Deuteronomy 25:13 Meaning and Explanation
“Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights, a great and a small.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Do not carry two different weights—one to cheat sellers, one for honest trade.
The Context of Deuteronomy 25:13
Laws against commercial fraud and dishonest weights.
What Does Deuteronomy 25:13 Mean?
The merchant who carried different weights committed systematic fraud. He used the heavy weight when buying goods (demanding more for his payment) and the light weight when selling (giving less for the same price). The 'bag' holding both weights was a tool of deception—a hidden system of cheating.
This law struck at dishonesty embedded in commerce itself. The fraud was not a moment of weakness but a practiced method. By forbidding the possession of the tool itself, the law removed the temptation and the means to cheat. Honesty had to be genuine, not a choice made case by case.
Deuteronomy 25:13 in the Original Language
even (אֶבֶן), 'weight' — the stone or metal standard against which goods were measured.
Frequently Asked Questions About Deuteronomy 25:13
What does Deuteronomy 25:13 mean?
Do not carry two different weights—one to cheat sellers, one for honest trade.
What is the context of Deuteronomy 25:13?
Laws against commercial fraud and dishonest weights.