Ezekiel 45:10
Ye shall have just balances, and a just ephah, and a just bath.
Original Language Analysis
צֶ֖דֶק
Ye shall have just
H6664
צֶ֖דֶק
Ye shall have just
Strong's:
H6664
Word #:
2 of 8
the right (natural, moral or legal); also (abstractly) equity or (figuratively) prosperity
וְאֵֽיפַת
ephah
H374
וְאֵֽיפַת
ephah
Strong's:
H374
Word #:
3 of 8
an ephah or measure for grain; hence, a measure in general
צֶ֖דֶק
Ye shall have just
H6664
צֶ֖דֶק
Ye shall have just
Strong's:
H6664
Word #:
4 of 8
the right (natural, moral or legal); also (abstractly) equity or (figuratively) prosperity
וּבַת
bath
H1324
וּבַת
bath
Strong's:
H1324
Word #:
5 of 8
a bath or hebrew measure (as a means of division) of liquids
צֶ֖דֶק
Ye shall have just
H6664
צֶ֖דֶק
Ye shall have just
Strong's:
H6664
Word #:
6 of 8
the right (natural, moral or legal); also (abstractly) equity or (figuratively) prosperity
Historical Context
Babylonian exile resulted partly from Israel's systemic injustice (Ezekiel 22:12, 29). Merchants used multiple sets of weights—heavier for buying, lighter for selling—accumulating wealth through incremental theft. Archaeological discoveries have found ancient weights varying significantly, confirming widespread commercial fraud in the ancient Near East.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's concern for accurate business measurements reveal His character?
- In what ways might Christians today use 'false balances' in their professional or personal dealings?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Ye shall have just balances, and a just ephah, and a just bath—God commands honest weights and measures using three Hebrew terms: mo'znei-tsedeq (מֹאזְנֵי־צֶדֶק, "balances of righteousness"), eifat-tsedeq (אֵיפַת־צֶדֶק, "ephah of righteousness"), and bat-tsedeq (בַּת־צֶדֶק, "bath of righteousness"). The emphatic repetition of tsedeq (righteousness/justice) elevates commercial honesty to a matter of holiness, not mere ethics.
Israel had repeatedly violated this (Amos 8:5, Micah 6:10-11), using false weights to defraud. In the restored temple economy, worship and marketplace must align—tsedeq in the sanctuary demands tsedeq in the shop. An ephah (dry measure, ~22 liters) and bath (liquid measure, ~22 liters) represented daily transactions. God cares about grain sales and oil purchases because economic justice reflects His character. Jesus' rebuke of temple merchants (Matthew 21:12-13) and James's warning against fraud (James 5:4) continue this ethical demand.