בֶּ֚קַע
𐤁𐤒𐤏
beqaʻ
a beka
A unit of weight or coinage equal to half a shekel, known as a 'beka,' especially in contexts involving religious offerings. The primary meaning is a measured weight—specifically, half of a standard shekel—most notably referenced in texts prescribing the amount of silver each Israelite must contribute for communal purposes. The term can also extend to refer to the object or coin of this weight, though the usage is most commonly in weight, not currency.
Exodus 38:26 · Word #1
Lexicon H1235
| Lemma | בֶּקַע |
| Lemma (Paleo) | 𐤁𐤒𐤏 |
| Transliteration | beqaʻ |
| Strong's | H1235 |
| Definition | A unit of weight or coinage equal to half a shekel, known as a 'beka,' especially in contexts involving religious offerings. The primary meaning is a measured weight—specifically, half of a standard shekel—most notably referenced in texts prescribing the amount of silver each Israelite must contribute for communal purposes. The term can also extend to refer to the object or coin of this weight, though the usage is most commonly in weight, not currency. |
Morphology HNcmsa
All morphology codes
| Part of Speech | N — Noun — A person, place, thing, or idea |
| Subtype | c — Common — Common noun |
| Gender | m — Masculine — Masculine |
| Number | s — Singular — Singular |
| State | a — Absolute — The noun stands independently |
Common Translation
| Phrase | a beka |
SIBI-P1 Translation H1235-01
half-shekel portion
| Morphological Notes | Masculine singular common noun, absolute state. |
| Rendering Rationale | The noun derives from the root meaning "to split, divide," and denotes a divided portion—specifically half of a shekel by weight. "Half-shekel portion" preserves both the idea of division and its fixed measurement value. |
View full lexicon entry for H1235 →
SILEX v2
SIBI-P2 (Context-Aware)
half-shekel portion
| Same as P1 | Yes |
| Rationale | P1 is contextually accurate; 'beqa' here refers to half a shekel as a portion for the census offering, which matches the root and context. |