The Meaning of Proverbs 20:10 Explained

Proverbs 20:10

KJV: Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.

YLT: A stone and a stone, an ephah and an ephah, Even both of them are an abomination to Jehovah.

Darby: Divers weights, divers measures, even both of them are abomination to Jehovah.

ASV: Diverse weights, and diverse measures, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Divers weights,  [and] divers measures,  both  of them [are] alike  abomination  to the LORD. 

What does Proverbs 20:10 Mean?

Context Summary

Proverbs 20:1-15 - Sobriety Industry Honesty
Strong drink is the greatest of all foes to human happiness. It gains an influence over men by fair promises, but when once it is entrenched, it mocks at the misery of its abject slave. It promises strength for the arm, joy for the heart, brilliance for the mind; but those fair promises are not kept, and the end is impotence, misery, and imbecility. Let each reader of these words henceforth utterly abjure it!
The sluggard is depicted throughout this book to stir us to diligent industry. After all, it is not by great gifts but by patient persistence that men succeed. Indeed, the highest genius is left behind by the careful plodder, if the one lacks and the other possesses this invaluable quality. "Diligent in business, serving the Lord."
All our life lies open to the eye of God. He is closely acquainted with the transactions of the bank, the office, the ledger, and the weights in the store. No lapse from perfect honesty escapes his notice; and for every act of deception there is an inevitable Nemesis. [source]

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 20

1  Proper Living

What do the individual words in Proverbs 20:10 mean?

Differing and [Diverse] weights ephah and [diverse] measures an abomination to Yahweh alike the two of them [are]
אֶ֣בֶן וָ֭אֶבֶן אֵיפָ֣ה וְאֵיפָ֑ה תּוֹעֲבַ֥ת יְ֝הוָ֗ה גַּם־ שְׁנֵיהֶֽם

אֶ֣בֶן  Differing 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶבֶן  
Sense: stone (large or small).
וָ֭אֶבֶן  and  [Diverse]  weights 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶבֶן  
Sense: stone (large or small).
אֵיפָ֣ה  ephah 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֵיפָה  
Sense: ephah.
וְאֵיפָ֑ה  and  [diverse]  measures 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֵיפָה  
Sense: ephah.
תּוֹעֲבַ֥ת  an  abomination  to 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: תֹּועֵבָה  
Sense: a disgusting thing, abomination, abominable.
יְ֝הוָ֗ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
גַּם־  alike 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: גַּם  
Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.
שְׁנֵיהֶֽם  the  two  of  them  [are] 
Parse: Number, mdc, third person masculine plural
Root: שְׁנַיִם  
Sense: two.