Examples of Differing Weights or Dishonest Scales in Scripture

The concept of "differing weights" or "dishonest scales" in Scripture refers to the practice of using inaccurate or fraudulent measuring devices in commercial transactions, a practice consistently condemned as an abomination to God ^{[1, 2, 8]}. This imagery appears throughout the Old Testament, particularly in the Law and the Prophets, highlighting God's demand for integrity and justice in all dealings.

Biblical texts frequently mention various weights and measures used in ancient Israelite society. These included units for weight such as the gerah, bekah, shekel, maneh, and talent, which were used for metals, money, and other goods ^{[4, 7]}. Measures for liquids and solids included the log, cab, omer, hin, bath (or ephah), and homer (or cor) ^[5]. Lengths were measured by handbreadth, span, cubit, fathom, and furlong ^[5]. The standard for weights was often regulated by the sanctuary, as seen in Exodus 30:24, or sometimes by the king's standard ^[4].

The sin of dishonest scales involved merchants using two sets of weights or measures: one heavier set for buying goods (to get more for their money) and a lighter set for selling goods (to give less to the customer while charging the same price) ^{[8, 11, 14]}. This practice allowed them to cheat both ways, maximizing their profit at the expense of others ^[14]. For example, John Gill notes that "a stone and a stone, and an ephah and an ephah" refers to having different weights or measures—one too heavy, one too light—for buying and selling, rather than just and equal ones ^[10].

Scripture explicitly denounces this form of deception:

Proverbs 11:1 states, "Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is His delight" ^[2].
Proverbs 20:23 reiterates, "Differing weights are an abomination to the LORD, And a false scale is not good" ^[1]. This repetition underscores the severity of the sin, suggesting it may have been a common transgression among the Jews ^[13].
Micah 6:11 directly challenges the practice, with God asking, "Can I excuse dishonest scales or bags of false weights?" ^[3]. This rhetorical question implies a clear negative answer, indicating God's judgment against such actions ^[12].
Leviticus 19:35-36 commands, "You shall do no injustice in judgment, in measurement of length, weight, or quantity. You shall have honest scales, honest weights, an honest ephah, and an honest hin; I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from the land of Egypt." This command is foundational, linking just measures to God's identity and the covenant relationship ^[8].
Deuteronomy 25:13-15 further instructs, "You shall not have in your bag differing weights, a large and a small. You shall not have in your house differing measures, a large and a small. You shall have a full and just weight; you shall have a full and just measure, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you" ^[11]. Matthew Henry emphasizes that not only must one not use them, but one must not even possess them, as possession creates temptation ^[14].

The consistent condemnation of dishonest scales across different books of the Old Testament demonstrates that this was not merely a minor ethical lapse but a serious offense against God's character and the principles of justice He established for His people ^{[8, 9]}. The use of balances was common, as gold and silver were often paid out and received by weight, making the integrity of these instruments crucial for fair trade ^[6].

