The mina is an ancient unit of weight and currency mentioned in the Bible, primarily in the context of trade and economic transactions. It is a term that appears in both the Old and New Testaments, reflecting its significance in the ancient Near Eastern economy.

Old Testament References

In the Old Testament, the mina is referenced in the context of weights and measures. Ezekiel 45:12 provides a detailed description of the mina's weight: "The shekel shall consist of twenty gerahs. Twenty shekels, twenty-five shekels, and fifteen shekels shall be your mina." This passage indicates that the mina was a standardized unit used for weighing precious metals, such as silver and gold, which were common mediums of exchange in ancient times.

The mina is also mentioned in the context of temple offerings and royal treasuries. In 1 Kings 10:17, it is recorded that King Solomon made shields of hammered gold, each containing three minas of gold. This highlights the mina's role in the wealth and splendor of Solomon's reign, as well as its use in the construction and decoration of the temple.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, the mina is featured in the Parable of the Ten Minas, found in Luke 19:11-27. In this parable, Jesus tells the account of a nobleman who entrusts his servants with minas before leaving to receive a kingdom. Each servant is given a mina to invest and manage during the nobleman's absence. Upon his return, the nobleman rewards the servants based on their stewardship and the returns they have generated. The parable serves as a lesson on faithfulness, responsibility, and the wise use of resources entrusted by God.

The mina in this parable is often interpreted as a metaphor for the gifts, talents, and opportunities given by God to individuals. The expectation is that believers will use these resources to further God's kingdom and purposes on earth. The parable underscores the importance of diligence and accountability in the Christian life.

Cultural and Historical Context

The mina was a significant unit of currency in the ancient Near East, including regions such as Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Israel. Its value varied over time and across different cultures, but it was generally considered a substantial amount of money. The use of the mina in biblical texts reflects the economic practices of the time and provides insight into the daily life and commerce of ancient societies.

In summary, the mina serves as both a literal and metaphorical element in the Bible, illustrating principles of stewardship, responsibility, and the wise management of resources. Its presence in Scripture highlights the importance of economic transactions in biblical times and offers timeless lessons for believers today.1. (n.) An ancient weight or denomination of money, of varying value. The Attic mina was valued at a hundred drachmas.

2. (n.) See Myna.

MANEH; MINA

man'-e, or mi'-na (maneh; mna, "pound" (English Versions of the Bible)): A weight containing 50 shekels, according to Hebrew usage, but which varied according to the standard adopted. Estimated on the Phoenician, or commercial, standard, it was equal to 11,200 grains, or about 2 lbs. troy, or about 1, 6 lbs. avoirdupois. This is probably the weight intended in 1 Kings 10:17 Ezra 2:69 and Nehemiah 7:71 (see WEIGHTS AND MEASURES). When used in a monetary sense, the maneh of silver was worth about 6 pounds 17 shillings, or USD34 (in 1915); the gold maneh was equal to about 102 pounds 10 shillings, or USD510 (in 1915).

H. Porter

MINA

mi'-na.

See MANEH.

3414. mna -- a mina (Gr. monetary unit)
... 3413, 3414. mna. 3415 . a mina (Gr. monetary ... See also Lk 17:6; 2 Pet 1:1. Word
Origin of Semitic origin maneh Definition a mina (Gr. monetary ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3414.htm - 7k4488. maneh -- maneh, mina (a measure of weight or money)
... 4487, 4488. maneh. 4489 . maneh, mina (a measure of weight or money).
Transliteration: maneh Phonetic Spelling: (maw-neh') Short Definition: minas. ...
/hebrew/4488.htm - 6k

4484. mene -- maneh, mina (a measure of weight)
... 4483, 4484. mene. 4485 . maneh, mina (a measure of weight). Transliteration:
mene Phonetic Spelling: (men-ay') Short Definition: MENE. ...
/hebrew/4484.htm - 6k

6537b. peres -- half-mina
... half-mina. Transliteration: peres Short Definition: PERES. Word Origin (Aramaic)
from peras Definition half-mina NASB Word Usage PERES (1), UPHARSIN (1). ...
/hebrew/6537b.htm - 5k

