Deuteronomy 25:14 — Word Study
WLCלֹא־ יִהְיֶ֥ה לְךָ֛ בְּבֵיתְךָ֖ אֵיפָ֣ה וְאֵיפָ֑ה גְּדוֹלָ֖ה וּקְטַנָּֽה׃
BSAYou shall notlôʼ [under any circumstances] havehâyâh▸ two differing measuresʼêyphâh [diverse, unlike, units of quantity, standards] in your housebayith [dwelling place, family home] one largegâdôwl [great, abundant] and one smallqâṭân [insignificant, limited]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| לֹא־ | not | Particle |
| יִהְיֶ֥ה | it will belong | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| לְךָ֛ | to you | Preposition, suffix |
| בְּבֵיתְךָ֖ | in house your | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| אֵיפָ֣ה | a measure | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
| וְאֵיפָ֑ה | and a measure | Conjunction, noun common feminine singular absolute |
| גְּדוֹלָ֖ה | large | Adj |
| וּקְטַנָּֽה׃ | and small | Conjunction |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | You shall not have two differing measures in your house, one large and one small. |
| KJV | Thou shalt not have in thine house divers measures, a great and a small. |
| ASV | Thou shalt not have in thy house diverse measures, a great and a small. |
| YLT | Thou hast not in thy house an ephah and an ephah, a great and a small. |
| WEB | You shall not have in your house diverse measures, one large and one small. |
| BBE | Or in your house different measures, a great and a small. |
Where they part company is גְּדוֹלָ֖ה — see How Translations Differ.
The main clause is clear and direct, with additional phrases providing context about the location and specifics of the measures.
6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Ellicott, AdamClarke & more — read them ›
clause
verbהָיָה
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Deuteronomy 25:14
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Laws on Weights and Measuresgenerated
Deuteronomy 25:14 is part of a series of laws that emphasize fairness and honesty in trade. The surrounding verses warn against using different weights and measures, which could lead to dishonesty. This command is meant to ensure that the Israelites conduct their business ethically, reflecting God's justice in their daily lives.
Cross References
The Key Word — אֵיפָה, 'ei.Fahgenerated
The noun אֵיפָה (ephah) refers to a specific unit of dry measurement, equivalent to about 9 gallons or 40 liters, commonly used for measuring grain. It signifies both the quantity and the container for that measure.
In this verse, it highlights the importance of having consistent measures. The use of differing measures could lead to deceit, undermining trust and fairness in transactions.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against. The BSB uses large for גְּדוֹלָ֖ה, while the KJV and ASV choose great.
Where others part company with the BSB they part company over a real fork in the lexicon. The BSB's large is used by several modern translations, while the KJV and ASV retain the more traditional great.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The sentence begins with a negation, לֹא (lo'), followed by the verb יִהְיֶ֥ה (yih.Yeh), which is the finite verb of the clause. The structure emphasizes the prohibition of having two differing measures.
The main clause is followed by a prepositional phrase indicating possession and another noun phrase that specifies the measures being referenced. This builds a clear directive against inconsistency in measurements.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates אֵיפָה as μέτρον (metron), which means 'measure.' This choice reflects a broader understanding of measurement, encompassing various units rather than being limited to a specific one.
This broader term may suggest a more general principle of fairness in measurement practices, rather than focusing solely on the ephah.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Deuteronomy 25:14 tells us that you should not have two different measures in your house, one large and one small. This law emphasizes the need for honesty in trade and ensures that people are treated fairly.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Differing measures can lead to dishonesty and unfairness in trade, which is against God's command for integrity.
An ephah is a unit of dry measurement used in the Bible, equivalent to about 9 gallons or 40 liters, typically for measuring grain.
This verse is part of a series of laws that promote fairness and honesty in business practices, reflecting God's desire for justice among His people.
We learn the importance of integrity and fairness in our dealings with others, ensuring that we do not take advantage of anyone.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How can I ensure fairness in my own dealings with others?
- What are some ways I might unintentionally create inequality in my transactions?
- Why is honesty in trade significant in a community?
- How does this command reflect God's character?
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Deuteronomy 25:14 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThou shall not have in thine house divers, measures,.... Or, "an ephah and an ephah"; which was one sort of measure in use with the Jews, and held above a bushel; and is put for all others, which
Read John Gill on Deuteronomy 25 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThou shalt not have in thine house divers measures, a great and a small.