Sources

Proverbs “Proverbs 20:23 (NASB) — Differing weights are an abomination to the LORD, And a false scale is not good.”
Proverbs “Proverbs 11:1 (BSB) — Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is His delight.”
Micah “Micah 6:11 (BSB) — Can I excuse dishonest scales or bags of false weights?”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Weights — Generally regulated by the standard of the sanctuary -- Ex 30:24. Sometimes regulated by the king's standard -- 2Sa 14:26. Were frequently used in scales or balances -- Job 31:6; Isa 40:12. Mentioned in scripture Gerah. -- Ex 30:13; Eze 45:12. Bekah or half shekel. -- Ge 24:22. Shekel. -- Ex 30:13; Eze 45:12. Dram. -- Ne 7:70,71. Maneh or pound. -- Ne 7:71; Eze 45:12. Talent. -- 2Sa 12:30; Re 16:21. Value of money estimated according to -- Ge 23:16; 43:21; Jer 32:9. All metals were given by -- Ex 37:24; 1Ch 28:14. Provisions were sold by, in times of scarci”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Measures — Unjust, an abomination to God -- Pr 20:10. The Jews not to be unjust in -- Le 19:35; De 25:14,15. The Jews often used unjust -- Mic 6:10. Of liquids and solids Log. -- Le 14:10,15. Cab. -- 2Ki 6:25. Omer or tenth-deal (the tenth of an ephah). -- Ex 16:36; Le 5:11; 14:10. Hin. -- Ex 29:40. Bath or ephah. -- Isa 5:10; Eze 45:11. Homer or Cor. -- Isa 5:10; Eze 45:14. Firkin. -- Joh 2:6. Of length Handbreadth. -- Ex 25:25; Ps 39:5. Span. -- Ex 28:16; 1Sa 17:4. Cubit. -- Ge 6:15,16; De 3:11. Fathom. -- Ac 27:28. Furlong. -- Lu 24:13; Joh 11:13. Mile. -- Mt 5:41”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Balances — Reference to balances is found in (Leviticus 19:36) They were in common use, gold and silver being paid out and received by weight. Reference is also made in (Micah 6:11; Hosea 12:7) to the dishonest practice of buying by heavier and selling by lighter weights.”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Weights — Reduced to English troy-weight, the Hebrew weights were: (1.) The gerah (Lev. 27:25; Num. 3:47), a Hebrew word, meaning a grain or kernel, and hence a small weight. It was the twentieth part of a shekel, and equal to 12 grains. (2.) Bekah (Ex. 38:26), meaning "a half" i.e., "half a shekel," equal to 5 pennyweight. (3.) Shekel, "a weight," only in the Old Testament, and frequently in its original form (Gen. 23:15, 16; Ex. 21:32; 30:13, 15; 38:24-29, etc.). It was equal to 10 pennyweight. (4.) Ma'neh, "a part" or "portion" (Ezek. 45:12), equal to 60 shekels, ”
Leviticus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Leviticus 19:35: 19:35-36 dishonest standards: Merchants would sometimes use two different sets of weights, one heavy and one light (Deut 25:13-15), in order to cheat customers. The Bible makes it clear that this practice was abhorrent to God (Prov 11:1; 16:11; 20:10, 23; Mic 6:11).”
Proverbs (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Proverbs 20:10: 20:10 False weights and unequal measures: Merchants, for example, should not cheat their customers by using false weights to weigh out grain (cp. 11:1; 16:11; 20:23).”
Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 20:10: Divers weights, and divers measures,.... Or, "a stone and a stone, and an ephah and an ephah" (d). Stones being in old time used in weighing, and an "ephah" was a common measure among the Jews; and these ought not to be different; one stone or weight for buying, and another for selling; and one measure to buy goods in with, and another to sell out with; the one too heavy, the other too light; the one too large, and the other too scanty; whereby justice is not done between man and man; whereas they ought to be just and equal, Lev 19:35; both of them are alike abom”
Deuteronomy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Deuteronomy 25:13: 25:13-14 You must use accurate scales . . . full and honest measures (Hebrew you must not have stone and stone, large and small, . . . ephah and ephah, large and small): Merchants were not to use two sets of weights and measures for cheating customers—a heavier weight or measure when purchasing goods (thus reducing their own cost) and a lighter one when selling them (thus increasing their own profit).”
Micah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Micah 6:11: Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances,.... These are the words either of the prophet, or rather of God, signifying that he could not, and would not, allow, countenance, and approve of persons that used false scales or balances; or justify and reckon them just, as they would be thought to be, but condemn them, and pronounce them very wicked men, and deserving of punishment here and hereafter: and with the bag of deceitful weights? or "stones" (o); which were used in weighing goods, and which were deceitful, when a heavier was used in buying, and a lighter i”
Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 20:23: Divers weights are an abomination unto the Lord,.... See Gill on Pro 20:10; which is here repeated for the further confirmation of it, and that it might be taken notice of and avoided; and perhaps this sin of using false weights and measures was common with the Jews; and a false balance is not good; in the sight of God; but an abomination, as in Pro 11:1; nor is it good for men in the issue; for though they may gain by it at present, it will prove a loss to them in the end, since it will bring a curse on all they get.”
Deuteronomy (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 25:13: Here is, I. A law against deceitful weights and measures: they must not only not use them, but they must not have them, not have them in the bag, not have them in the house (Deu 25:13, Deu 25:14); for, if they had them, they would be strongly tempted to use them. They must not have a great weight and measure to buy by and a small one to sell by, for that was to cheat both ways, when either was bad enough; as we read of those that made the ephah small, in which they measured the corn they sold, and the shekel great, by which they weighed the money they receiv”

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