Lectionary Calendar
Friday, April 19th, 2024
the Third Week after Easter
Attention!
Tired of seeing ads while studying? Now you can enjoy an "Ads Free" version of the site for as little as 10¢ a day and support a great cause!
Click here to learn more!

Bible Encyclopedias
Balance

The 1901 Jewish Encyclopedia

Search for…
or
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Prev Entry
Balak
Next Entry
Balandzhar
Resource Toolbox
Additional Links

The word is used for three Hebrew words: (1) "mo'znaim" (Jeremiah 32:10; Job 6:2; Psalms 62:9; Isa. 12, 15; Leviticus 19:36; Job 31:6; Proverbs 11:11, etc.). (2) "ḳaneh" (Isaiah 46:6), and (3) "peles" (Proverbs 16:11). The Balance, as used among the Hebrews, consisted probably of a horizontal bar either pivoted on a perpendicular rod (for a similar Egyptian Balance see Erman, "Ægypten," 1:615) or suspended from a cord and held in the hand. At the end of the horizontal bar were either pans or hooks from which the things to be weighed were suspended in bags. Abraham is represented as weighing money (Genesis 23:16); and although the Balance in early days was rather rudely constructed, the weighing could be done accurately. The system was, however, very liable to fraud; and the necessity of righteous weights is enforced again and again (Leviticus 19:36; Proverbs 16:11, 20:23; Amos 8:5; Micah 6:11). See also Weights and Measures.

G.
G. B. L.
Bibliography Information
Singer, Isidore, Ph.D, Projector and Managing Editor. Entry for 'Balance'. 1901 The Jewish Encyclopedia. https://www.studylight.org/​encyclopedias/​eng/​tje/​b/balance.html. 1901.
adsFree icon
Ads FreeProfile