Ezekiel 45:10

You must use honest scales, a just ephah, and a just bath.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The Lord God speaks through Ezekiel to the princes of Israel, concluding a command to cease violence and oppression by establishing concrete standards of justice.

The words — צֶדֶק (Tze.dek) translates literally as "righteousness" or "justice," directly modifying the scales, ephah, and bath to demand integrity in measurement. מֹאזְנֵי (mo.ze.nei) means "balances" or "scales," naming the specific instrument subject to this standard.

The thread — This mandate aligns with Leviticus 19:35 and Deuteronomy 25:15, which forbid dishonest measures, and Proverbs 11:1, which contrasts dishonest scales with accurate weights.

Why it lands — The text commands precise, fair commercial standards for the community. It requires readers to reject deceptive trade practices and uphold integrity in economic transactions.

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.

The Hebrew words

מֹֽאזְנֵי־mo.ze.nei-balances of צֶ֧דֶקTze.dekrighteousness וְאֵֽיפַת־ve./'ei.fat-and/ an ephah of צֶ֛דֶקTze.dekrighteousness וּבַת־u./vat-and/ a bath of צֶ֖דֶקTze.dekrighteousness יְהִ֥יye.Hilet it beלָכֶֽם׃la./Khemto/ you

King James Version

Ye shall have just balances, and a just ephah, and a just bath.

Cross-references

Leviticus 19:35 You must not use dishonest measures of length, weight, or volume.
Deuteronomy 25:15 You must maintain accurate and honest weights and measures, so that you may live long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
Proverbs 11:1 Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is His delight.
Proverbs 20:10 Differing weights and unequal measures—both are detestable to the LORD.
Amos 8:4 Hear this, you who trample the needy, who do away with the poor of the land,
Micah 6:10 Can I forget any longer, O house of the wicked, the treasures of wickedness and the short ephah, which is accursed?
Proverbs 16:11 Honest scales and balances are from the LORD; all the weights in the bag are His concern.
Proverbs 21:3 To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice.
Isaiah 5:10 For ten acres of vineyard will yield but a bath of wine, and a homer of seed only an ephah of grain.”