Establishing Weights and Measures in Ancient Israel

This article, published in Biblical Illustrator, Winter 2011-12, explores the metrological systems used in ancient Israel, tied to the biblical passage Deuteronomy 25:13-16.

Origins of Israel’s System

Israel’s weights and measures were derived from Mesopotamian — primarily Babylonian — systems. The Babylonians developed an elaborate sexagesimal (base-60) system as early as the third millennium B.C., which spread through trade into Syria and Canaan. Israel adapted this system to its own social and economic needs, though it was not an exact copy.

Laws Governing Honest Trade

The covenant demanded honest commerce. Deuteronomy prohibited using two different sets of weights — one for buying and one for selling. The prophets condemned merchants who cheated with dishonest scales, and King Hezekiah introduced standardized lmlk (“belonging to the king”) weights to promote uniformity. Dishonest measures were considered an abomination to God.

The article concludes with a comprehensive Table of Weights and Measures covering biblical units for weight, length, dry measure, and liquid measure, with U.S. equivalents and translation variants.

You can download the article by clicking here.

Claude Mariottini
Emeritus Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary

If you enjoyed reading this post, you will enjoy reading my books.

VISIT MY AMAZON AUTHOR’S PAGE

BUY MY BOOKS ON AMAZON (Click here).

NOTE: Did you like this post? Do you think other people would like to read this post? Be sure to share this post on Facebook and share a link on X so that others may enjoy reading it too!

If you are looking for other series of studies on the Old Testament, visit the Archive section and you will find many studies that deal with a variety of Old Testament topics.