In biblical times, the concept of weighing was integral to daily life, commerce, and religious practices. The act of weighing is mentioned numerous times throughout the Scriptures, often symbolizing fairness, justice, and divine judgment. Weighing was conducted using balances and scales, which were essential tools in the ancient world for measuring goods, precious metals, and other commodities.

Weights and Measures in Commerce

The Bible frequently addresses the importance of honest weights and measures, emphasizing integrity in business dealings. In Leviticus 19:35-36, the Lord commands, "You must not use dishonest measures of length, weight, or volume. You shall maintain just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt." This directive underscores the expectation of honesty and fairness, reflecting God's character and His desire for His people to emulate His righteousness.

Proverbs 11:1 further reinforces this principle: "Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is His delight." The use of accurate weights is not merely a matter of economic fairness but is also seen as a moral and spiritual obligation, pleasing to God.

Symbolism of Weighing in Judgment

Weighing is also used metaphorically in the Bible to describe divine judgment and the evaluation of human actions. In Daniel 5:27, during the interpretation of the writing on the wall, Daniel tells King Belshazzar, "TEKEL means that you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient." This imagery conveys the idea that God assesses the moral and spiritual weight of individuals and nations, holding them accountable for their actions.

Similarly, in Job 31:6, Job appeals to God, saying, "Let God weigh me with honest scales, and He will know my integrity." Here, Job expresses his confidence in his righteousness and his desire for God to judge him fairly, using the metaphor of weighing to illustrate divine scrutiny.

Weights in Religious Offerings

Weights also played a role in religious offerings and temple practices. In Exodus 30:13, the Israelites are instructed to give a half-shekel as an offering to the Lord: "Each one who crosses over to those already counted is to give a half shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs. This half shekel is an offering to the LORD." The precise weight of the offering signifies the importance of exactness and obedience in worship.

Conclusion

Throughout the Bible, the concept of weighing serves as a powerful symbol of justice, integrity, and divine judgment. Whether in the context of commerce, moral evaluation, or religious offerings, the use of weights and measures reflects the broader biblical themes of righteousness and accountability before God.514. axios -- of weight, of worth, worthy
... 514 (an adjective derived from , "to weigh") -- properly, to , ("worth-to-worth"); ,
ie as the assessment in keeping with how something "weighs in" on . ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/514.htm - 7k

3874. paraklesis -- a calling to one's aid, ie encouragement ...
... 3874 () is an "intimate call" that someone personally gives to deliver , ie "the
close-call" that reveals how the Lord weighs in the relevant facts (evidence). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3874.htm - 8k

7812. shachah -- to bow down
... bows down (1), did homage (1), down in homage (1), homage (1), lie down (1), paid
homage (3), prostrate (2), prostrated (13), prostrating (1), weighs it down (1 ...
/hebrew/7812.htm - 6k

8254. shaqal -- to weigh
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to weigh NASB Word Usage actually weighed (1),
pay (4), receive (1), spend (1), weigh (3), weighed (10), weighs (1). ...
/hebrew/8254.htm - 6k

8505. takan -- to regulate, measure, estimate
... root Definition to regulate, measure, estimate NASB Word Usage directed (1), firmly
set (1), marked off (1), meted (1), right (9), weighed (2), weighs (3). ...
/hebrew/8505.htm - 6k

What I Think of Myself and what God Thinks of Me
... Part of the cure for that lies in the thought in the second clause of the
text"'But the Lord weigheth the spirits.' He weighs them in a balance, or as a man ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/what i think of myself.htm

Whether There are Only Four Species of Sorrow?
... Hom. xix.] "torpor is sorrow depriving of speech; anxiety is the sorrow that weighs
down; envy is sorrow for another's good; pity is sorrow for another's wrongs ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether there are only four.htm

Whether Perfection of the Body is Necessary for Happiness?
... xii, 35), "if body be such, that the governance thereof is difficult and burdensome,
like unto flesh which is corruptible and weighs upon the soul, the mind is ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether perfection of the body.htm

Love and Peace.
... Our first need is peace of conscience. The burden of sin weighs heavily upon the
awakened soul, and the condemnation of the law consciously weighs upon it. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/thomas/the prayers of st paul/iv love and peace.htm

"But Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God," &C.
... for our bodies, and well being here, and that more solidly and sweetly flowing from
God's love, grounded on a promise,"I think this weighs down already, if ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xviii but seek ye.htm

Introduction
... Since the thoughts of mortals are weakling and our purposes are prone to fail; for
the body that is corruptible weighs down soul, and mind with its store of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/origen/origen on prayer/chapter one introduction.htm

By Divine Inspiration Philosophers Sometimes Hit on the Truth.
... But the only just measure is the only true God, always just, continuing the
self-same; who measures all things, and weighs them by righteousness as in a balance ...
/.../exhortation to the heathen/chapter vi by divine inspiration philosophers.htm

Remembering How Far the Writer of Our Book Excels all who have ...
... A sore evil, and one that weighs heavily on man, has Solomon seen: riches, wealth,
and honor, clustering thick on the head of one person, and yet God has ...
/.../jennings/old groans and new songs/chapter vi remembering how far.htm

Of Positiveness.
... Nay, not only so, but who make themselves the standards of wisdom, to which all
are bound to conform, and whoever weighs not in their balance, be his reasons ...
/.../allestree/the government of the tongue/section xi of positiveness.htm

Causes of Corruption Chiefly Intentional.
... besides more than ninety testimonies in their favour from more than forty-four'
ancient witnesses [260] ; "such is the evidence which weighs down the ...
/.../chapter x causes of corruption.htm

Weighs (12 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Weighs (12 Occurrences). ... (See NIV). Proverbs 12:25 Anxiety
in a man's heart weighs it down, but a kind word makes it glad. ...
/w/weighs.htm - 9k

Weights (14 Occurrences)
... standard. Another specimen discovered at Tell Zakariyeh weighs 154 grains,
which would seem to belong to the same standard. The ...
/w/weights.htm - 21k

Measures (50 Occurrences)
... standard. Another specimen discovered at Tell Zakariyeh weighs 154 grains,
which would seem to belong to the same standard. The ...
/m/measures.htm - 35k

Weighing (39 Occurrences)

/w/weighing.htm - 17k

Under (4325 Occurrences)
... 2. (prep.) Denoting relation to some thing or person that is superior, weighs upon,
oppresses, bows down, governs, directs, influences powerfully, or the like ...
/u/under.htm - 8k

Gushes (2 Occurrences)
... words. (See NIV). Proverbs 15:28 The heart of the righteous weighs answers,
but the mouth of the wicked gushes out evil. (WEB NIV). ...
/g/gushes.htm - 6k

Trumpeter (1 Occurrence)
... It sometimes weighs as much as fifty or sixty pounds, and is highly esteemed as
a food fish. Multi-Version Concordance Trumpeter (1 Occurrence). ...
/t/trumpeter.htm - 7k

Rump (5 Occurrences)
... Version (British and American) correctly renders "fat tail." Reference is here had
to the broad tail of the Syrian sheep, which occasionally weighs as much as ...
/r/rump.htm - 9k

Receiver (1 Occurrence)
... 33:18); but the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes "he that weighed
the tribute." The Hebrew is shoqel, which means "one who weighs," "a weigher ...
/r/receiver.htm - 8k

Relieve (14 Occurrences)
... 4. (vt) To raise or remove, as anything which depresses, weighs down, or crushes;
to render less burdensome or afflicting; to alleviate; to abate; to mitigate ...
/r/relieve.htm - 11k

What is Pascal's Wager? | GotQuestions.org

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What was the sanctuary shekel? | GotQuestions.org

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