16:11 Honest scales and balances 1 are from the Lord;
all the weights 2 in the bag are his handiwork.
1 tn Heb “a scale and balances of justice.” This is an attributive genitive, meaning “just scales and balances.” The law required that scales and measures be accurate and fair (Lev 19:36; Deut 25:13). Shrewd dishonest people kept light and heavy weights to make unfair transactions.
2 tn Heb “stones.”
3 sn Previous legislation regarding this practice may be found in Lev 19:35-36; Deut 25:13-16; Mic 6:10-12.
4 tn Heb “ephah,” which was 1/2 bushel.
5 tn Heb “bath,” a liquid measure, was 5 1/2 gallons.
6 sn The homer was about 5 bushels as a dry measure and 55 gallons as a liquid measure.
7 tn Heb “twenty shekels, twenty-five shekels, fifteen shekels.”