Hebrew Talent (talent)

Biblical (Hebrew)Historical unit (no longer in standard use)Approximate value

About 28.8 kg, the standard talent of the late Second Temple period. The largest biblical weight, used for metals such as gold, silver and bronze.

1 Hebrew talent = 28.8 kilograms (approximately).

Approximate value. Standards for the Hebrew talent varied by place and period, so this converter uses the most commonly cited value. Treat results as estimates, not exact figures.

About the Hebrew talent

The Hebrew word kikkar comes from a Semitic root meaning circular, and it described a round mass of gold or silver. English renders it as talent, borrowing the Greek term. The Bible uses it for the largest sums of metal: the tabernacle account lists 29 talents of gold and 100 talents of silver, and Solomon is said to have received 666 gold talents in a year. Hiram of Tyre is also reported to have sent him 120 talents of gold.

Its size is not settled. The figure used here, about 28.8 kg, is the standard talent of the late Second Temple period, counted as 60 maneh. A heavy common talent of the same era is put at about 58.9 kg, a Babylonian talent at about 30.2 kg, and another estimate at about 27.3 kg, so sources do not settle on one value. For scale, 28.8 kg is about 63 pounds, or roughly a large sack of cement.

Sources: Wikipedia: Talent (measurement); Wikipedia: Shekel; Wikipedia: Mina (unit)

Hebrew Talent conversion chart

1 Hebrew talent expressed in every other weight & mass unit:

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