Deuteronomy 25:14

Study note

Setting — Moses addresses the Israelite community on the plains of Moab prior to their entry into Canaan. He issues civil and commercial regulations to govern their conduct in the land the LORD is giving them.

The words — The phrase אֵיפָה גְדוֹלָה וְקַטַּנָּה ('ei.Fah ge.do.Lah ve.ke.ta.Nah) literally means "a large measure and a small measure." The verb יִהְיֶה (yih.Yeh) functions as a prohibition against possessing these conflicting tools in one's house.

The thread — This directive operates as the commercial counterpart to the weight regulation in Deuteronomy 25:13 and is bounded by the integrity mandate in Deuteronomy 25:15. The text ties honest measurement directly to the community's longevity in the land.

Why it lands — The passage forbids the possession of multiple standards for the same commodity to prevent systematic fraud. It requires a reader to eliminate deceptive practices and commit to transparent transactions in daily commerce.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.