Leviticus 19:11

11 "'You must not steal. You must not cheat people, and you must not lie to each other.

Leviticus 19:11 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 19:11

Ye shall not steal
Which is the eighth command; (See Gill on Exodus 20:15); though Jarchi thinks something different from that law is here intended; that this is a caution against stealing of money, that in the decalogue against stealing of souls, or men. And it may be observed, that one is expressed in the singular number, the other in the plural, as here, and takes in more; not the actual thief only, but he that sees and is silent, who, as Aben Ezra observes, is even as the thief; and perhaps this follows upon the preceding laws, to suggest, that he that deprives the poor of the corner of the field, and of the gleaning Of the harvest and vintage, is as if he robbed; and the last mentioned writer seems to make the force of this depend on that: and Maimonides F23 on the above law observes, that he that put a basket under a vine, in the time of gathering grapes, robbed the poor:

neither deal falsely;
in any respect defrauding and over reaching in trade and commerce, particularly not being faithful to a trust committed to them; so Aben Ezra restrains it to what is deposited with a man to keep, which he denies he ever had; and he observes, that he that knows it, and does not bear witness of it, is as he that deals falsely; and such an one, according to a former law, having sworn falsely, and, when convicted, was obliged to restore the principal, and add a fifth part, and bring a trespass offering to make atonement for his sin likewise, ( Leviticus 6:2-7 ) :

neither lie one to another;
in common speech and conversation, in trade and business, and particularly by demanding money of a man who never had anything of him, as Aben Ezra; and who owes him nothing, and yet affirms, with a lie, that he is indebted to him, and insists on payment.


FOOTNOTES:

F23 Mattanot Anayim, c. 4. sect. 16.

Leviticus 19:11 In-Context

9 "'When you harvest your crops on your land, do not harvest all the way to the corners of your fields. If grain falls onto the ground, don't gather it up.
10 Don't pick all the grapes in your vineyards, and don't pick up the grapes that fall to the ground. You must leave those things for poor people and for people traveling through your country. I am the Lord your God.
11 "'You must not steal. You must not cheat people, and you must not lie to each other.
12 You must not make a false promise by my name, or you will show that you don't respect your God. I am the Lord.
13 "'You must not cheat your neighbor or rob him. You must not keep a hired worker's salary all night until morning.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.