King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob [him]: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Do not oppress or rob your neighbor; specifically, you are not to keep back the wages of a hired worker all night until morning.
Berean Standard Bible:
You must not defraud your neighbor or rob him. You must not withhold until morning the wages due a hired hand.
American Standard Version:
Thou shalt not oppress thy neighbor, nor rob him: the wages of a hired servant shall not abide with thee all night until the morning.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Thou shalt not defraud{H6231} thy neighbour{H7453}, neither rob{H1497} him: the wages{H6468} of him that is hired{H7916} shall not abide{H3885} with thee all night until the morning{H1242}.
Cross-References (KJV):
James 5:4
- Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
Malachi 3:5
- And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in [his] wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger [from his right], and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.
Deuteronomy 24:14
- ¶ Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant [that is] poor and needy, [whether he be] of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that [are] in thy land within thy gates:
Deuteronomy 24:15
- At his day thou shalt give [him] his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he [is] poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the LORD, and it be sin unto thee.
Jeremiah 22:13
- Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; [that] useth his neighbour's service without wages, and giveth him not for his work;
Proverbs 20:10
- ¶ Divers weights, [and] divers measures, both of them [are] alike abomination to the LORD.
Exodus 22:21
- Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Leviticus 19:13
1. Themes:
- Fairness in economic dealings
- Prohibition of fraud and theft
- Timely payment of laborers
Leviticus 19:13 addresses ethical conduct in financial matters within the community. It emphasizes the importance of honesty and integrity by prohibiting fraud and robbery. Additionally, it specifically mandates that workers should be paid promptly, not allowing their earned wages to be withheld overnight, ensuring they receive their due in a timely manner. This commandment reflects the broader theme of justice in economic interactions and the protection of the vulnerable, which is a recurring concern in the Torah.
2. Historical Context:
- The verse is part of the Holiness Code in Leviticus (chapters 17-26), which outlines various laws and moral imperatives for the Israelites.
- It was written during the time when the Israelites were transitioning from a nomadic to an agrarian society, establishing themselves in the land of Canaan.
- The laws were meant to guide the Israelites in creating a just and holy society, distinguishing them from their neighbors whose practices they were commanded to avoid.
- The commandment to pay laborers daily would have been particularly relevant in an ancient agrarian economy, where day laborers were common and often in a precarious financial position.
In summary, Leviticus 19:13 is a directive to the Israelites to uphold economic justice and to treat workers fairly, reflecting a broader ethical framework aimed at fostering a just society.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H6231
There are 35 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָשַׁק
Transliteration: ʻâshaq
Pronunciation: aw-shak'
Description: a primitive root (compare עָשַׂק); to press upon, i.e. oppress, defraud, violate, overflow; get deceitfully, deceive, defraud, drink up, (use) oppress(-ion), -or), do violence (wrong). - Strong's Number: H7453
There are 173 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רֵעַ
Transliteration: rêaʻ
Pronunciation: ray'-ah
Description: or רֵיעַ; from רָעָה; an associate (more or less close); brother, companion, fellow, friend, husband, lover, neighbour, [idiom] (an-) other. - Strong's Number: H1497
There are 30 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גָּזַל
Transliteration: gâzal
Pronunciation: gaw-zal'
Description: a primitive root; to pluck off; specifically to flay, strip or rob; catch, consume, exercise (robbery), pluck (off), rob, spoil, take away (by force, violence), tear. - Strong's Number: H6468
There are 14 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פְּעֻלָּה
Transliteration: pᵉʻullâh
Pronunciation: peh-ool-law'
Description: feminine passive participle of פָּעַל; (abstractly) work; labour, reward, wages, work. - Strong's Number: H7916
There are 17 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׂכִיר
Transliteration: sâkîyr
Pronunciation: saw-keer'
Description: from שָׂכַר; a man at wages by the day or year; hired (man, servant), hireling. - Strong's Number: H3885
There are 79 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לוּן
Transliteration: lûwn
Pronunciation: loon
Description: or לִין; a primitive root; to stop (usually over night); by implication, to stay permanently; hence (in a bad sense) to be obstinate (especially in words, to complain); abide (all night), continue, dwell, endure, grudge, be left, lie all night, (cause to) lodge (all night, in, -ing, this night), (make to) murmur, remain, tarry (all night, that night). - Strong's Number: H1242
There are 189 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֹּקֶר
Transliteration: bôqer
Pronunciation: bo'-ker
Description: from בָּקַר; properly, dawn (as the break of day); generally, morning; ([phrase]) day, early, morning, morrow.