Proverbs 16:11

11 The Lord wants honest balances and scales; all the weights are his work.

Proverbs 16:11 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 16:11

A just weight and balance [are] the Lord's
These are of his devising; what he has put into the heart, of men to contrive and make use of, for the benefit of mankind, for the keeping and maintaining truth and justice in commercial affairs; these are of his appointing, commanding, and approving, ( Leviticus 19:35 Leviticus 19:36 ) ; all the weights of the bag [are] his work;
or, "all the stones" F8; greater or smaller, which were formerly used in weighing, and were kept in a bag for that purpose; these are by the Lord's appointment and order. This may be applied to the Scriptures of truth, which are of God; are the balance of the sanctuary, in which every doctrine is to be weighed and tried; what agrees with them is to be received, and what is found wanting is to be rejected. The Targum is,

``his works, all of them, are weights of truth.''

FOOTNOTES:

F8 (ynba) "lapides", Montanus, Vatablus, Piscator, Mercerus, Michaelis.

Proverbs 16:11 In-Context

9 People may make plans in their minds, but the Lord decides what they will do.
10 The words of a king are like a message from God, so his decisions should be fair.
11 The Lord wants honest balances and scales; all the weights are his work.
12 Kings hate those who do wrong, because governments only continue if they are fair.
13 Kings like honest people; they value someone who speaks the truth.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.