John Calvin Commentary Leviticus 19:11

"Ye shall not steal; neither shall ye deal falsely, nor lie one to another." — Leviticus 19:11 (ASV)

God here explains His mind and design somewhat more clearly, for He enumerates as thefts cases in which either deceit or violence is employed. The two words, which we have translated as deny and lie, also signify to deceive, and also to lie or to frustrate hope.⁹⁸ There is no question, then, that God would restrain His people from all craftiness or deceit, so that they may deal sincerely and honestly with each other, just as Paul wisely explains the meaning of the Holy Spirit when he exhorts believers to

put away lying, and to speak every man truth with his neighbor; for we are members one of another (Ephesians 4:25).

In the second passage, God commands men to conduct themselves meekly and temperately with their neighbors, so that they abstain from all unjust oppression. The meaning that Jerome⁹⁹ and others after him have given to the word עשק gnashak, to calumniate, is entirely incorrect; for it is everywhere used to mean to oppress, despoil, rob, or lay hands on the goods of another.

It is clear, therefore, that just as Moses had previously provided against fraud, he now prohibits the iniquity of extorting from our neighbor that to which we have no right.

Still, violence or open plunder is better expressed by the other word גזל gezal; and these¹⁰⁰ two words are, in my opinion, as it were, genus and species.

Therefore, after he had forbidden them to oppress their brethren in any way or take possession of their goods, he simultaneously adds that they should not use violence in despoiling them unjustly.

Finally, he points out one mode of unjust oppression: when a person who is hired as a laborer is defrauded of his wages—not only if he is sent away without payment, his wages denied to him, but also if payment is delayed until the next day. For we know that laborers generally live from hand to mouth, and therefore, if there is even a slight delay, they must go without food.

Consequently, if a rich man keeps a poor and wretched individual, whose labor he has abused, in suspense for payment, he deprives him, as it were, of life by depriving him of his daily food.

In summary, we are to cultivate humanity so that no one should be oppressed or suffer loss from a failure to make payment.

⁹⁸ A. . V., “deal falsely, neither lie.” Ainsworth, “neither falsely deny, nor deal falsely.”., “deal falsely, neither lie.” Ainsworth, “neither falsely deny, nor deal falsely.”

⁹⁹ A. V., “Non facies calumniam proximo tuo, nec vi opprimes eum.” “The first of these terms signifies to ., “Non facies calumniam proximo tuo, nec vi opprimes eum.” “The first of these terms signifies to oppress by fraud; the second to ; the second to oppress by violence. Against both these offenses, John the Baptist warned the soldiers who came to him; . Against both these offenses, John the Baptist warned the soldiers who came to him; Luke 3:14.” — Bush from Ainsworth..” — Bush from Ainsworth.

¹⁰⁰ “Et a mon avis que le premier est comme genre, et le second comme espece;” and, in my opinion, that the first is, as it were, genus, and the second , and the second species. — . — Fr..