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

21If you receive riches too early in life, it will do you no good in the end. 22Do not say, ‘I will pay you back for the evil thing you did to me.’ Trust the Lord to make it right for you. The Lord hates traders who use false weights. He hates scales that do not weigh things properly. 24The Lord chooses the way that we take through life. We cannot understand what will happen to us. 25Do not be too quick to promise to give something to God. If you want to change your mind, you have made a trap for yourself.

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 20:10If people use false weights and measures, the Lord hates anything like that.
• Ezekiel 45:10You must use correct measures for size and for weight.
• Hosea 12:7Your traders love to cheat people. They use false weights and measures.
• Amos 8:5You say to yourselves, ‘We want the new moon festival to finish so that we can sell food again. We want our Sabbath day of rest to finish so that we can sell grain.’ But when you sell things, you cheat the people who buy from you. You deceive them with false weights, and you make the price too high.

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