shekel

shekel

Shek´uhl

In OT times a standard unit of weight, approximately 14.5 grams of silver; in NT times, a “shekel” was a common silver coin of the same weight, struck by Jewish authorities and equal to about four denarii (which is to say its value was about four times a typical day’s wages). It was the equivalent of a Greek stater (Matt 17:27), though the NRSV avoids the use of both “shekel” and “stater.”