Deuteronomy 25 16

Deuteronomy 25:16 kjv

For all that do such things, and all that do unrighteously, are an abomination unto the LORD thy God.

Deuteronomy 25:16 nkjv

For all who do such things, all who behave unrighteously, are an abomination to the LORD your God.

Deuteronomy 25:16 niv

For the LORD your God detests anyone who does these things, anyone who deals dishonestly.

Deuteronomy 25:16 esv

For all who do such things, all who act dishonestly, are an abomination to the LORD your God.

Deuteronomy 25:16 nlt

All who cheat with dishonest weights and measures are detestable to the LORD your God.

Deuteronomy 25 verses

Deuteronomy 25 16 Meaning

Deuteronomy 25:16 declares that any person who engages in dishonest practices, particularly those involving fraudulent weights and measures, is abhorrent and offensive to the Lord your God. It underscores God's absolute demand for integrity and justice in all commercial dealings, making clear that such moral failures are not merely minor infractions but a deep offense against His righteous character.

Deuteronomy 25 16 Context

Deuteronomy 25 is part of Moses' final discourse to Israel before they enter the promised land, reiterating and expanding upon the covenant laws given at Mount Sinai. Chapter 25 covers a variety of specific regulations, demonstrating the breadth of God's concern for justice, morality, and social order within the community. These range from laws regarding judicial beatings (vv. 1-3), provisions for oxen during threshing (v. 4), levirate marriage (vv. 5-10), and proper conduct during a fight (vv. 11-12).

The immediate context for verse 16 is verses 13-15, which specifically command Israel to use "just and honest weights" and "a just and honest ephah" (a dry measure). The people were forbidden from having "in your bag two kinds of weights, a large and a small," or "in your house two kinds of measures, a large and a small." This was to prevent deceitful practices in commerce, where one might use a heavier weight to buy and a lighter weight to sell, or differing measures. Verse 16 serves as the definitive pronouncement of divine judgment on those who violate this core principle of honesty, concluding the section on righteous business practices by highlighting the severe nature of such an offense in God's eyes. It solidifies the divine imperative behind the economic laws, rooting them in God's very character.

Deuteronomy 25 16 Word analysis

• For (כִּי, ki): This conjunction links the severe consequence stated in this verse directly to the commands given in the preceding verses (25:13-15). It introduces the reason or basis for the divine condemnation, connecting the specific act of using dishonest measures to its detestable nature before God.
• all who do such things (כֹּל עֹשֵׂה אֵלֶּה, kol ‘oseh ‘elleh):
  • all (kol): Emphasizes universality. This judgment applies to every individual, without exception, who engages in these forbidden practices, regardless of their status or intention. It indicates no toleration or leniency.
  • do such things (‘oseh ‘elleh): Directly refers back to the specified practices of having and using varying, dishonest weights and measures described in the immediately preceding verses. It makes the connection explicit between the detailed instruction and the general divine judgment.
• all who behave dishonestly (כֹּל עֹשֵׂה עָוֶל, kol ‘oseh ‘avel):
  • all (kol): Reinforces the comprehensive nature of the prohibition, extending its scope beyond the specific examples just given.
  • behave dishonestly (‘oseh ‘avel): The Hebrew word ‘avel (עָוֶל) means injustice, unrighteousness, wickedness, fraud, or crookedness. This phrase generalizes the principle beyond merely weights and measures to encompass any form of deceptive or unjust behavior. It signifies that the spirit behind the specific act (dishonesty) is what God abhors, highlighting that any practice characterized by unfairness or deceit falls under this severe condemnation.
• are detestable (תּוֹעֲבַת, to’evat, from to’evah): This is a very strong theological term in Hebrew.
  • To’evah signifies an "abomination," "detestable thing," or "abhorrent practice." It's often used for things that profoundly offend God's holy character, such as idolatry (Deut 7:25), sexual immorality (Lev 18:22), child sacrifice (Deut 12:31), and various other pagan practices.
  • Its application here elevates dishonest commercial practices to a level of severe moral and spiritual offense, demonstrating that financial integrity is as serious a concern to God as other, more obviously religious or ritualistic transgressions. It suggests a behavior so contrary to God's nature that He cannot tolerate it.
• to the Lord your God (יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, YHWH Eloheykha):
  • the Lord (YHWH): The covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal relationship with Israel and His supreme authority as their sovereign.
  • your God (Eloheykha): Highlights that this is a command from the God who has delivered them and with whom they are in a special covenant. His character, which is just and righteous, is the foundation for His demand for justice and integrity from His people. The offense of dishonesty is therefore not just a breach of a human ethical code, but a direct affront to the character of their covenant God.

Deuteronomy 25 16 Bonus section

The consistent emphasis on honest weights and measures across the Pentateuch, the wisdom literature (Proverbs), and the prophetic books demonstrates that this was not an isolated or minor commandment, but a fundamental ethical principle central to God's covenant with Israel. It reflects the truth that worshiping a righteous God necessitates living a righteous life in all spheres, including economic activity. Dishonesty in business is implicitly idolatry because it puts personal gain above God's standard of justice, in essence serving mammon rather than God. Furthermore, the to’evah concept emphasizes that these practices do not merely reflect bad character, but they are intrinsically morally polluting and can corrupt a nation's standing before God, inviting His judgment. The biblical insistence on integrity thus provides a timeless model for just economic systems that value fairness, honesty, and compassion over exploitation and greed.

Deuteronomy 25 16 Commentary

Deuteronomy 25:16 is a powerful statement about God's uncompromising demand for truth and justice in everyday life, particularly in the realm of commerce. Following specific commands regarding honest weights and measures, this verse encapsulates the divine principle: all forms of dishonesty, both specifically enumerated and broadly implied, are utterly detestable to the Lord. The use of "detestable" (to’evah) is profound. It's a term God reserves for practices that are fundamentally antithetical to His holy nature and purpose. Placing economic dishonesty in the same category as idolatry or severe sexual sins highlights just how gravely God views the corruption of fairness and trust in human interactions.

God's holiness extends beyond the temple or ritual; it permeates all aspects of life, including the marketplace. Dishonesty in business practices, like manipulating scales or measures, undermines the very fabric of community, preying on the vulnerable and destroying trust. It is an act of injustice against fellow human beings, whom God created in His image, and therefore an offense against God Himself. This teaching serves as a reminder that genuine faith demands integrity not only in visible acts of worship but also in seemingly mundane or private dealings. For Israel, this commitment to honesty set them apart from surrounding pagan cultures where such fraud was common, demonstrating that their God was a God of absolute righteousness and demanded the same from His covenant people. For believers today, the principle remains foundational: all our financial and commercial dealings must be characterized by transparent honesty, for anything less is an abomination to the God we serve.