Read Robert Jamieson on Deuteronomy 25 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English ReadersDeuteronomy 25:13-16. JUST WEIGHTS AND .So Leviticus 19:35-36. Among the laws of moral holiness comes the law of just weights and measures. (16) An abomination unto the Lord.—So in Proverbs 11:1, “a false balance is abomination to the Lord.” (See also Amos 8:4-8.) The protection of the poor is the chief practical end in this; rich men can take care of themselves. Poor men are doubly robbed by short weight and measure, because they cannot protect themselves against it. The injustice tends to perpetuate their poverty.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Deuteronomy 25 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 14. Divers measures] Literally, an ephah and an ephah; one large, to buy thy neighbour's wares, another small, to sell thy own by. So there were knaves in all ages, and among all nations. See Clarke on Exodus 16:16, and See Clarke on Leviticus 19:35.
Read AdamClarke on Deuteronomy 25 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges14. divers measures] Lit. an ephah and an ephah; the ephah = 8.005 gallons.
Read Cambridge on Deuteronomy 25 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible14. Divers measures — An ephah and an ephah is the Hebrew. The prohibition is to condemn the having one kind of weight and measure for buying and another for selling.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Deuteronomy 25 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
You shall not have two differing measures in your house, one large and one small.
You shall not have in your house diverse measures, one large and one small.
You shall not have two differing measures in your house, one large and one small.
You must not have in your house different measuring containers, a large and a small one.
Tyndale line
Thou shalt not have in thine house divers measures, a great and a small.
Thou shalt not have in thy house diverse measures, a great and a small.
Thou shalt not have in thine house divers measures, a great and a small.
Thou shalt not have in thy house divers measures, a great and a small:
Neither shalt thou haue in thine house diuers measures, a great and a small:
Strictly literal
Thou shalt not have in thy house divers ephahs, a great and a small.
Thou hast not in thy house an ephah and an ephah, a great and a small.
You do not have a great ephah and a small ephah in your house.
Thou shalt not have in thy house divers measures, a great and a small.
You must not have in your house different measures, a large and a small.
From the Latin
Neither shall there be in thy house a greater bushel and a less.
Simplified
Don't have two different measuring containers in your house, one that's large and one that's small.
Or in your house different measures, a great and a small.
Word by word, the decisions they made
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text is supported by the Septuagint in most respects, although it uses different word order. The Samaritan Pentateuch differs by using גדלה (great) instead of גְּדוֹלָ֖ה (large). The Dead Sea Scrolls show some variations, with several words restored by editors.
לֹא־ יִהְיֶ֥ה לְךָ֛ בְּבֵיתְךָ֖ אֵיפָ֣ה וְאֵיפָ֑ה גְּדוֹלָ֖ה וּקְטַנָּֽה׃
7 of the 8 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
לא יהיה לך בביתך איפה ואיפה גדלה וקטנה
1 word differs from the Masoretic Text: גדלה (great)
[לא] [יהיה] [ל׳ך] [בבית׳ך] [איפה] [ואיפה] [גדולה] [וקטנה]
nothing on the leather here — 8 supplied entire by an editor.
[בבית׳ך] [איפה] [ואיפה] גדולה [וקטנה]
5 words of the verse are on this fragment — 1 partly restored, 4 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Deuteronomy 25:14
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
base
H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not
3808 lo' lo
or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often
used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,
ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,
no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out
of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +
of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.
לֹא (lo) — not.
1) not, no
1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)
1b) not (with modifier-negation)
1c) nothing (subst)
1d) without (with particle)
1e) before (of time)
Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Part — ParticleHTn
The Hebrew word הָיָה (hayah) is a primitive root meaning to exist or become, and it encompasses a range of meanings including to happen, occur, and come to pass. It is often used in narrative contexts, particularly in phrases like "and it came to pass." The word can also denote a state of being or existence, and it appears frequently in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
הָיָה 3570 vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be
Qal
Fall out, happen
occur, take place, come about, come to pass
esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass
וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
Come into being, become
abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
sq. prep.
become
sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
sq. pred. adj.
become like
sq. pred. לְ pers.
sq. לְ pred.
oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.
with עַל and לְ
sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)
exist, be in existence
abide, remain, continue
with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie
as copula, joining subj. & pred.
H1961 הָיָה fall out, come to pass, become, be .. . . Fall out, happen
. occur, take place, come about, come to pass
. esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass . . וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
. less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
. Come into being, become . . abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
. sq. prep.
. become . sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
. sq. pred. adj.
. become like
. sq. pred. + לְ pers.
. sq. לְ pred.
. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.
. with עַל and לְ
. sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
. Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming) . exist, be in existence
. abide, remain, continue
1961 hayah haw-yaw
a primitive root (compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become,
come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or
auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished,
committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint,
fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit
(one-)self, require, X use.
see HEBREW for 01933
הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.
