Proverbs 11
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
(Pro. 11:1-31) (Compare Margin). The Hebrews used stones for weights. just--complete in measure.
Open source ↗A false balance is abomination to the Lord,.... Under which are included all false weights and measures, and all fraudulent practices in commerce and dealing; which are forbidden by the Lord, and are abominable to him, as being injurious to the estates and properties of men: and more especially must be abominable in professors of religion, as being contrary to the grace of God; for though there may be common honesty where there is not the grace of God, yet there cannot be the true grace of God where there is not honesty; for the grace of God teaches to deny all such worldly lusts; but a just weight is his delight; or a "perfect stone" (c); the ancient practice being to make use of stones for weights; Now to give just weight, and also just measure, and to do justly in all civil dealings with men, is what God requires, and is well pleasing in his sight (d); see Lev 19:35. This may be understood of balances and weights in religious affairs; the balance of the sanctuary is the word of God, with which all doctrines are to be weighed, and, if found wanting, they are to be rejected; this is agreeable to the will of God: false balances are abominable to him; such as carnal reason, vain philosophy, and the traditions of men, used by antichrist and his followers; the harlot, described in some preceding chapters, opposed to Wisdom or Christ, who directs to the search of the Scriptures, and the use of them to try doctrines by, Joh 5:39; see Act 17:11. (c) "lapsis perfectus", Montanus, Gejerus. (d) , &c. Phocylid. Poem. Admon. v. 12, 13.
Open source ↗The next three proverbs treat of honesty, discretion, and innocence or dove-like simplicity: 1 Deceitful balances are an abomination to Jahve; But a full weight is His delight. The very same proverb, with slightly varied expression, is found in Pro 20:23; and other such like proverbs, in condemnation of false and in approbation of true balances, are found, Pro 20:10; Pro 16:11; similar predicates, but connected with other subjects, are found at Pro 12:22; Pro 15:8. "An abomination to Jahve" is an expression we have already twice met with in the introduction, Pro 3:32; Pro 6:16, cf. Pro 8:7; תּועבה is, like תּועה, a participial noun, in which the active conception of abhorring is transferred to the action accomplished. רצון is in post-biblical Hebr. the designation of the arbitrium and the voluntas; but here רצונו signifies not that which God wishes, but that which He delights in having. "מרמה (here for the first time in Proverbs), from רמה, the Piel of which means (Pro 26:19) aliquem dolo et fraude petere. אבן, like the Pers. sanak, sanakh, Arab. ṣajat, a stone for weight; and finally, without any reference to its root signification, like Zac 5:8, אבן העופרת, a leaden weight, as when we say: a horseshoe of gold, a chess-man of ivory."
Open source ↗As religion towards God is a branch of universal righteousness (he is not an honest man that is not devout), so righteousness towards men is a branch of true religion, for he is not a godly man that is not honest, nor can he expect that his devotion should be accepted; for, 1. Nothing is more offensive to God than deceit in commerce. A false balance is here put for all manner of unjust and fraudulent practices in dealing with any person, which are all an abomination to the Lord, and render those abominable to him that allow themselves in the use of such accursed arts of thriving. It is an affront to justice, which God is the patron of, as well as a wrong to our neighbour, whom God is the protector of. Men make light of such frauds, and think there is no sin in that which there is money to be got by, and, while it passes undiscovered, they cannot blame themselves for it; a blot is no blot till it is hit, Hos 12:7, Hos 12:8. But they are not the less an abomination to God, who will be the avenger of those that are defrauded by their brethren. 2. Nothing is more pleasing to God than fair and honest dealing, nor more necessary to make us and our devotions acceptable to him: A just weight is his delight. He himself goes by a just weight, and holds the scale of judgment with an even hand, and therefore is pleased with those that are herein followers of him. A balance cheats, under pretence of doing right most exactly, and therefore is the greater abomination to God.
