The Exposition of the Commandment
Leviticus 19
Leviticus 19:11, 13 | |
11. Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another. | 11. Non furabimini et non negabiris, neque mentiemini quisque proximo suo. |
13. Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbor, neither rob him: the of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning. | 13. Non opprimes proximum tuum, neque rapies: nec morabitur opus mercenarii apud to usque mane. |
God here explains somewhat more clearly His mind and design, for He enumerates as thefts eases in which either deceit or violence is employed. The two words, which we have translated to deny, and to lie, signify also to deceive; as also to lie, or to frustrate hope. 1 There is no question, then, but that God would restrain His people from all craft, or deceit, that they may deal sincerely and honestly with each other; even 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 demean themselves meekly and temperately with their neighbors, so as to abstain from all unjust oppression. The meaning which Jerome 2 and others after him, have given to the word
1 A. V., "deal falsely, neither lie." Ainsworth, "neither falsely deny, nor deal falsely."
2 A. V., "Non facies calumniam proximo tuo, nec vi opprimes eum." "The first of these terms signifies to oppress by fraud; the second to oppress by violence. Against both these offenses, John the Baptist warned the soldiers who came to him; Luke 3:14." -- Bush from Ainsworth.
3 "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 species. -- Fr.