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Stadia

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Bible

A Stadia is Biblical length measurement that is approximately equal to 190 meters.

The Math / Science 

The stadia (singular: stadium) was a unit of measurement used in ancient times, including during the period of the New Testament. In the Bible, particularly in the New Testament, the term "stadium" is used to measure distance in certain contexts.

A stadia (plural of stadium) was an ancient unit of length that varied in different historical and geographical contexts. It was approximately equal to 185 to 192 meters (607 to 630 feet) in length, but this measurement could differ based on the specific region or time period.

One of the notable references to the stadium in the New Testament is found in the Gospel of John, where it describes the pool of Bethesda, which was said to have five porticoes and was near the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem. It's mentioned that the pool was situated by the "Sheep Gate, a pool, which in Hebrew is called Bethesda, having five porticoes" (John 5:2). In verse 3, it's described that a great number of sick people would gather there because "an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was made well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted."

The passage continues in verse 4, mentioning that "for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and stirred the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was made well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted."

While this biblical passage doesn't directly mention the measurement in stadia, it does describe the location and context surrounding the pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem.

The stadia was a prevalent unit of measurement in ancient times, primarily used to measure distances in sporting events, races, and other activities. Its usage varied across different ancient cultures and regions.

Bible Units of Length, Weight, Volume and Currency

  • Bible Lengths: Converts lengths in cubits, spans and handbreadths into modern units.
  • Bible Weights: Convert weights in talents, minas, shekels, darics, pims, bekas and gerahs into modern units.
  • Bible Volumes: Converts volumes in cores, letheks, ephahs, seahs, omers, baths, hins and logs into modern units.
  • Gold Talent Value: Computes the current market value of any number of talents of gold.
  • Silver Talent Value: Computes the current market value of any number of talents of silver.
  • Talent Calculator: Converts a number of talents in to modern weight units.
  • Mina Calculator: Converts a number of minas in to modern weight units.
  • Shekel Calculator: Converts a number of Shekels into modern weight units.
  • Daric Calculator: Converts a number of Darics into modern weight units.
  • Pim Calculator: Converts a number of Pims into modern weight units.
  • Beka Calculator: Converts a number of Beka into modern weight units.
  • Gerah Calculator: Converts a number of Gerah into modern weight units.

The Bible contains different measuring in units than modern units used today (e.g. meters and liters).

The Bible was written between 3,500 and 2,000 years ago and by authors in different civilizations ranging from ancient Babylon and Egypt to the Greco-Roman era.  The Bible often refers to amounts and distances in the units of those civilizations.   This calculator provides the means to convert amounts in those ancient units to a wide variety of modern choices.  

There are four main groups of Biblical units:

  • Length Units - stadion, cubits, spans and handbreadths
  • Weight Units - talents, minas, shekels, pims, bekas and gerahs
  • Volume (Capacity) Units  (Dry and Liquid)
    • Dry Units: core (homer), lethek, ephah, seah, omer
    • Liquid Units: bath, hin, kab and log
  • Currency Units - currency units typically refer to a specific weight of a valuable commodity (gold, silver, copper, salt)
    • daric coin (1/4 once or 8.5 grams)
    • denarius coin: one day's wages

A talent of gold today

Jesus told a parable of three servants that were given talents, presumably of gold.  The weight of a talent is approximately  34 kg.  Using the current spot price of gold, which is $3207.3, you can see the value of talents today.  The prices are updated every two minutes and given in U.S. dollars.

Talents of Gold in the Old Testament

Biblical Weights

  • Talent: 34 kg
  • Mina: 0.6 kg
  • Shekel: 11.5 g
  • daric 8.3 grams (128 grains)
  • pim:  7.6 grams
  • beka:  5.5 grams
  • gerah:  0.6 grams

Biblical Volumes

  • Dry Units for volumes of grain and flour:
    • Core (homer)
    • lethek
    • ephah
    • seah
    • omer
  • Liquid Units for volumes of water, wine and oil:
    • bath
    • hin
    • kab
    • log

Biblical Lengths

  • Stadion
  • cubit = 0.5 meters
  • span = 23 cm
  • handbreadth = 8 cm