Open source ↗11:1 Here, honest practices are applied to the business world (see also 16:11; 20:10, 23; Lev 19:35-37; Deut 25:13-15; Ezek 45:10; Hos 12:7-8; Mic 6:11). • Scales were often made of two metal bowls suspended from a crossbar. The unit of currency, the shekel, comes from the verb meaning “to weigh” (see Amos 8:5-6).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
מִרְמָה (mirmâh, H4820) — fraud מֹאזֵן (môʼzên, H3976) — (only in the dual) a pair of scales תּוֹעֵבַה (tôwʻêbah, H8441) — properly, something disgusting (morally), i.e. (as noun) an abhorrence; especially… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God שָׁלֵם (shâlêm, H8003) — complete (literally or figuratively); especially friendly אֶבֶן (ʼeben, H68) — a stone רָצוֹן (râtsôwn, H7522) — delight (especially as shown)
Open source ↗זָדוֹן (zâdôwn, H2087) — arrogance בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) קָלוֹן (qâlôwn, H7036) — disgrace; (by implication) the pudenda צָנַע (tsânaʻ, H6800) — to humiliate חׇכְמָה (chokmâh, H2451) — wisdom (in a good sense)
Open source ↗תֻּמָּה (tummâh, H8538) — innocence יָשָׁר (yâshâr, H3477) — straight (literally or figuratively) נָחָה (nâchâh, H5148) — to guide; by implication, to transport (into exile, or as colonists) סֶלֶף (çeleph, H5558) — distortion, i.e. (figuratively) viciousness בָּגַד (bâgad, H898) — to cover (with a garment); figuratively, to act covertly; by implication, to pillage שָׁדַד (shâdad, H7703) — properly, to be burly, i.e. (figuratively) powerful (passively, impregnable); by…
Open source ↗הוֹן (hôwn, H1952) — wealth; by implication, enough יַעַל (yaʻal, H3276) — properly, to ascend; figuratively, to be valuable (objectively; useful, subjectively;… יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… עֶבְרָה (ʻebrâh, H5678) — an outburst of passion צְדָקָה (tsᵉdâqâh, H6666) — rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude), objectively (justice), morally (virtue)… נָצַל (nâtsal, H5337) — to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense מָוֶת (mâveth, H4194) — death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades);…
Open source ↗צְדָקָה (tsᵉdâqâh, H6666) — rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude), objectively (justice), morally (virtue)… תָּמִים (tâmîym, H8549) — entire (literally, figuratively or morally); also (as noun) integrity, truth יָשַׁר (yâshar, H3474) — to be straight or even; figuratively, to be (causatively, to make) right, pleasant,… דֶּרֶךְ (derek, H1870) — a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb רָשָׁע (râshâʻ, H7563) — morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person נָפַל (nâphal, H5307) — to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or… רִשְׁעָה (rishʻâh, H7564) — wrong (especially moral)
Open source ↗צְדָקָה (tsᵉdâqâh, H6666) — rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude), objectively (justice), morally (virtue)… יָשָׁר (yâshâr, H3477) — straight (literally or figuratively) נָצַל (nâtsal, H5337) — to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense בָּגַד (bâgad, H898) — to cover (with a garment); figuratively, to act covertly; by implication, to pillage לָכַד (lâkad, H3920) — to catch (in a net, trap or pit); generally, to capture or occupy; also to choose (by… הַוָּה (havvâh, H1942) — by implication, of falling); desire; also ruin
Open source ↗רָשָׁע (râshâʻ, H7563) — morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person אָדָם (ʼâdâm, H120) — ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.) מָוֶת (mâveth, H4194) — death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades);… תִּקְוָה (tiqvâh, H8615) — literally a cord (as an attachment); figuratively, expectancy אָבַד (ʼâbad, H6) — properly, to wander away, i.e. lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy) תּוֹחֶלֶת (tôwcheleth, H8431) — expectation אָוֶן (ʼâven, H205) — strictly nothingness; also trouble. vanity, wickedness; specifically an idol
