a bean, probably of the carob tree, the smallest weight, and also the smallest piece of money, among the Hebrews, equal to the twentieth part of a shekel ( Exodus 30:13 ; Leviticus 27:25 ; Numbers 3:47 ). This word came into use in the same way as our word "grain," from a grain of wheat.

These dictionary topics are from
M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition,
published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain, copy freely.