What are the dishonest scales in Proverbs 11:1?

"A false balance" is much more than an act of dishonesty; it implies the pretension to integrity, and withal deliberate purpose to cheat. It is therefore an abomination to Him whose eyes behold, whose eyelids try the children of men, as a just weight is His delight. Trickery in trade is a corroding evil, most of all fatal to such as gain a sullied or a seared conscience.

"Diverse weights and diverse measures, they are both alike an abomination to the Lord" (v. 10). A merchant may have one scale to weigh products that come to him, and another to weigh what he sells to customers. If so, he will certainly not do this in order that he may suffer loss from either! — and he is guilty of what is an abomination to the Lord.

Moznayim, ζυγός, a pair of balances or scales: such are seen on the Egyptian monuments, with the weights in one scale and the article to be weighed in the other. They were needful also in early days for weighing the money: when Abraham bought a burying place he "weighed to Ephron the silver." Gen. 23:16: cf. Jer. 32:10. Job asked to be weighed in an even balance, Job 31:6: cf. Lev. 19:36; Ezek. 45:10, for men contrived to falsify the balance, as well as the weights, which was an abomination to the Lord. Prov. 11:1; Prov. 16:11; Hosea 12:7; Amos 8:5. In Isa. 46:6 another Hebrew word is used, qaneh, which signifies a reed, rod or beam, which may refer to the beam of the scales, for it is not known that the steel-yard was then in use. In Rev. 6:5 the rider on the black horse had a pair of balances with which to weigh out the food, showing that great scarcity will be one of God's judgements in the future.

Having differing weights is forbidden, one weight being large, the other small, one for selling, the other for buying, so that the user might be able to cheat the other party (v.14). Spiritually too, we should be careful not to have one measure of judgment for a certain case and another measure for another case. Weights and measures must be perfect and just. One pound is to be precisely one pound, one yard precisely one yard. Strict honesty in such things would lengthen the days of an Israelite in the land (v.15). More than this, those who violate such principles of honesty are called by God "an abomination to the Lord your God." God takes full account.

Lastly, strict equity is enjoined in all dealings of trade and commerce. "Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in measure of length, in weight, and in measure of capacity: just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin shall ye have: I [am] Jehovah your God, that brought you out of the land of Egypt" (36). It is a great aggravation, because it is not transient but deliberate wrong, when the scales and weights are unfair, when solids and liquids have a falsified criterion. "Therefore shall ye observe all my statutes and all my judgments, and do them: I [am] Jehovah" (37). The least things of daily life fall under His eye.

It is insisted that no injustice of any kind should be found amongst Israelites, whether in measurements, weights or volume. Their scales were to be honest, their weights and all measurements. These things are always right, whether in Israel or among Gentiles, as everyone's conscience bears witness. The Christian is glad to conform to such instruction, not because it is law, but because he knows and loves the Lord. Thus it is added here, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.” We have been brought by grace out of worse bondage than that of Egypt, and have greater reason to respond in love and obedience to the Lord.

It is insisted that no injustice of any kind should be found amongst Israelites, whether in measurements, weights or volume. Their scales were to be honest, their weights and all measurements. These things are always right, whether in Israel or among Gentiles, as everyone's conscience bears witness. The Christian is glad to conform to such instruction, not because it is law, but because he knows and loves the Lord. Thus it is added here, "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt." We have been brought by grace out of worse bondage than that of Egypt, and have greater reason to respond in love and obedience to the Lord.

The admonition of these verses reaffirms the ordinances of the Law (Lev. 19:15, 35, 36; Deut. 25:13-15) . In the Proverbs we are assured that a false balance, divers weights and measures, are an abomination to the Lord (Prov. 11:1; Prov. 20:10); and by Micah He denounces the prevailing injustice scant measure, deceitful weights. Amos also exposes the same wickedness (Micah 8:4-7).

We have been told before about diverse weights and dishonest scales, but evidently such things are so common as to need repetition (v. 23) as to God's view of them.

"Honest weights and scales are the Lord's, and the weights in the bag are his work" (v. 11). How good it is that the Lord weighs and measures everything in perfect truth, and if we are able to do this, the ability for it comes from Him. For some kings, even kings of Israel, were utterly dishonest (such as Ahab), making themselves an abomination to the Lord (v. 12), and rather than their thrones being established, they were demolished.