THEOSISJerome of Stridon
Let there be accurate scales, a proper ephah, and a suitable bat. The ephah and the bat must be equivalent and of identical measurements, where the bat holds a tenth part of the kor, and likewise, the ephah represents a tenth part of the kor; their measurement will be based on the kor. A shekel shall contain twenty obols; and your mina shall consist of twenty shekels, twenty-five shekels, and fifteen shekels. According to the LXX: Ensure you possess the correct scales and measures, and a proper quinix for measurement, with the quinix having the same capacity. The hinix will equal a tenth part of the homor, just as the ephah will equal a tenth part of the homor. The homor must be consistent, and the shekel shall relate to twenty obols by weight.
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Twenty shekels, twenty-five shekels, and fifteen shekels will make up your mina. It should be noted that this portion in the LXX lacks coherence and clarity, as they have confused the units of measure and their names. Instead of ephah, they used the general term “measure,” and translated bat as quinix; similarly, they replaced the Hebrew homer with the Greek term homor. Therefore, we will focus on the Hebrew text, addressing specifics for better understanding.
The term for weights in Hebrew, known as mozene, refers to that which is utilized for weighing. The ephah, incorrectly translated as ἐφι in Greek, is employed for measuring various produce like wheat, oats, and vegetables. In addition, the bat, or bath in Hebrew, shares the same capacity as the ephah but is designated solely for liquids such as wine and oil. The kor, encompassing thirty modii, is used for both solids and liquids. The tenth part of the kor, which amounts to three modii, is termed efa for solids and bat or vad for liquids, hence efa and bat correspond to the same measurement. The shekel, referred to as στατη'ρ in Greek, consists of twenty obols. Conversely, a mina, known as Mina, encompasses sixty shekels or one thousand two hundred obols. The phrases referring to twenty shekels, twenty-five shekels, and fifteen shekels that form a mina should not bewilder the reader; rather the complexity of these numbers serves to captivate the listener’s interest. Many truths are likewise conveyed in parables and cryptic terms so that those with ears may hear (Luke 8). Prophetic scriptures often cloak truths in obscurity, permitting only the closest disciples to grasp them while veiling them from others.
Divine Scripture prescribes the necessity for just scales, asserting that no great or small measure should be found in your pouch. "Your scales shall be accurate and your measure shall be just" (Deuteronomy 25:13-15). Proverbs also emphasizes: "A false balance is an abomination to the Lord" (Proverbs 11:1). This principle should guide our conduct not solely in commerce but also in all aspects of our lives, as Scripture instructs: "Create weights and measures in your words" (Sirach 28:29), implying a need for prudence in our speech, actions, and thoughts. As for the obol, which is a twentieth of the shekel, it represents the smallest measure: "To the faithful, the whole world is wealth, but the unfaithful has even less than an obol" (Proverbs 17:6); this underlines that the unfaithful possess nothing of value in this world. The Gospel similarly articulates that one will not depart until the last farthing is paid (Matthew 5:26)—the very last small coin.
We also find mention of the ten minas entrusted to each servant for investment (Luke 19), the parable of talents allotted among servants, a debtor owing five hundred denarii (Luke 7), laborers in the vineyard receiving a denarius each (Matthew 20), and the widow searching for a drachma with great effort until it is found (Luke 17). The interpretation of these teachings is not the focus at present. Modius (modus) denotes the fundamental Roman measure of solid bulk, roughly equivalent to our 2.5 harnets.