Proverbs 20:23 kjv

Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.

Proverbs 20:23 nkjv

Diverse weights are an abomination to the LORD, And dishonest scales are not good.

Proverbs 20:23 niv

The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him.

Proverbs 20:23 esv

Unequal weights are an abomination to the LORD, and false scales are not good.

Proverbs 20:23 nlt

The LORD detests double standards;
he is not pleased by dishonest scales.

Proverbs 20 verses

Proverbs 20 23 Meaning

Proverbs 20:23 states that using dishonest and inconsistent standards in commercial transactions, such as fraudulent weights and measures, is utterly abhorrent and morally repugnant in the sight of the Lord. It unequivocally condemns exploitation and deceit, particularly in matters of trade, establishing integrity and fairness as divinely mandated principles.

Proverbs 20 23 Context

The book of Proverbs is a collection of inspired wisdom, offering practical guidance for living a righteous and God-honoring life in various everyday contexts. Proverbs chapter 20, specifically, weaves together diverse topics concerning just governance, integrity, wise counsel, discerning human character, and the consequences of actions, both good and bad. Within this chapter, verse 23 stands out as a strong ethical statement addressing commercial honesty.

In ancient Israel and the broader Ancient Near East, marketplaces were central to economic life. Trade relied heavily on physical weights (often shaped stones or metals) and standardized measures (like the ephah for dry goods). The lack of universally calibrated standards and the ease with which individuals could possess multiple sets of weights and measures—one heavier for buying and lighter for selling, or vice versa—made commercial deception a prevalent issue. This verse directly confronts such common, profit-driven deceit, contrasting humanity's tendency toward dishonesty with God's absolute demand for integrity. It underlines that ethical behavior is not just a societal construct but a divine imperative.

Proverbs 20 23 Word analysis

• Differing weights (אֶבֶן וָאֶבֶן - ʾeven waʾeven):

  • ʾeven literally means "stone" and commonly refers to a stone used as a weight in commercial scales.
  • The repetition "stone and stone" is an emphatic Hebrew idiom that signifies having two different, dishonest, or fraudulent sets of weights. It points to the practice of maintaining one set of weights for acquiring goods (often heavier, to buy more for less money) and another set for selling goods (often lighter, to sell less for more money).
  • Significance: This highlights deliberate, premeditated deceit and a system of commercial fraud rather than an accidental mistake. It speaks to a profound lack of integrity in business practices.

• and differing measures (וְאֵיפָה וְאֵיפָה - wĕʾephah wĕʾephah):

  • ʾephah refers to a standard dry measure (approximately 22 liters or 0.6 bushel) used for grains and other dry commodities.
  • Similar to the "differing weights," "ephah and ephah" denotes possessing and using two different-sized measures: one manipulated to short-change buyers when selling and another to exploit suppliers when buying.
  • Significance: This broadens the condemnation of dishonesty from weighing (based on mass) to volumetric measurement, encompassing a wider range of fraudulent commercial activities. It demonstrates that God's demand for integrity extends to all aspects of trade.

• both are detestable (תּוֹעֲבַת יְהוָה - tôʿavath Yahweh):

  • tôʿavath: This is a powerful and severe Hebrew term translated as "abomination," "detestable thing," or "something abhorrent." It is often used in the Hebrew Bible to describe practices that are utterly repulsive and contrary to God's holy character and covenant. Its use ranges from idolatry and sexual perversion to grave social injustices.
  • Yahweh: This is the sacred personal name of the God of Israel, highlighting His covenant relationship with His people and His role as the sovereign, righteous, and truthful judge.
  • Significance: This phrase elevates commercial dishonesty beyond a mere human ethical breach or civil infraction. It declares such practices to be a profound moral and spiritual transgression that incurs God's strong disgust and righteous anger. It implies that these actions violate divine order, justice, and the very nature of God, making them a grave offense against Him directly.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Differing weights and differing measures": The intentional parallelism and pairing of "weights" and "measures" emphasizes that the issue is not isolated incidents but a deliberate, comprehensive pattern of deceit in all commercial dealings. It paints a picture of systemic dishonesty driven by greed, which undermines trust and harms vulnerable parties.
  • "both are detestable to the Lord": This concluding declaration is crucial. By directly attributing the detestation to Yahweh, the passage asserts that the standards for ethical business conduct are rooted in the character of the Creator God Himself. It signifies that honesty and justice in the marketplace are not arbitrary human rules but divine requirements, violations of which are offensive to the holy nature of God. This divine pronouncement indicates that the practice has serious spiritual consequences beyond mere earthly legal repercussions.

Proverbs 20 23 Bonus section

The recurring emphasis on just weights and measures throughout the Pentateuch, Prophets, and Wisdom literature (e.g., Lev 19:35-36, Deut 25:13-16, Prov 11:1, Amos 8:5) underscores that this principle is not an isolated thought but a cornerstone of God's covenant expectations for His people. It reveals God's holistic view of righteousness, wherein spiritual devotion cannot be divorced from ethical conduct in everyday economic life. Any outward religiosity that lacks inward integrity and expresses itself in exploitation or deceit is, therefore, seen as hypocritical and offensive to God. This principle transcends the ancient context of physical weights and measures, applying to modern forms of economic deceit, such as false advertising, hidden fees, rigged systems, or misleading financial reports, all of which continue to be "detestable to the Lord."

Proverbs 20 23 Commentary

Proverbs 20:23 serves as a stark warning and a foundational ethical principle within the biblical worldview, declaring commercial dishonesty to be an absolute affront to God. It targets specific acts of fraud using "differing weights and differing measures," symbolizing all forms of deceptive practices aimed at financial gain through exploiting others. This strong language – "detestable to the Lord" – elevates economic integrity from a mere social custom to a matter of covenant faithfulness and devotion to God. God’s repulsion at such acts stems from His inherent justice, truth, and love for His people. He despises any practice that thrives on falsehood, undermines trust, and, most critically, takes advantage of the vulnerable. Therefore, righteousness for a believer must extend beyond ritualistic worship into the marketplace, where integrity in every transaction reflects genuine honor for God and love for neighbor. Living by this principle means valuing honest gain above quick profit, fostering trustworthiness in business relationships, and ultimately, mirroring the consistent and true character of God in all of life's dealings.