A payment. In ancient times, pets, usually, were used in barter, that is, in exchange for products and were clearly the oldest form of business transaction. This is indicated by the fact that the Latin word for money (pecunia) is derived from pecus, meaning "cattle." However, pets (Ge 47:17) and food (1Ki 5:10, 11) were not always convenient to pay. That is why metals such as gold and silver were later used. From the time of Abraham, precious metals were used for money. But this is not a common coin. It is silver or gold that is undoubtedly molded to be clogs, rings, bracelets, or other common shapes with a specific weight. (Compare Ge 24:22; Jos 7:21.) The common Hebrew term translated "money" literally means "silver." (Ge 17:12, ftn.) The individuals involved often weighed metal objects when paying. — Gen 23:15, 16; Jer 32:10.
Since business transactions involve weighing, it is not surprising that the term for weight loss was also a term for money. (See MEASUREMENT AND MEASUREMENT, THE.) They had five main divisions among the Israelites: the gerah, the half shekel (bekah), the shekel, the mine (maneh), and the talent. (Ex 25:39; 30:13; 38:25, 26; 1Ki 10:17; Eze 45:12; see GERAH; MINE; CYCLE; TALENT.) The relationship and their modern values are stated below. when gold or silver. (The value of gold and silver has fluctuated in recent years. In this publication, gold is estimated at a moderate value of $ 350.00 per ounce troy and silver, $ 6.00 per ounce troy; however, the ancient proportion of gold in silver is considered to be 13 in 1.)
Gold Silver
1 ill = 1⁄20 cycle $ 6.42 $ .11
1 bekah = 10 ill 64.23 1.10
1 cycle = 2 bekah 128.45 2.20
1 min = 50 cycles 6,422.50 110.10
1 talent = 60 mins 385,350.00 6,606.00
The value of the “pieces of silver” (Heb., Qesi · tahʹ) mentioned at Genesis 33:19; Joshua 24:32; and Job 42:11. The value of the pim is also uncertain. It may have been about two-thirds of a cycle. — 1Sa 13:21; see PIM.
Coins of the Hebrew Scriptures. It is generally believed that the first coins were made around 700 B.C.E. The Israelites may have first used coins in their homeland when they returned from exile in Babylon. The books of the Bible after the exile refer to Persian darik (1Ch 29: 7; Ezr 8:27) and drachmas (in Heb., Dar · kemoh · nimʹ), commonly equated with darik. (Ezr 2:69; Ne 7: 70-72) Persian darik gold weighed 8.4 g (0.27 ounces), and was estimated to be worth $ 94.50 today. — See DARIK; DRAKMA.
Money in the Age of Christian Scripture. The lepton (Jewish), quadrans (Roman), as or assarion (Roman and provincial), denario (Roman), drachma (Greek), didrakma (Greek), and the estater (Greek; considered by many as the tetradrachma of Antioch or of Tire) are coins specifically mentioned in the Christian Greek Scriptures. (Mt 5:26; 10:29; 17:24, 27; 20:10; Mr 12:42; Lu 12: 6, 59; 15: 8; 21: 2, Int; see DENARY; ESTATER.) even larger amounts of money known as mines and talents are weights, not coins. (Mt 18:24; Lu 19: 13-25) The following chart shows the relationship between the various units of money and equates them with approximate modern values.
Value Now
1 lepton (copper = 1⁄2 quadrans $ .006
o bronze)
1 quadrans (brass = 2 lepta .012
o bronze)
1 as (assarion) = 4 na quadrantes .046
(brass or bronze)
1 denarius (silver) = 16 and as .74
1 drachma (silver) = .65
1 drachma (silver) = 2 drachma 1.31
1 tetradrakma * = 4 and drakma 2.62
1 mina (silver) = 100 drams 65.40
1 talent (silver) = 60 mins 3,924.00
1 talent (gold) = 228,900.00
* It is also assumed to be estater (silver)
Value of Money. Modern values for ancient currency do not reflect its true value. However, the Bible does provide some clues as to the value of money and it helps us to understand ancient values. During Jesus' earthly ministry, agricultural workers usually received a denarius for 12-hour labor days. (Mt 20: 2) It may be assumed that the revenues were almost the same as in the Hebrew Scriptures. If so, one silver shekel equals three days' worth of income.
Back then, the value of a slave was 30 shekels of silver (perhaps 90-day income). (Ex 21:32; compare Le 27: 2-7.) The prophet Hosea bought a woman for 15 pieces of silver and one and a half homers (15 ephah) of barley. This payment was probably the full value of a slave. Thus, an ephah (22 L; 20 dry qt) of barley was worth one shekel. — Hosea 3: 2.
In times of scarcity, prices rise rapidly. The 80 pieces of silver (about 240-day income) that used to be able to buy eight homers (1,760 L; 50 bushels) of barley can only buy, during the siege, a less muscular donkey head, an animal not fit to be eaten according to the conditions of the Mosaic Law. — 2Ki 6:25; compare Ho 3: 2.
In the first century C.E., two sparrows cost an assarion (earnings for 45 minutes), and five sparrows were bought when this amount doubled. (Mt 10:29; Lu 12: 6) The poor widow's contribution to the temple was even smaller, being only two lepta (1 quadrans), or 1/64 of the day's wages. Jesus Christ, however, praised his giving more than the large donations, for what he donated was not part of his surplus but “his whole life.” (Mr 12: 42-44; Lu 21: 2-4) The annual temple tax paid by the Jews was two drachmas, or one drachma (almost two-day income). (Mt 17:24) Since a drachma was worth almost a day's pay, a woman could reasonably sweep away her entire house and diligently search for a missing drachma coin. — Lu 15: 8, 9.
Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, evidently the value of a slave. (Mt 26: 14-16, 47-50) There is no doubt that these silver pieces were either cycles or other coins of similar value. But the report does not mention the type of coins, except that they are silver.
Money Can Be Beneficial and Harmful. Money provides protection against poverty and its associated problems, allowing people to buy both necessities and luxuries. (Compare Ec 7:12; 10:19.) As a result, it is possible for a person to begin to trust in money as security and to forget his Creator. (Compare De 8: 10-14.) “The love of money [literally, the love of silver] is the root of all evil, and the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. have strayed from the faith and have stabbed themselves all over with many pains. ” (1Ti 6:10) Because of money, people perverted justice, committed adultery, murdered, betrayed others, and denied the truth. — De 16:19; 23:18; 27:25; Eze 22:12; Mt 26:14, 15; 28: 11-15.
On the other hand, God approves of the proper use of money. (Lu 16: 1-9) This included donating for the advancement of pure worship and providing material assistance to those in need. (Compare 2Ch 24: 4-14; Ro 12:13; 1Jo 3:17, 18; see CHARITY; GIFT OF MERCY, THINGS.) While many good things can be done with money, the most important thing is spirituality food and drink, everlasting life itself — can be obtained without it. — Isa 55: 1, 2; Re 22:17.
