Lexical Summary beqa: Half-shekel, division Original Word: בֶּקַע Strong's Exhaustive Concordance bekah, half a shekel From baqa'; a section (half) of a shekel, i.e. A beka (a weight and a coin) -- bekah, half a shekel. see HEBREW baqa' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom baqa Definition half NASB Translation beka (1), half-shekel (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs בֶּ֫קַע noun [masculine] fraction, half, i.e. half-shekel, a weight; בֶּקַע מִשְׁקָלוֺ Genesis 24:22, compare Hesychius in LagGes. Abh 199, 1. 18 βακαίον [Lag βέκαον] μέρον τι; see also בֶּקַע Exodus 38:26 (= מַחֲצִית הַשֶּׁקֶל). Topical Lexicon Scriptural Instances Genesis 24:22 introduces בֶּקַע (beka) when Abraham’s servant gives Rebekah “a gold ring weighing a beka” as part of the betrothal gifts. The second occurrence, Exodus 38:26, regulates the wilderness census offering: “a beka per man, that is, half a shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel.” Together these passages present the beka both as a personal gift emblematic of covenantal marriage and as the fixed contribution required for participation in the covenant community. Historical and Economic Context In ancient Israel, precious metals were weighed rather than minted in set denominations. The shekel served as a standard, and the beka—precisely one-half of a shekel—functioned as a convenient fractional weight. Contemporary archaeological discoveries of stone and metal weights marked “bkʿ” corroborate the biblical picture, averaging about 5.7 grams. Such accuracy fostered commercial integrity, while its small size made it ideal for individual obligations and gifts. Weight and Monetary Value Although primarily a weight, the beka inevitably carried monetary force wherever silver or gold were exchanged. In Genesis 24, the beka-weight ring represents a significant bride-price, signaling Abraham’s family’s honor toward Rebekah. In Exodus 38, the same amount—now silver—constitutes each man’s share in funding the Tabernacle. Thus the beka straddles private and public spheres, ensuring both personal honor and communal worship. Theological Themes 1. Equality before God: Every Israelite male, regardless of tribal status or wealth, owed the same beka for atonement money (Exodus 30:11-16; 38:26). Redemption price was set, not negotiated, underscoring impartiality in divine justice. Typological Connections The later Temple tax of half a shekel (Nehemiah 10:32; Matthew 17:24-27) echoes the Exodus beka, linking wilderness worship to Second-Temple practice. When Jesus supplies the coin from the fish’s mouth, He implicitly affirms the tax’s legitimacy while revealing His sovereign provision—the One greater than the Temple meeting the beka requirement on behalf of His disciple. Ministry and Devotional Applications • Faithful Stewardship: The fixed half-shekel teaches proportional generosity—God stipulates the gift, His people obey without excuse or pride. Summary Beka signifies more than an ancient half-shekel; it embodies precision, equality, and covenant grace across both narrative and legal texts. Whether adorning a future matriarch or funding the Tabernacle, this modest measure testifies that God values individuals, ordains corporate worship, and foreshadows the ultimate ransom His Son would provide in full. Forms and Transliterations בֶּ֖קַע בֶּ֚קַע בקע be·qa‘ Beka beqa‘Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 24:22 HEB: נֶ֣זֶם זָהָ֔ב בֶּ֖קַע מִשְׁקָל֑וֹ וּשְׁנֵ֤י NAS: weighing a half-shekel and two KJV: earring of half a shekel weight, INT: ring A gold A half-shekel weighing and two Exodus 38:26 2 Occurrences |
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