Leviticus 19:13
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This verse isn't just about not stealing wages; it's a powerful reminder that delaying payment is a form of oppression, especially for day laborers who need that immediate income for survival. The urgency is clear: their sustenance, their family's food, shouldn't wait until morning.
“You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired worker shall not remain with you all night until the morning.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage is part of a larger section in Leviticus outlining how God’s people should live holy lives, reflecting His own character. It follows commands about worship and sacrifices, then dives into ethical matters, emphasizing fairness and compassion in everyday dealings. Immediately after this verse, the text continues to prohibit other forms of exploitation, like cursing the deaf or putting stumbling blocks before the blind, underscoring a consistent call to protect the vulnerable.
When we think of oppression, we might picture physical force or outright theft. But Leviticus 19:13 broadens our understanding of injustice.
This verse forbids both direct robbery and more subtle forms of oppression. The Hebrew word translated 'defraud' can encompass deception, cheating, or withholding what is due. It’s not just about what you take, but also what you fail to give.
Why the specific command about a hired worker's wages not remaining overnight? There's a deep, practical reason rooted in human need.
The command to pay wages promptly is not just about fairness; it's about recognizing the immediate needs of the worker.
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Understand the original words
ashaq · Hebrew Verb
To exploit, defraud, or treat someone harshly through the abuse of power; often directed toward the vulnerable or those with less influence.
gazal · Hebrew Verb
To take by violence or force; this goes beyond mere theft to include a direct act of seizing another’s property or livelihood.
This passage directly echoes Leviticus 19:13, reiterating the command to pay hired workers their wages promptly, emphasizing that the sun should not set on an unpaid debt to a day laborer.
Malachi 3:5The prophet Malachi pronounces judgment on those who oppress workers and defraud them of their wages, directly linking this sin to those who 'fear the Lord,' highlighting the seriousness of unjust labor practices in God's eyes.
James 5:4James issues a strong condemnation against employers who have withheld wages, calling it a 'crying out' against them and directly referencing the context of Leviticus, showing how this ancient law’s spirit remains vital for New Testament believers.
Luke 3:14In the context of John the Baptist calling people to repentance, he specifically instructs soldiers to 'be content with your wages,' reflecting the ancient concern for fair compensation and against exploitation, echoing the principles found in Leviticus.
pulpitLeviticus 19:13: "Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning."
Verse 13. - Cheating and stealing are again forbidden, and, together with these, other forms of oppression although legal. The command to pay labourers their hire promptly - which covers also the case of paying tradesmen promptly - is repeated in Deuteronomy 24:14 (cf. James 5:4).
ellicottLeviticus 19:13: "Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning."
(13) Thou shalt not defraud. —Here oppression by fraud and oppression by violence are forbidden. It is probably in allusion to this passage that John the Baptist warned the soldiers who came to him: “And he said to them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages” ( Luke 3:14 ). The wages of him tha…
This verse isn't just about not stealing wages; it's a powerful reminder that delaying payment is a form of oppression, especially for day laborers who need that immediate income for survival. The urgency is clear: their sustenance, their family's food, shouldn't wait until morning.
This passage is part of a larger section in Leviticus outlining how God’s people should live holy lives, reflecting His own character. It follows commands about worship and sacrifices, then dives into ethical matters, emphasizing fairness and compassion in everyday dealings. Immediately after this verse, the text continues to prohibit other forms of exploitation, like cursing the deaf or putting stumbling blocks before the blind, underscoring a consistent call to protect the vulnerable.
This passage is part of a larger section in Leviticus outlining how God’s people should live holy lives, reflecting His own character. It follows commands about worship and sacrifices, then dives into ethical matters, emphasizing fairness and compassion in everyday dealings. Immediately after this verse, the text continues to prohibit other forms of exploitation, like cursing the deaf or putting stumbling blocks before the blind, underscoring a consistent call to protect the vulnerable.
"“You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired worker shall not remain with you all night until the morning." — This verse isn't just about not stealing wages; it's a powerful reminder that delaying payment is a form of oppression, especially for day laborers who need that immediate income for survival. The ur…
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Last reviewed October 2026
