In biblical times, weights and measures were essential for trade and daily life, and the Bible emphasizes the importance of honesty and integrity in their use. The concept of just weights is deeply rooted in the moral and ethical teachings of the Scriptures, reflecting God's desire for fairness and righteousness in human interactions.

Biblical Mandate for Just Weights

The Bible explicitly commands the use of just weights and measures, underscoring the importance of honesty in commerce. In Leviticus 19:35-36 , God instructs the Israelites: "You must not use dishonest measures of length, weight, or volume. You shall maintain honest scales and weights, an honest ephah, and an honest hin. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt." This directive is part of the Holiness Code, which outlines ethical behavior for God's people.

Similarly, Deuteronomy 25:13-16 warns against dishonest practices: "You shall not have two differing weights in your bag, one heavy and one light. You shall not have two differing measures in your house, one large and one small. You must maintain accurate and honest weights and measures, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you. For everyone who behaves dishonestly in regard to these things is detestable to the LORD your God."

The Moral Implications of Just Weights

The call for just weights is not merely a legal requirement but a reflection of God's character and His desire for justice. Proverbs 11:1 states, "Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is His delight." This proverb highlights the moral dimension of using fair measures, indicating that honesty in business is pleasing to God.

Proverbs 20:23 reiterates this principle: "Unequal weights are detestable to the LORD, and dishonest scales are no good." The repetition of this theme in the wisdom literature underscores the importance of integrity and fairness in all dealings.

Consequences of Dishonest Weights

The Bible warns of the consequences of using dishonest weights, both in terms of divine judgment and societal impact. In Micah 6:10-11 , God questions the people of Israel: "Am I still to forget a wicked house, along with its ill-gotten treasures? And the accursed short ephah, which is detestable? Can I excuse dishonest scales or bags of false weights?" Here, the prophet Micah links dishonest practices with broader societal corruption and impending judgment.

Ezekiel 45:10 also calls for reform: "You must use honest scales, an honest ephah, and an honest bath." This call to righteousness is part of a broader vision for a just society, where fairness in trade reflects the community's commitment to God's standards.

Application in the New Testament

While the New Testament does not explicitly address weights and measures, the principles of honesty and integrity in all aspects of life are affirmed. Jesus' teachings on loving one's neighbor and treating others as one would like to be treated (Matthew 7:12) encompass the ethical use of weights and measures. The apostle Paul also emphasizes honesty in Romans 12:17 : "Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody."

In summary, the biblical mandate for just weights is a call to reflect God's justice and righteousness in everyday transactions. It serves as a reminder that integrity in business is a vital aspect of living a life that honors God and promotes a just society.Leviticus 19:35,36
You shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in length, in weight, or in measure.
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Deuteronomy 25:13-15
You shall not have in your bag divers weights, a great and a small.
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Proverbs 11:1
A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.
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Proverbs 16:11
A just weight and balance are the LORD's: all the weights of the bag are his work.
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Proverbs 20:10,23
Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.
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Micah 6:10,11
Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abominable?
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Whether a Sale is Rendered Unlawful through a Fault in the Thing ...
... Dt.25:13,14): "Thou shalt not have divers weights in thy bag, a ... However in each place
those who govern the state must determine the just measures of ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether a sale is rendered.htm

Eighth Commandment
... In thinking over that act he said: "That was not just right. ... Partial obedience
is not enough: obedience must be entire. ... GOD'S WEIGHTS. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/weighed and wanting/eighth commandment.htm

The Answer on the Way to Keep Control Over Abstinence.
... balance be just and the weights equal, the bushel just and the ... in which we have said,
but also in this must we strive not to have unfair weights in our ...
/.../cassian/the conferences of john cassian/chapter xxii the answer on.htm

That the Self-Existent Being must be All-Powerful.
... in itself an impossible thing, because it must of necessity ... moved by the weights,
and those weights by gravitation ... ball one certain way, this is just nothing at ...
/.../x proposition x that the.htm

He Careth for Thee.
... but to be up on his feet and passing heavy weights on to ... Do just what a good man
says he did. ... come and want into your heart, tell them they must get permission ...
//christianbookshelf.org/orr/how to live a holy life/he careth for thee.htm

The Fixed Heart
... strong and uniform, it will scarcely sustain the weights that it ... the lips that, if
they did not praise, must sob, and ... Lastly, let me say just a word as to the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/the fixed heart.htm

What have I Done?
... You may have light weights, and the beam of the scale in which you weigh ... have had
such come to me, and I have told them, "I must treat you just the same ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/what have i done.htm

How to Work God's Joy-Machine
... You know every one must expect them. ... "That is just what I ... They do not want the weights,
they do not want the music; these are provided for the public; and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/naylor/heart talks/talk forty-five how to work.htm

Coming In
... arrest the runner, and there are clogs and weights in every ... We must do as Abram did:
leave Haran and its ... appear there, they will think no more, just as this ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/coming in.htm

God's Call
... So with weights. ... Now it seems to me that in spiritual character we must have something
by ... we can measure and compare ourselves, and Peter gives us just such a ...
//christianbookshelf.org/howard/standards of life and service/i gods call.htm

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