Deuteronomy 25:15

Authorized King James Version

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But thou shalt have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure shalt thou have: that thy days may be lengthened in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

Original Language Analysis

אֶ֣בֶן weight H68
אֶ֣בֶן weight
Strong's: H68
Word #: 1 of 20
a stone
שְׁלֵמָ֛ה But thou shalt have a perfect H8003
שְׁלֵמָ֛ה But thou shalt have a perfect
Strong's: H8003
Word #: 2 of 20
complete (literally or figuratively); especially friendly
וָצֶ֖דֶק and just H6664
וָצֶ֖דֶק and just
Strong's: H6664
Word #: 3 of 20
the right (natural, moral or legal); also (abstractly) equity or (figuratively) prosperity
יִֽהְיֶה H1961
יִֽהְיֶה
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 4 of 20
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
לָּ֔ךְ H0
לָּ֔ךְ
Strong's: H0
Word #: 5 of 20
אֵיפָ֧ה measure H374
אֵיפָ֧ה measure
Strong's: H374
Word #: 6 of 20
an ephah or measure for grain; hence, a measure in general
שְׁלֵמָ֛ה But thou shalt have a perfect H8003
שְׁלֵמָ֛ה But thou shalt have a perfect
Strong's: H8003
Word #: 7 of 20
complete (literally or figuratively); especially friendly
וָצֶ֖דֶק and just H6664
וָצֶ֖דֶק and just
Strong's: H6664
Word #: 8 of 20
the right (natural, moral or legal); also (abstractly) equity or (figuratively) prosperity
יִֽהְיֶה H1961
יִֽהְיֶה
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 9 of 20
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
לָּ֑ךְ H0
לָּ֑ךְ
Strong's: H0
Word #: 10 of 20
לְמַ֙עַן֙ H4616
לְמַ֙עַן֙
Strong's: H4616
Word #: 11 of 20
properly, heed, i.e., purpose; used only adverbially, on account of (as a motive or an aim), teleologically, in order that
יַֽאֲרִ֣יכוּ may be lengthened H748
יַֽאֲרִ֣יכוּ may be lengthened
Strong's: H748
Word #: 12 of 20
to be (causative, make) long (literally or figuratively)
יָמֶ֔יךָ shalt thou have that thy days H3117
יָמֶ֔יךָ shalt thou have that thy days
Strong's: H3117
Word #: 13 of 20
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
עַ֚ל H5921
עַ֚ל
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 14 of 20
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
הָֽאֲדָמָ֔ה in the land H127
הָֽאֲדָמָ֔ה in the land
Strong's: H127
Word #: 15 of 20
soil (from its general redness)
אֲשֶׁר H834
אֲשֶׁר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 16 of 20
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
יְהוָ֥ה which the LORD H3068
יְהוָ֥ה which the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 17 of 20
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ thy God H430
אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ thy God
Strong's: H430
Word #: 18 of 20
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
נֹתֵ֥ן giveth H5414
נֹתֵ֥ן giveth
Strong's: H5414
Word #: 19 of 20
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
לָֽךְ׃ H0
לָֽךְ׃
Strong's: H0
Word #: 20 of 20

Analysis & Commentary

But thou shalt have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure shalt thou have—the positive command after negative prohibitions. The Hebrew even shelemah va-tzedek (אֶבֶן שְׁלֵמָה וָצֶדֶק) means 'complete/whole and righteous weight.' Perfect indicates accuracy and wholeness; just means righteous, fair, conforming to God's standard. That thy days may be lengthened in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee—honest commerce was connected to national longevity in the Promised Land.

The promise links economic justice to covenant blessing. Societies built on fraud self-destruct as trust collapses and relationships fracture. Conversely, integrity creates sustainable prosperity—honest markets benefit all participants, enabling exchange and specialization. The land tenure promise appears throughout Deuteronomy, always conditioned on obedience. Commercial honesty wasn't peripheral ethics but covenant core—reflecting God's character in everyday business demonstrated covenant faithfulness as much as sacrifice and Sabbath.

Historical Context

Delivered circa 1406 BC before Israel possessed the land and could forfeit it through disobedience. The conditional land promise pervades Deuteronomy—obedience brings longevity, rebellion brings exile (see Deuteronomy 28). This wasn't crude prosperity gospel but covenant reality: God gave the land, and sustained possession required continued faithfulness. Later prophets (Amos, Micah, Hosea) condemned marketplace fraud as contributing to Israel's judgment and exile, fulfilling this warning.

Questions for Reflection

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