16:11

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

11a
Honest scales and balances are from the LORD ;

11b
all the weights in the bag are His concern.

In Hebrew, the parallel lines are arranged in the form of a chiasm. The phrase “from the LORD” occurs at the end of 16:11a. The parallel part “His concern” occurs at the beginning of 16:11b.

11b
of his making ⌊are⌋ all the weights in the bag.

The chiastic order in the Hebrew may focus attention here on the LORD as the ultimate source of accurate weighing devices. You will need to decide if a chiasm will effectively accomplish this purpose in your language.

16:11a–b

Honest scales and balances…all the weights in the bag: These items function together in the parallel lines to represent all kinds of weights and measures.

Honest scales and balances: This phrase refers to Honest, just or accurate scales and balances. They are the opposite of “dishonest” scales in 11:1a and 20:23b (see the notes there). The words scales and balances both refer to a weighing device that had two pans suspended from a bar.

all the weights in the bag: weights (literally “stones”) that weighed a known amount were placed in one pan. The objects to be weighed were placed in the other pan. A merchant normally carried with him a bag containing all the weights needed for measuring the merchandise.

Some ways to translate these terms are:

• Use the names of local weighing and measuring devices.

• Use a general descriptive phrase. For example:

weights and measures (Good News Translation)
-or-
balances and scales (New Jerusalem Bible)

are from the LORD…are His concern: These parallel phrases are more literally “belong to the Lord ” (God’s Word) and “are his work” (English Standard Version).

Accurate measures and weights are from the LORD (“belong to the LORD”) in the sense that the LORD originated the idea that people should conduct business honestly. The weights are His concern (“his work”) in the sense that he causes people to make them.

These lines imply that the LORD wants people to use weights and measures to conduct business properly and fairly. Some versions make this implied meaning explicit. For example:

The Lord wants weights and measures to be honest and every sale to be fair. (Good News Translation)
-or-
The Lord demands accurate scales and balances; he sets the standards for fairness. (New Living Translation (2004))

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