John Calvin Commentary Leviticus 19:35

"Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in measures of length, of weight, or of quantity." — Leviticus 19:35 (ASV)

You shall do no unrighteousness in judgment. If you take the word judgment in its strict sense, this will be a special precept that judges should faithfully do justice to all, and not subvert just causes from favor or ill-will. But since the word משפט, mishpat, often means rectitude, it is not inappropriate to suppose that all iniquities contrary to integrity are generally condemned. He afterwards proceeds to particular cases, which he refers to elsewhere, where he enumerates the most injurious thefts of all, and such as involve the grossest violation of public justice.

For the corruption that tends to the subversion of judgments, or, by undermining rectitude, corrupts all contracts, leaves nothing secure. While deception in weights and measures destroys and sweeps away all legitimate ways of conducting business, human society is effectively dissolved if the laws of buying and selling are corrupted. Thus, one who cheats by false weights and measures differs little from one who issues false coin. Consequently, anyone, whether as a buyer or seller, who has falsified the standard measures of wine or grain, or anything else, is considered criminal.

¹⁰³ By the laws of Rome, ¹⁰⁴ such a person is to be condemned to a fine of double the amount; and by a decree of Hadrian, he is to be banished to an island. It is therefore with good reason that Solomon reiterates this decree, that he may fix it more deeply in the hearts of all (Proverbs 20:10, 23).

But although this pestilent sin must by no means be tolerated but must be severely punished, still God, even if legal punishments are not inflicted, summons people’s consciences before His tribunal. He does this both by promises and threats. A just weight (He says) and a just measure will prolong a man’s life; but the one who has been guilty of deception in them is an abomination before Me.

Length of life, indeed, has only a figurative connection with just weights and measures. But, because the avaricious, in their pursuit of dishonest gain, are too devoted to this transitory life, God, in order to restrain His people from this blind and impetuous covetousness, promises them long life if they keep themselves from fraud and all deceitful dealings.

We perceive from the conclusion that, not in this respect only, but in all our affairs, those trickeries by which our neighbors are defrauded are condemned. For, after God has said that He abominates all that do such things, He adds immediately by way of explanation, all that do unrighteously. We see, then, that He sets Himself against all evil and illicit methods of gain.

¹⁰³ “Inter falsarios.” — Lat. “Pour faussaire.” — . “Pour faussaire.” — Fr..

¹⁰⁴ Modest. 1. penult, ad legem Corn. de fals. — C. This law is to be found in Digest. 48, tit. 11, This law is to be found in Digest. 48, tit. 11, De falsis, 32, “Si venditor mensuras , 32, “Si venditor mensuras publice probatas vini, frumenti, vel cujuslibet rei, aut emptor corruperit, dolove malo fraudem fecerit, quanti ea res est, ejus dupli condemnatur. Decretoque Divi Hadriani praeceptum est in insulam eos relegari, qui pondera, aut mensuras falsassent.” probatas vini, frumenti, vel cujuslibet rei, aut emptor corruperit, dolove malo fraudem fecerit, quanti ea res est, ejus dupli condemnatur. Decretoque Divi Hadriani praeceptum est in insulam eos relegari, qui pondera, aut mensuras falsassent.”