1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out
1a) (Qal)
1a1) ---
1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass
1a1b) to come about, come to pass
1a2) to come into being, become
1a2a) to arise, appear, come
1a2b) to become
1a2b1) to become
1a2b2) to become like
1a2b3) to be instituted, be established
1a3) to be
1a3a) to exist, be in existence
1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time)
1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality)
1a3d) to accompany, be with
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about
1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVqi3ms
ךָּ (ka) — you.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 2nd person masculine singular
HRd/Sp2ms — Preposition · suffixHRd/Sp2ms
The Hebrew word בַּיִת (*bayith*) means 'house' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including dwelling, family, and place. It can refer to physical structures, such as homes and temples, as well as metaphorical uses like the body or household affairs. The word is built from the root related to 'between' and appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament.
בֵּית fem. of בַּיִן, בֵּין prep. between
base
בַּ֫יִת 2034 n.m. house
house
place
receptacle
of house as containing a family
household, family (592 t.)
house, including household affairs
lit. housewards, hence metaph. inwards
מִבַּיִת
adv. on the inside
prep. within
base
H1004a בֵּית fem. of בַּיִן, בֵּין prep. between H1004b בַּ֫יִת house
1004 bayith bah'-yith
probably from 1129 abbreviated; a house (in the greatest
variation of applications, especially family, etc.):--court,
daughter, door, + dungeon, family, + forth of, X great as
would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter)house(-hold),
inside(-ward), palace, place, + prison, + steward, + tablet,
temple, web, + within(-out).
see HEBREW for 01129
בֵּית (bet) — place.
nm
place, origin, between
בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — house: home.
: home/temple/building
nm
1) house
1a) house, dwelling habitation
1b) shelter or abode of animals
1c) human bodies (fig.)
1d) of Sheol
1e) of abode of light and darkness
1f) of land of Ephraim
2) place
3) receptacle
4) home, house as containing a family
5) household, family
5a) those belonging to the same household
5b) family of descendants, descendants as organized body
6) household affairs
7) inwards (metaph.)
8) (TWOT) temple
adv
9) on the inside
prep
10) within
בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth-(ashbea).
nm
This name is used for a house, habitation
Combined with ash.be.a (אַשְׁבֵּעַ "Ashbea" H0791)
בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth (Haggan).
nm
This name is used for a house, habitation
Combined with hag (גַּן "Haggan" H1588)
בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth-(togarmah).
nm
This name is used for a house, habitation
Prep | N-ms | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncmsc/Sp2ms
אֵיפָה (ephah) refers to a dry measure used for grain, equivalent to about 9 imperial gallons or 40 liters. It can denote both the quantity itself and the container used for measuring that amount. The term is derived from Egyptian and is mentioned in contexts related to measuring grain.
אֵיפָה 35, אֵפָה n.f. ephah
a certain quantity of wheat, barley, etc. = ten omers
receptacle or measure, holding an ephah
base
H374 אֵיפָה, אֵפָה ephah
374 'eyphah ay-faw'
or (shortened) ephah {ay-faw'}; of Egyptian derivation; an
ephah or measure for grain; hence, a measure in general:--
ephah, (divers) measure(-s).
אֵיפָה (e.phah) — ephah.
1) ephah
1a) a dry measure of quantity, equal to 3 seahs, 10 omers; the same as the liquid measure bath; (about 9 imperial gallons (40 l), rabbinical writings give sizes of one-half this amount)
1b) the receptacle for measuring or holding that amount
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
Measure
Several words are so rendered in the Authorized Version. (1.) Those which are indefinite. (a) Hok, Isa. 5:14, elsewhere “statute.” (b) Mad, Job 11:9; Jer. 13:25, elsewhere “garment.” (c) Middah, the word most frequently thus translated, Ex. 26:2, 8, etc. (d) Mesurah, Lev. 19:35; 1 Chr. 23:29. (e) Mishpat, Jer. 30:11, elsewhere “judgment.” (f) Mithkoneth and token, Ezek. 45:11. (g) In New Testament metron, the usual Greek word thus rendered (
See SHEKELS, TALENT, BATH, or Ephah, EPHAH, etc.
אֵיפָה (ephah) refers to a dry measure used for grain, equivalent to about 9 imperial gallons or 40 liters. It can denote both the quantity itself and the container used for measuring that amount. The term is derived from Egyptian and is mentioned in contexts related to measuring grain.
אֵיפָה 35, אֵפָה n.f. ephah
a certain quantity of wheat, barley, etc. = ten omers
receptacle or measure, holding an ephah
base
H374 אֵיפָה, אֵפָה ephah
374 'eyphah ay-faw'
or (shortened) ephah {ay-faw'}; of Egyptian derivation; an
ephah or measure for grain; hence, a measure in general:--
ephah, (divers) measure(-s).
