Bible Dictionary
Pound
A pound could denote a weight or a sum of money. Biblical usage includes the Hebrew maneh, the Roman pound of fragrant material, and the mina used in Jesus’ parable of the talents or stewardship.
Definition
A pound could refer to a weight or a monetary amount. The Hebrew maneh was a weight larger than a modern pound; the Roman litra was a weight of about ten and one-third ounces; the Greek mina was a monetary unit.
Biblical Usage
The Roman pound is mentioned in connection with fragrant material used for Jesus. The mina appears in Jesus’ teaching concerning money and stewardship and may also represent intellectual or spiritual gifts.
Historical Background
The monetary mina could be of silver or gold. The supplied material gives different values for these forms and distinguishes the litra from the Hebrew maneh.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(1.) A weight. Heb. maneh, equal to 100 shekels (1 Kings 10:17; Ezra 2:69; Neh. 7:71, 72). Gr. litra, equal to about 12 oz. avoirdupois (John 12:3; 19:39). (2.) A sum of money; the Gr. mna or mina (Luke 19:13, 16, 18, 20, 24, 25). It was equal to 100 drachmas, and was of the value of about $3, 6s. 8d. of our money. (See MONEY.)
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>pound (maneh; mna, litra; Latin, libra): Pound does not correctly represent the Hebrew maneh, which was more than a pound (see MANEH). The litra of Joh 12:3 and 19:39 is the Roman pound (libra) of 4,950 grains, which is less than a pound troy, being about 10 1/3 oz. In a monetary sense (its use in Lu 19:13-25) it is the mna, or maneh, which was either of silver or gold, the former, which is probably the one referred to by Luke, being equal to 6,17 British pounds, or about $33 (in 1915); the latter 102,10 British pounds or $510 (in 1915).</p><p>See WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.</p><p>Figurative: "Pound," like "talent," is used in the New Testament for intellectual gifts and spiritual endowments, as in the passage given above.</p><p>H. Porter</p>