Proverbs 20:23

Proverbs 20:23 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Divers weights are an abomination unto the Lord; and a false balance is not good.
• New International Version (NIV)The Lord detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Unequal weights are an abomination to the Lord, and false scales are not good.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Diverse weights are an abomination to the Lord, And dishonest scales are not good.

Context of Proverbs 20:23

21An inheritance hastily gained [by greedy, unjust means] at the beginning Will not be blessed in the end. 22Do not say, “I will repay evil”; Wait [expectantly] for the Lord, and He will rescue and save you. Differing weights are detestable and offensive to the Lord, And fraudulent scales are not good. 24Man’s steps are ordered and ordained by the Lord. How then can a man [fully] understand his way? 25It is a trap for a man to [speak a vow of consecration and] say rashly, “It is holy!” And [not until] afterward consider [whether he can fulfill it].

Proverbs 20:23 word by word

תּוֹעֲבַ֣ת יְ֭הוָה אֶ֣בֶן וָאָ֑בֶן וּמֹאזְנֵ֖י מִרְמָ֣ה לֹא־טֽוֹב׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Divers weightsאֶ֫בֶן'eben · stoneH68
• an abominationתּוֹעֵבַהtô‛êbah tô‛êbah · abominationH8441
• unto the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• and a falseמִרְמָהmirmâh · deceitH4820
• balanceמֹאזֵןmô'zên · balanceH3976
• not goodטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896

Cross-references for Proverbs 20:23

• Proverbs 20:10Differing weights [one for buying and another for selling] and differing measures, Both of them are detestable and offensive to the Lord.
• Ezekiel 45:10“You shall have just balances and weights [on your scales and just measures], a just ephah [dry volume measure] and a just bath [liquid measure].
• Hosea 12:7A merchant, in whose hand are false and fraudulent balances; He loves to oppress and exploit.
• Amos 8:5saying, “When will the New Moon [festival] be over So that we may sell grain, And the Sabbath ended so that we may open the wheat market, Making the ephah [measure] smaller and the shekel bigger [that is, selling less for a higher price] And to cheat by falsifying the scales,

Commentaries on Proverbs 20:23

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 23Verse 23 A bargain made by fraud will prove a losing bargain in the end.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23This proverb's message appears in three other proverbs (see Proverbs 11:1; 16:11; 20:10).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2323. (Compare Pr 20:10; 11:1).Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 20:23

• Abomination
• Balances
• Dishonesty
• Honesty
• Measure
• Weights

In the dictionaries

• Advice
• Cease
• Counsel
• Naught
• Obscure
• Proclaim
• Pure
• Purpose
• Wait
• Balance

Commentaries on Proverbs 20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings