Deuteronomy 24:15
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This verse doesn't just demand prompt payment; it reveals the profound weight of a worker's dependence on their wages. The phrase "counts on it" (or "lifts up his soul to it" in some translations) isn't about mere anticipation, but about the worker's very hope and sustenance hinging on that promised money. Withholding it isn't just a financial delay, it's a spiritual burden, inviting God's attention because it cripples the vulnerable.
You shall give him his wages on the same day, before the sun sets (for he is poor and counts on it), lest he cry against you to the LORD, and you be guilty of sin.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse is part of a larger section in Deuteronomy offering compassionate regulations for Israel as they prepare to enter and live in the Promised Land. It immediately follows laws about divorce and remarriage and precedes instructions on what to do with a neighbor's pledge or a thief's plunder. The immediate context emphasizes fair treatment and preventing oppression, highlighting the vulnerability of the poor and the seriousness of injustice before God.
Imagine counting down the minutes until payday. For the poor, this isn't just about convenience, it's about survival. This verse highlights a critical, non-negotiable aspect of justice.
The Unseen Weight of Poverty
This verse isn't just a financial regulation; it's a profound statement about justice and compassion. The command to pay wages "on the same day, before the sun sets" is urgent. Why? Because the hired worker is "poor and counts on it."
More Than Money
The Hebrew phrase translated as "counts on it" or "sets his heart on it" conveys deep longing and dependence. This wage isn't just for extra comforts; it's for basic needs – food for the family, shelter, survival. Delaying payment is more than an inconvenience; it's a denial of their dignity and a direct blow to their ability to live.
What happens when justice is denied? The text warns of a 'cry against you to the LORD.' This isn't a vague threat; it's a direct consequence rooted in God's character.
The Lord's Ears Are Open
The consequence of withholding wages isn't just a potential lawsuit or social fallout; it's a spiritual offense. The verse states, "lest he cry against you to the LORD, and you be guilty of sin."
Divine Accountability
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God identifies Himself as the protector of the vulnerable, the poor, and the oppressed. When a person in need has no other recourse and their cry ascends to God, it is heard. The withholding of just wages is presented not as a minor infraction, but as something that incurs guilt and invites divine judgment. This underscores that our ethical treatment of others, especially the less fortunate, is a matter of profound importance to God.
Understand the original words
śākār · Hebrew Noun
Payment given in return for work performed; recognized in Scripture as a right that should not be withheld or delayed.
ḥēṭ’ · Hebrew Noun
A moral failing, an act of rebellion against God, or a state of being in violation of His holy law.
This verse directly precedes Deuteronomy 24:15 in the Mosaic Law, reiterating the command not to withhold wages overnight, emphasizing the LORD's claim on justice for the oppressed.
Job 14:6Job speaks of God setting a boundary around a person's life, highlighting the vulnerable and dependent state of human existence, much like the hired servant whose life depends on their wages.
Matthew 20:2Jesus uses the parable of the laborers hired by a householder to illustrate God's generosity, but also touches on the agreement for a day's wages, connecting to the theme of fair compensation.
James 5:4James directly quotes the cry of the defrauded laborers, warning that the wages kept back by fraud will cry out to the Lord of Hosts, powerfully echoing the consequence mentioned in Deuteronomy.
pooleDeuteronomy 24:15: "At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the LORD, and it be sin unto thee."
At his day; at the time appointed, weekly or daily. Neither shall the sun go down upon it, to wit, after the day upon which it is due, and desired or demanded by him; for justice must not be denied or delayed. Setteth his heart upon it, Heb. lifteth up his soul to it , which notes his…
cambridgeDeuteronomy 24:15: "At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the LORD, and it be sin unto thee."
15 . his day ] Cp. Job 14:6 , Matthew 20:2 . setteth his heart ] Lit. lifteth up his desire ( nephesh ). The Heb. term with its several meanings suggests how his life depends on his wage. Being poor he cannot be indifferent to it. cry against thee , etc] Cp. Deuteronomy 24:13 , Deutero…
This verse doesn't just demand prompt payment; it reveals the profound weight of a worker's dependence on their wages. The phrase "counts on it" (or "lifts up his soul to it" in some translations) isn't about mere anticipation, but about the worker's very hope and sustenance hinging on that promised money. Withholding it isn't just a financial delay, it's a spiritual burden, inviting God's attention because it cripples the vulnerable.
This verse is part of a larger section in Deuteronomy offering compassionate regulations for Israel as they prepare to enter and live in the Promised Land. It immediately follows laws about divorce and remarriage and precedes instructions on what to do with a neighbor's pledge or a thief's plunder. The immediate context emphasizes fair treatment and preventing oppression, highlighting the vulnerability of the poor and the seriousness of injustice before God.
This verse is part of a larger section in Deuteronomy offering compassionate regulations for Israel as they prepare to enter and live in the Promised Land. It immediately follows laws about divorce and remarriage and precedes instructions on what to do with a neighbor's pledge or a thief's plunder. The immediate context emphasizes fair treatment and preventing oppression, highlighting the vulnerability of the poor and the seriousness of injustice before God.
"You shall give him his wages on the same day, before the sun sets (for he is poor and counts on it), lest he cry against you to the LORD, and you be guilty of sin." — This verse doesn't just demand prompt payment; it reveals the profound weight of a worker's dependence on their wages. The phrase "counts on it" (or "lifts up his soul to it" in some translations) is…
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Last reviewed October 2026
