Deuteronomy 25:14
Thou shalt not have in thine house divers measures, 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)
בְּבֵֽיתְךָ֖
Thou shalt not have in thine house
H1004
בְּבֵֽיתְךָ֖
Thou shalt not have in thine house
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
4 of 8
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
וְאֵיפָ֑ה
divers measures
H374
וְאֵיפָ֑ה
divers measures
Strong's:
H374
Word #:
5 of 8
an ephah or measure for grain; hence, a measure in general
וְאֵיפָ֑ה
divers measures
H374
וְאֵיפָ֑ה
divers measures
Strong's:
H374
Word #:
6 of 8
an ephah or measure for grain; hence, a measure in general
Historical Context
Spoken circa 1406 BC in preparation for settled economic life. The ephah (dry measure) and bath (liquid measure) were standard units, though regional variation existed. Without central authority standardizing measures, integrity depended on individual conscience and community enforcement. Israel's law made God the standard-setter and judge of commercial ethics, a radical concept in ancient markets where caveat emptor ruled and deities rarely concerned themselves with weights and measures.
Questions for Reflection
- Why does God care about weights and measures? How does commercial fraud connect to spiritual faithfulness?
- What 'divers measures' might Christians be tempted to use—different standards for themselves versus others?
- How does marketplace integrity witness to God's character in unbelieving communities?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Thou shalt not have in thine house divers measures, a great and a small—extending the prohibition from portable weights (bag) to household measures (containers for dry goods). The Hebrew ephah ve-ephah (אֵיפָה וְאֵיפָה) literally means 'ephah and ephah,' referring to the standard dry measure (about 22 liters). Like the bag of diverse weights, multiple measures enabled fraud—large measures for receiving payment, small ones for delivering goods.
The home reference indicates many Israelites would operate small-scale businesses from their residences—baking, brewing, weaving, oil-pressing. The law reached into private enterprise, making commercial honesty a household obligation, not merely public marketplace standard. Proverbs 20:10 condemns both 'diverse weights and diverse measures,' calling them 'abomination to the LORD'—strong language equating fraud with idolatry and sexual immorality.