אֵיפָה (e.phah) — ephah.
1) ephah
1a) a dry measure of quantity, equal to 3 seahs, 10 omers; the same as the liquid measure bath; (about 9 imperial gallons (40 l), rabbinical writings give sizes of one-half this amount)
1b) the receptacle for measuring or holding that amount
HC/Ncfsa — Conjunction · noun common feminine singular absoluteHC/Ncfsa
Measure
Several words are so rendered in the Authorized Version. (1.) Those which are indefinite. (a) Hok, Isa. 5:14, elsewhere “statute.” (b) Mad, Job 11:9; Jer. 13:25, elsewhere “garment.” (c) Middah, the word most frequently thus translated, Ex. 26:2, 8, etc. (d) Mesurah, Lev. 19:35; 1 Chr. 23:29. (e) Mishpat, Jer. 30:11, elsewhere “judgment.” (f) Mithkoneth and token, Ezek. 45:11. (g) In New Testament metron, the usual Greek word thus rendered (
See SHEKELS, TALENT, BATH, or Ephah, EPHAH, etc.
גָּדוֹל (gadol) means 'great' and covers a wide range of meanings, including large in size, number, intensity, sound, age, and importance. It can also refer to notable individuals or even God. Additionally, it appears as a proper noun in reference to a person named in Nehemiah 11:14. The lexicons note its use in various contexts, but do not present significant disagreement.
גָּדוֹל 622 adj. great
in magnitude and extent
in number
in intensity
in sound, loud
in age
in importance
in phrases
cstr.
as subst. concr. do great things
† as subst. neut. greatness of arm
H1419a גָּדוֹל great . in magnitude and extent
. in number
. in intensity
. in sound, loud
. in age
. in importance
. in phrases
. cstr.
. as subst. concr. do great things
. † as subst. neut. greatness of arm
H1419b הַגְּדוֹלִים father of Zabdiel
1419 gadowl gaw-dole'
or (shortened) gadol {gaw-dole'}; from 1431; great (in any
sense); hence, older; also insolent:--+ aloud, elder(-est), +
exceeding(-ly), + far, (man of) great (man, matter,
thing,-er,-ness), high, long, loud, mighty, more, much, noble,
proud thing, X sore, (X ) very.
see HEBREW for 01431
גָּדוֹל (ga.dol) — great: large.
adj
1) great
1a) large (in magnitude and extent)
1b) in number
1c) in intensity
1d) loud (in sound)
1e) older (in age)
1f) in importance
1f1) important things
1f2) great, distinguished (of men)
1f3) God Himself (of God)
subst
1g) great things
1h) haughty things
1i) greatness
Also means: ga.dol (גָּדוֹל ": old" H1419K)
§ Haggedolim = "the great one"
(CLBL) Haggedolim, the great man?, father of Zabdiel
גָּדוֹל (ga.dol) — Haggedolim.
A man living at the time of Exile and Return, only mentioned at Neh.11.14
§ Haggedolim = "the great one"
(CLBL) Haggedolim, the great man?, father of Zabdiel
גָּדוֹל (ga.dol) — Great (Sea).
adj
great
Also named: pe.lish.ti (פְּלִשְׁתִּי "(Sea of the )Philistines" H6430I)
גָּדוֹל (ga.dol) — great: old.
adj
1) great
1a) large (in magnitude and extent)
1b) in number
1c) in intensity
1d) loud (in sound)
Adj — AdjHAafsa
קָטָן (qatan) means small, young, or unimportant. It can refer to size, quantity, or age, and is often used to describe something insignificant. The entries indicate that it is a diminutive form, with variations in spelling. The lexicons highlight its meanings consistently, without significant disagreement.
קָטָן adj. small, young, unimportant
base
קָטֹן 64 adj. small, insignificant
base
H6996a קָטָן small, young, unimportant H6996b קָטֹן small, insignificant
6996 qatan kaw-tawn'
or qaton {kaw-tone'}; from 6962; abbreviated, i.e.
diminutive, literally (in quantity, size or number) or
figuratively (in age or importance):--least, less(-er),
little (one), small(-est, one, quantity, thing),
young(-er, -est).
see HEBREW for 06962
קָטָן (qa.tan) — small.
young, small, unimportant
Another spelling of qa.ton (קָטֹן ": small" H6996B)
קָטֹן (qa.ton) — small.
: small
small, insignificant
קָטֹן (qa.ton) — small: young.
: young
small, insignificant
A sub-meaning of qa.ton (קָטֹן ": small" H6996B)
Conj | Adj — ConjunctionHC/Aafsa