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Monday, December 2nd, 2024
the First Week of Advent
Bible Encyclopedias
Weight
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
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wāt ( Measure of quantity ) משׁקל , mishḳāl , ( משׁקל , mshḳōl ( Ezekiel 4:10 ), from שׁקל , shāḳkal , "to weigh" אבן , 'ebhen , "a stone" used for weighing in the balance): Weights were commonly of stone or bronze (or of lead, Zechariah 5:7 , Zechariah 5:8 ). They were of various forms, such as the lion-shaped weights of Babylonia and Assyria, or in the form of birds and other animals. The Hebrew and Phoenician weights, when made of stone, were barrel-shaped or spindle-shaped, but in bronze they were often cubical or octagonal or with numerous faces (see illustration under WEIGHTS AND MEASURES ). Hemispherical or dome-shaped stone weights have been found in Palestine (PEFS , 1902, p. 344; 1903, p. 117; 1904, p. 209).
Figurative : The phrase "without weight" ( 2 Kings 25:16 ) signifies a quantity too great to be estimated. "Weight of glory" (2 Corinthians 4:17 , βάρος , báros ) has a similar meaning, but with a spiritual reference. "Weighty," "weightier" (Matthew 23:23; 2 Corinthians 10:10 , βαρύς , barús , βαρύτερος , barúteros ), signify what is important. The Greek (ὄγκος , ógkos ) (Hebrews 12:1 ), is used in the sense of burden, hindrance, as is also the Hebrew nēṭel (Proverbs 27:3 ).
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Bibliography Information
Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. Entry for 'Weight'. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. https://www.studylight.org/​encyclopedias/​eng/​isb/​w/weight.html. 1915.