Deuteronomy 25:13
Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights, a great and a small.
Original Language Analysis
לֹֽא
H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
1 of 8
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יִהְיֶ֥ה
H1961
יִהְיֶ֥ה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
2 of 8
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
בְּכִֽיסְךָ֖
Thou shalt not have in thy bag
H3599
בְּכִֽיסְךָ֖
Thou shalt not have in thy bag
Strong's:
H3599
Word #:
4 of 8
a cup; also a bag for money or weights
Cross References
Proverbs 11:1A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.Proverbs 16:11A just weight and balance are the LORD'S: all the weights of the bag are his work.Amos 8:5Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit?
Historical Context
Given circa 1406 BC before Israel engaged in agricultural and commercial economy in Canaan. Ancient markets lacked standardized regulation; merchants supplied their own weights and measures. This invited abuse, especially against illiterate peasants who couldn't verify accuracy. Archaeological discoveries of ancient weights show significant variation, suggesting fraud was indeed common. Israel's law demanded commercial honesty as religious obligation, unlike pagan cultures separating marketplace ethics from religion.
Questions for Reflection
- How do dishonest business practices violate God's character and damage society's trust?
- What modern equivalents exist to 'diverse weights'—deceptive practices in commerce or communication?
- How should Christians ensure integrity in business dealings, contracts, and financial representations?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights, a great and a small—prohibiting dishonest merchants who carried two sets of weights: heavy ones for buying (getting more goods for payment) and light ones for selling (giving less goods for payment). The Hebrew even va-even (אֶבֶן וָאֶבֶן, 'stone and stone') refers to stone weights used with balance scales. Having multiple weights enabled fraud, cheating customers and suppliers alike.
This continues Leviticus 19:35-36 and appears again in Proverbs 11:1, 16:11, 20:10, 23. Weights and measures were fundamental to commerce—grain, oil, wine, and precious metals all sold by weight. Fraud corrupted the marketplace and violated the justice God demanded. The law required one accurate standard for all transactions, reflecting God's own unchanging righteousness as the standard for His people.