Open source ↗צַדִּיק (tsaddîyq, H6662) — just חָלַץ (châlats, H2502) — to pull off; hence (intensively) to strip, (reflex.) to depart; by implication, to… צָרָה (tsârâh, H6869) — tightness (i.e. figuratively, trouble); transitively, a female rival: רָשָׁע (râshâʻ, H7563) — morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
Open source ↗חָנֵף (chânêph, H2611) — soiled (i.e. with sin), impious פֶּה (peh, H6310) — the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech);… שָׁחַת (shâchath, H7843) — to decay, i.e. (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively) רֵעַ (rêaʻ, H7453) — an associate (more or less close) דַּעַת (daʻath, H1847) — knowledge צַדִּיק (tsaddîyq, H6662) — just חָלַץ (châlats, H2502) — to pull off; hence (intensively) to strip, (reflex.) to depart; by implication, to…
Open source ↗טוּב (ṭûwb, H2898) — good (as a noun), in the widest sense, especially goodness (superlative concretely, the… צַדִּיק (tsaddîyq, H6662) — just קִרְיָה (qiryâh, H7151) — building; a city עָלַץ (ʻâlats, H5970) — to jump for joy, i.e. exult רָשָׁע (râshâʻ, H7563) — morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person אָבַד (ʼâbad, H6) — properly, to wander away, i.e. lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy) רִנָּה (rinnâh, H7440) — properly, a creaking (or shrill sound), i.e. shout (of joy or grief)
Open source ↗בְּרָכָה (Bᵉrâkâh, H1293) — benediction; by implication prosperity יָשָׁר (yâshâr, H3477) — straight (literally or figuratively) קֶרֶת (qereth, H7176) — a city רוּם (rûwm, H7311) — to be high actively, to rise or raise (in various applications, literally or figuratively) הָרַס (hâraç, H2040) — to pull down or in pieces, break, destroy פֶּה (peh, H6310) — the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech);… רָשָׁע (râshâʻ, H7563) — morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person
Open source ↗חָסֵר (châçêr, H2638) — lacking; hence, without לֵב (lêb, H3820) — the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the… בּוּז (bûwz, H936) — to disrespect רֵעַ (rêaʻ, H7453) — an associate (more or less close) אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… תָּבוּן (tâbûwn, H8394) — intelligence; by implication, an argument; by extension, caprice חָרַשׁ (chârash, H2790) — to scratch, i.e. (by implication) to engrave, plough; hence (from the use of tools) to…
Open source ↗הָלַךְ (hâlak, H1980) — to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively) רָכִיל (râkîyl, H7400) — a scandal-monger (as travelling about) גָּלָה (gâlâh, H1540) — to denude (especially in a disgraceful sense); by implication, to exile (captives being… סוֹד (çôwd, H5475) — a session, i.e. company of persons (in close deliberation); by implication, intimacy,… אָמַן (ʼâman, H539) — properly, to build up or support; to foster as a parent or nurse; figuratively to render… רוּחַ (rûwach, H7307) — wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively,… כָּסָה (kâçâh, H3680) — properly, to plump, i.e. fill up hollows; by implication, to cover (for clothing or… דָּבָר (dâbâr, H1697) — a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
Open source ↗תַּחְבֻּלָה (tachbulâh, H8458) — (only in plural) properly, steerage (as a management of ropes), i.e. (figuratively)… עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… נָפַל (nâphal, H5307) — to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or… רֹב (rôb, H7230) — abundance (in any respect) יָעַץ (yâʻats, H3289) — to advise; reflexively, to deliberate or resolve תְּשׁוּעָה (tᵉshûwʻâh, H8668) — rescue (literal or figurative, persons, national or spiritual)
Open source ↗Cross-references
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Honest scales and balances are from the LORD; all the weights in the bag are His concern.
Unequal weights are detestable to the LORD, and dishonest scales are no good.
Differing weights and unequal measures— both are detestable to the LORD.
A merchant loves to defraud with dishonest scales in his hands.