Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  5000 Humanity  »  5200 Human civilisation  »  5613 weights and measures  »  5614 weights and measures, laws concerning

God expects his people to use accurate weights and measures, and to use just balances. This is underlined in the Law, the Prophets and the wisdom literature.

The law demanded honesty in using weights and measures

Leviticus 19:35-36 Cheating by falsifying weights and measures was common in a culture where there was no standardisation or regulatory authority. See also Deuteronomy 25:13-16

The prophets called for the right use of weights and measures

A call for honesty

Ezekiel 45:9-10

Condemnation of dishonesty

Amos 8:4-6 See also Hosea 12:7-8; Micah 6:10-14

Instruction from Proverbs on weights and measures

Proverbs 20:10 See also Proverbs 11:1; Proverbs 16:11 Merchants carried stones of different sizes in a pouch for weighing silver for payment; Proverbs 20:23; Proverbs 22:28 To move a boundary stone was in effect to steal land.

See also

5242  buying & selling
5253  cheating
5318  fraud
5347  injustice
5407  merchants
5512  scales & balances
8275  honesty
8714  dishonesty