Parable of the Pounds. (Luke, xix. , 11, Seq. )
... This he illustrated under the figure of a capital, loaned on interest; the same
amount, viz., one mina, is committed to each of ten servants, and in proportion ...
/.../section 239 parable of the.htm

Do You Dare to Laugh at us when we Speak of Hell...
... reading se-mina by merely adding s, followed by all edd., although Ursinus in the
margin suggests se m??am, ie, mi-sericordiam--"pity;" and Heraldus ...
/.../arnobius/the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/14 do you dare to.htm

The Nations of the North-East
... east to west. Its merchants grew rich, and "the mina of Carchemish" became
a standard of value in the ancient world. Its capture ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter iv the nations of.htm

The Servants and the Pounds.
... A mina, in value equal to about L2, 3s.6d., was entrusted to each man, with the
intimation that, according to his diligence and faithfulness in the management ...
/.../arnot/the parables of our lord/xxx the servants and the.htm

Evening of the Third Day in Passion-Week-On the Mount of Olives ...
... and so He hands - not to each according to his capacity, but to all equally, a sum,
not large (such as talents), but small - to each a mina,' equal to 100 ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter vii evening of the.htm

Chaldaean Civilization
... One girl would be valued at a silver shekel by weight, while another was worth a
mina, another much less;* the handing over of the price was accompanied with a ...
/.../chapter iiichaldaean civilization.htm

Daniel
... It has been cleverly explained as equivalent to "a mina (=60 shekels), a shekel
and a part" (ie about sixty-two) and regarded as a cryptogram for Darius, who ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/daniel.htm

Index i. Of Subjects
... sela, 258; talent, 294, 459; perutah, 388; mina, 466. Morning Sacrifice, i.133,
134. Moses, at the Transfiguration, ii.97, 98. Mothers in Israel, i.229, 230. ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/index i of subjects.htm

Mina (6 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) An ancient weight or denomination of money, of varying value. The Attic
mina was valued at a hundred drachmas. ... Standard Bible Encyclopedia. MANEH; MINA. ...
/m/mina.htm - 9k

Upharsin (1 Occurrence)
... As to the interpretation of the inscription, it makes no difference whether the
signs represented a mina, a shekel, and two perases, as has been recently ...
/u/upharsin.htm - 11k

Tekel (2 Occurrences)
... As to the interpretation of the inscription, it makes no difference whether the
signs represented a mina, a shekel, and two perases, as has been recently ...
/t/tekel.htm - 11k

Minas (9 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) Plural of Mina. ... Luke 19:16 The first came before him,
saying,'Lord, your mina has made ten more minas.' (WEB DBY NAS). ...
/m/minas.htm - 8k

Mene (2 Occurrences)
... As to the interpretation of the inscription, it makes no difference whether the
signs represented a mina, a shekel, and two perases, as has been recently ...
/m/mene.htm - 11k

Shekel (37 Occurrences)
... The Hebrew shekel was the 50th part of a mina, and as a weight about 224 grains,
and as money (silver) was worth about 2 shillings 9d., or 66 cents (in 1915). ...
/s/shekel.htm - 23k

Ten (234 Occurrences)
... Luke 19:13 He called ten servants of his, and gave them ten mina coins, and told
them,'Conduct business until I come.' (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV ...
/t/ten.htm - 60k

Jabneh (1 Occurrence)
... sea. It had a port, now called Mina Rubin, a short distance South of the
mouth of the river, some remains of which still exist. ...
/j/jabneh.htm - 10k

Jabneel (2 Occurrences)
... sea. It had a port, now called Mina Rubin, a short distance South of the
mouth of the river, some remains of which still exist. ...
/j/jabneel.htm - 11k

Gerahs (5 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 45:12 The shekel shall be twenty gerahs. Twenty shekels plus
twenty-five shekels plus fifteen shekels shall be your mina. ...
/g/gerahs.htm - 8k

What is the meaning of the Parable of the Ten Minas? | GotQuestions.org

What are the modern equivalents of biblical weights and measures? | GotQuestions.org

What was the sanctuary shekel? | GotQuestions.org

Mina: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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