Deuteronomy 24:15
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)
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It's not just about paying a worker on time; the verse highlights the depth of their need, saying they "lift up their soul to it." This phrase reveals that the wage isn't just money; it represents their hope, their very sustenance for themselves and their family, making timely payment a matter of justice, not just good practice.
This passage is part of a larger section in Deuteronomy laying out laws for the Israelites to live justly and mercifully. It follows instructions on divorce and remarriage and precedes laws concerning gleaning for the poor and freeing slaves. The immediate context emphasizes how the Israelites are to treat their laborers, especially those who are poor and reliant on their daily wages for survival.
Imagine working hard all day, counting on that payment to feed your family. What does God's Word say about delaying wages?
This verse is a clear command about justice and fairness in employment. God instructs the Israelites to pay their hired workers on the very same day they complete their work, and certainly before the sun sets.
This isn't just about good business practice; it's about recognizing the dignity and needs of the laborer. The delay isn't just an inconvenience; it's a denial of their basic right to provide for themselves and their families.
Why is immediate payment so crucial? God doesn't just focus on the employer's duty, but on the laborer's deep need.
The reason given for prompt payment is profound: 'for he is poor and counts on it.' This highlights the vulnerability of the hired worker.
His wages aren't extra income; they are his lifeline. He 'lifts up his soul' to that payment, meaning his hopes, his plans, and his family's immediate needs are tied to receiving what is rightfully his. Withholding it isn't just withholding money; it's withholding hope and security.
What happens when an employer delays payment? The consequences are more serious than just a bad review or a lost client.
The verse warns that failure to pay promptly can lead to the worker crying out to the LORD. This cry is not ignored.
God declares that such an act 'be sin unto thee.' This reveals God's deep concern for social justice and his role as the ultimate judge and protector of the vulnerable. Oppressing a worker by withholding wages is not a minor infraction; it's a sin that incurs guilt before 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 passage shares the same core principle of not oppressing a hired worker, emphasizing that wages must be paid promptly and not withheld overnight.
Job 14:6This verse echoes the sentiment that a person's life and hope are tied to their daily work and sustenance, much like the poor laborer in Deuteronomy who 'lifts up his soul' for his wages.
Matthew 20:2Jesus uses a parable where workers agree on a wage for the day, illustrating the expectation of fair and timely payment for labor, aligning with the spirit of Deuteronomy 24:15.
James 5:4This New Testament passage directly calls out employers who defraud workers of their wages, stating that the 'cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty,' powerfully echoing the warning 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…
It's not just about paying a worker on time; the verse highlights the depth of their need, saying they "lift up their soul to it." This phrase reveals that the wage isn't just money; it represents their hope, their very sustenance for themselves and their family, making timely payment a matter of justice, not just good practice.
This passage is part of a larger section in Deuteronomy laying out laws for the Israelites to live justly and mercifully. It follows instructions on divorce and remarriage and precedes laws concerning gleaning for the poor and freeing slaves. The immediate context emphasizes how the Israelites are to treat their laborers, especially those who are poor and reliant on their daily wages for survival.
This passage is part of a larger section in Deuteronomy laying out laws for the Israelites to live justly and mercifully. It follows instructions on divorce and remarriage and precedes laws concerning gleaning for the poor and freeing slaves. The immediate context emphasizes how the Israelites are to treat their laborers, especially those who are poor and reliant on their daily wages for survival.
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"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." — It's not just about paying a worker on time; the verse highlights the depth of their need, saying they "lift up their soul to it." This phrase reveals that the wage isn't just money; it represents th…
