Differing weights and unequal measures—both are detestable to the LORD.
Parallel translations
- WEB Differing weights and differing measures, both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh.
- KJV Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.
- NKJV Diverse weights and diverse measures, They are both alike, an abomination to the Lord.
- NASB Differing weights and differing measures, Both of them are abominable to the Lord.
- NLT False weights and unequal measures— the Lord detests double standards of every kind.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Cheating with rigged weights and measures is detestable to God. It matters because the Lord cares about honesty and justice in everyday business.
Overview
Merchants could defraud customers by using one set of weights to buy and another to sell. The Lord calls such dishonesty an 'abomination,' showing that worship and ethics are inseparable. God's own justice and integrity are the standard, and the law repeatedly forbade false measures (Leviticus 19:35-36; Deuteronomy 25:13-16).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Prov 20:23Unequal weights are detestable to the LORD, and dishonest scales are no good.
- Prov 11:1Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is His delight.
- Mic 6:10–11Can I forget any longer, O house of the wicked, the treasures of wickedness and the short ephah, which is accursed?
- Prov 16:11Honest scales and balances are from the LORD; all the weights in the bag are His concern.
- Deut 25:13–15You shall not have two differing weights in your bag, one heavy and one light.
- Lev 19:35You must not use dishonest measures of length, weight, or volume.
- Amos 8:4–7Hear this, you who trample the needy, who do away with the poor of the land,
- Rev 21:8But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”
- Deut 7:25–26You must burn up the images of their gods; do not covet the silver and gold that is on them or take it for yourselves, or you will be ensnared by it; for it is detestable to the LORD your God.
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Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
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Original language
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