive debate about the basic meaning of gerah. The main issue is historical calibration, not theology: the biblical text gives the ratio to the shekel, while modern exact weight estimates remain approximate.

Doctrinal Boundaries

The gerah is a measurement term, not a doctrine. It should not be used to support speculative claims about numerology, hidden symbolism, or precise modern monetary calculations.

Practical Significance

The gerah reminds readers that biblical faithfulness includes careful stewardship, honest weights, and attention to detail in worship and daily dealings.

Related Entries

See Also

Data

Machine-readable JSON for Gerah

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