Proverbs 20 · Verse 23

Proverbs 20:23

Divers weights are an abomination unto the Lord; and a false balance is not good.
Proverbs 20:23, King James Version

Proverbs 20:23 in other translations

BSBUnequal weights are detestable to the LORD, and dishonest scales are no good.
WEBThe LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not pleasing.
ASVDiverse weights are an abomination to Jehovah; And a false balance is not good.
YLTAn abomination to Jehovah are a stone and a stone, And balances of deceit are not good.
DARBYDivers weights are an abomination unto Jehovah; and a false balance is not good.
BBEUnequal weights are disgusting to the Lord, and false scales are not good.
WebsterDivers weights are an abomination to the LORD; and a false balance is not good.

What does Proverbs 20:23 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
23. (Compare Pr 20:10; 11:1).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
A bargain made by fraud will prove a losing bargain in the end.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 20:23 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

תּוֹעֲבַ֣תto.'a.Vat[are] [the] abomination ofH8441
יְ֭הוָהYah.wehYahwehH3068
אֶ֣בֶן'E.vena weightH68
וָאָ֑בֶןva.'A.venand a weightH68
וּמֹאזְנֵ֖יu.moz.Neiand balances ofH3976
מִרְמָ֣הmir.MahdeceitH4820
לֹא\־lo'-notH3808
טֽוֹב\׃Tov[are] goodH2896

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 20:23

  • Proverbs 20:10

    Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the Lord.

  • Hosea 12:7

    He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress.

  • Ezekiel 45:10

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

  • Proverbs 11:1

    A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight.

  • Amos 8:5

    Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit?

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
weights.
10; Eze 45:10
a false balance. Heb. balances of deceit.
Ho 12:7; Am 8:5

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Proverbs 20:22

    Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the Lord, and he shall save thee.

  • Proverbs 20:23

    Divers weights are an abomination unto the Lord; and a false balance is not good.

  • Proverbs 20:24

    Man’s goings are of the Lord; how can a man then understand his own way?

Read all of Proverbs 20

Proverbs 20:23 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Abominación son á Jehová las pesas dobles; y el peso falso no es bueno.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Poids et poids est en abomination à l’ Éternel, et la fausse balance n’est pas une chose bonne.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Zweierlei Gewichtsteine sind Jehova ein Greuel, und trügerische Waagschalen sind nicht gut.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Abominatio est apud Dominum pondus et pondus; statera dolosa non est bona.