Deuteronomy 24:15
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Deuteronomy 24:15
15 At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the LORD, and it be sin unto thee.
Chapter Context
Deuteronomy 24 is a sermonic and legal chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of holiness, hope, covenant. Written during the end of the wilderness wandering (c. 1406 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Moses delivered these speeches as Israel prepared to enter a land filled with different Canaanite city-states.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-22: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it addresses timeless questions about faith, suffering, and divine purpose. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Deuteronomy and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Deuteronomy 24:15
15 At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the LORD, and it be sin unto thee.
Analysis
At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it—Be-yomo titten sekharo ve-lo tavo alav ha-shemesh ("on his day you shall give his wages, and not shall set on it the sun") mandates immediate payment before sunset. The day laborer's survival depends on daily wages; delayed payment equals oppression. This echoes Leviticus 19:13's parallel command.
For he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it—Ki ani hu ve-elav hu nose et-nafsho ("for poor he is, and to it he lifts up his soul") reveals the psychological and spiritual weight of wages for the poor. Nose et-nafsho (literally "lifts up his soul/life") describes desperate longing and dependency—these wages represent not just money but survival, dignity, provision for children. Withholding them crushes hope.
Lest he cry against thee unto the LORD, and it be sin unto thee—God hears the oppressed worker's cry (yiqra alekha el-YHWH). This echoes Exodus 22:23-24: the cries of the oppressed reach God's ears and provoke His judgment. Haya bekha chet ("it shall be sin in you") makes wage theft a serious covenantal violation, not merely an economic dispute. James 5:4 declares such cries "have entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth."
Historical Context
The immediacy of payment requirement reflects the harsh reality of subsistence economies. Day laborers lived hand-to-mouth; no payment meant no food. The phrase "setteth his heart upon it" captures desperate waiting—will the employer pay fairly, or find excuses? Archaeological evidence from ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Israel shows workers often received rations (bread, beer, oil) as wages. This law protected both monetary and in-kind payment. The theological grounding ("lest he cry... unto the LORD") elevates labor justice to covenant relationship with God.
Reflection
- How does the phrase "setteth his heart upon it" deepen your empathy for those whose economic survival depends on timely and fair payment, and what responsibility does this create for employers and consumers?
- What does God's attentiveness to the oppressed worker's cry reveal about His character and priorities, and how should this shape our engagement with economic justice issues?
Word Studies
- Sin: חַטָּאת (Chatta'ah) H2399 - Sin, missing the mark
Cross-References
- References Lord: Psalms 25:1, 86:4, Isaiah 5:7, James 5:4
- Sin: Deuteronomy 15:9
- Parallel theme: Leviticus 19:13, Job 34:28, 35:9, Psalms 24:4, Jeremiah 22:13