Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure.

LEVITICUS 19:35KJV
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Leviticus 19:35 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 19:35 mean?

Leviticus 19:35 commands the Israelites not to act dishonestly or unfairly when making judgments or using measurements like length, weight, or volume. The verse insists on honesty and fairness in all dealings that involve measuring or evaluating something.

In this part of Leviticus, God is speaking to the people of Israel through Moses, giving them practical laws for living together as a community. The verse addresses everyday business and legal practices, making it clear that cheating or being unjust—whether in court decisions or in trade—is unacceptable. This instruction is part of a broader section about living righteously and treating others justly.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 19:35

  • "Unrighteousness" (עָוֶל, 'avel) refers to injustice or wrongdoing, especially in the sense of cheating or acting unfairly. Its use here highlights that dishonesty in measurements is not just a minor mistake but a moral failing.
  • "Judgment" (מִשְׁפָּט, mishpat) means a legal decision or verdict. Including this word shows that the command covers both formal legal settings and everyday business.
  • "Meteyard" (מִדָּה, middah) is a word for measuring length or distance. This makes the command very practical, covering things like measuring cloth or land.
  • "Weight" (מִשְׁקָל, mishqal) and "measure" (מְשׂוּרָה, mesurah) refer to weighing and measuring goods, such as food or drink. The verse is concerned with all forms of trade and exchange.

Why Leviticus 19:35 matters

  • Leviticus 19:35 makes clear that honesty is not just a personal virtue but a community requirement, especially in business and legal matters.
  • The verse connects fairness in everyday dealings to the larger theme of holiness and justice that runs through Leviticus 19.
  • By specifying different types of measurements, the verse shows that God's concern for justice covers even the smallest details of daily life, not just major legal cases.

Where else these words appear

“measure” Hebrew H4884 · used in 4 verses

  • 1 Chronicles 23:29 Both for the shewbread, and for the fine flour for meat offering, and for the unleavened cakes, and for that which is baked in the pan, and for that which is fried, and for all manner of measure and size;
  • Ezekiel 4:11 Thou shalt drink also water by measure, the sixth part of an hin: from time to time shalt thou drink.
  • Ezekiel 4:16 Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, behold, I will break the staff of bread in Jerusalem: and they shall eat bread by weight, and with care; and they shall drink water by measure, and with astonishment:

“weight” Hebrew H4948 · used in 42 verses

  • Genesis 24:22 And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold;
  • Numbers 7:73 His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
  • 1 Chronicles 28:14 He gave of gold by weight for things of gold, for all instruments of all manner of service; silver also for all instruments of silver by weight, for all instruments of every kind of service:

“unrighteousness” Hebrew H5766 · used in 51 verses

  • Leviticus 19:15 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.
  • Job 34:10 Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
  • Isaiah 59:3 For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.

“meteyard” Hebrew H4060 · used in 53 verses

  • Exodus 26:2 The length of one curtain shall be eight and twenty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and every one of the curtains shall have one measure.
  • Nehemiah 3:21 After him repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah the son of Koz another piece, from the door of the house of Eliashib even to the end of the house of Eliashib.
  • Ezekiel 40:28 And he brought me to the inner court by the south gate: and he measured the south gate according to these measures;