(1) of silver. In Psalms 68:30 denotes "fragments," and not properly money. In 1 Samuel 2:36 (Heb. agorah), properly a "small sum" as wages, weighed rather than coined. Joshua 24:32 (Heb. kesitah, q.v.), supposed by some to have been a piece of money bearing the figure of a lamb, but rather simply a certain amount. (Compare Genesis 33:19 ).

The word pieces is omitted in many passages, as Genesis 20:16 ; 37:28 ; 45:22 , etc. The passage in Zech 11:12,13is quoted in the Gospel ( Matthew 26:15 ), and from this we know that the word to be supplied is "shekels." In all these omissions we may thus warrantably supply this word.

The "piece of money" mentioned in Matthew 17:27 is a stater=a Hebrew shekel, or four Greek drachmae; and that in Luke 15:8 Luke 15:9 , Act 19:19 , a Greek drachma=a denarius. (See PENNY .)

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.