To not hold over deficient weights and measures: That we have been prevented, that we not hold over the deficient weights and scales in our homes — and even if we don’t take and give (measure) with them in our purchases and in our sales, lest it be a snare. And about this is it stated (Deuteronomy 25:13), “You shall not have in your pouch alternate weights, larger and smaller.” And so [too] (Deuteronomy 25:14), “You shall not have in your house alternate measures.” And so did they, may their memory be blessed, say in Bava Batra 89b, “It is forbidden for a person to hold over a deficient or oversized weight in the midst of his home, and even if it is [used as a] bedpan for urine.”
And Rambam wrote (Sefer HaMitzvot LaRambam, Negative Commandments 272), “And do not think that they are two [distinct] commandments since they are two negative statements [in the Torah]. Indeed, [the two statements] have come to complete the laws of the commandment, such that two types of size are included — and they are the weight and the measure. [It is] as if it stated, ‘You should not have two sizes, not in measurement and not in weight.’ [It is] like ‘You shall not take interest from loans to your brother, whether in money or food or anything else that can be taken as interest’ (Deuteronomy 23:20) — which is all one negative commandment. As it is not by the duplication of expressions that [the number of] commandments increase, when it is all one matter. And so [too with] ‘no leavened bread shall be found with you, and no leaven shall be found’ (Exodus 13:7), which is [all] one negative commandment, since it is [all] one matter. Rather, [the two expressions] are stated to complete the elucidation of the matter.”
I have written about the roots of this commandment — as is my custom in this book — in the Order of Kedoshim Tehiyu (Sefer HaChinukh 259) regarding the commandment of just scales and the warning (Sefer HaChinukh 258) not to lie with [the scales]. And from there you can see what you need about this [commandment].
And it is practiced in every place and at all times by males and females. And one who transgresses it and holds over a deficient weight or a deficient scale in the midst of his home — and even if he does not ever weigh with them — has violated this negative commandment. And there are no lashes for it, as there is no act [involved] with it; and also, even if he transgressed it and weighed with them, it is given to repayment. And it is already known that we only give lashes for a negative commandment that is not given to repayment.
שֶׁלֹּא לְהַשְׁהוֹת מִשְׁקָלוֹת וּמִדּוֹת חֲסֵרוֹת – שֶׁנִּמְנַעְנוּ שֶׁלֹּא לְהַשְׁהוֹת אֶת הַמִּשְׁקָלִים וְהַמֹּאזְנַיִם הַחֲסֵרִים בְּבָתֵּינוּ, וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא נִשָּׂא וְנִתֵּן בְּמִקָּחֵנוּ וּבְמִמְכָּרֵנוּ בָּהֶן, פֶּן יִהְיֶה לָנוּ לְמוֹקֵשׁ, וְעַל זֶה נֶאֱמַר (דברים כה יג) לֹא יִהְיֶה לְךָ בְּכִיסְךָ אֶבֶן וָאָבֶן גְּדוֹלָה וּקְטַנָּה. וְכֵן (דברים כה יד) לֹא יִהְיֶה לְךָ בְּבֵיתְךָ אֵיפָה וְאֵיפָה. וְכֵן אָמְרוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה בְּבָבָא בָּתְרָא (פט, ב) אָסוּר לָאָדָם שֶׁיַּשְׁהֶא מִדָּה חֲסֵרָה אוֹ יְתֵרָה בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ, וַאֲפִלּוּ הוּא עָבִיט שֶׁל מֵימֵי רַגְלַיִם.
To not hold over deficient weights and measures: That we have been prevented, that we not hold over the deficient weights and scales in our homes — and even if we don’t take and give (measure) with them in our purchases and in our sales, lest it be a snare. And about this is it stated (Deuteronomy 25:13), “You shall not have in your pouch alternate weights, larger and smaller.” And so [too] (Deuteronomy 25:14), “You shall not have in your house alternate measures.” And so did they, may their memory be blessed, say in Bava Batra 89b, “It is forbidden for a person to hold over a deficient or oversized weight in the midst of his home, and even if it is [used as a] bedpan for urine.”
וְכָתַב הָרַמְבַּ"ם זִכְרוֹנוֹ לִבְרָכָה (בספר המצוות ל"ת רעב), וְאַל תַּחְשֹׁב שֶׁיִּהְיוּ שְׁתֵּי מִצְוֹת אַחַר שֶׁהֵן שְׁנֵי לָאוִין, אָמְנָם בָּאוּ לְהַשְׁלִים דִּינֵי הַמִּצְוָה עַד שֶׁיִּכְלְלוּ שְׁנֵי מִינֵי הַשִּׁעוּר, וְהֵם הַמִּשְׁקָל וְהַמִּדָּה, כְּאִלּוּ הוּא אוֹמֵר לֹא יִהְיֶה לְךָ שְׁנֵי שִׁעוּרִין לֹא בַּמִּדָּה וְלֹא בַּמִּשְׁקָל, כְּמוֹ לֹא תַשִּׁיךְ לְאָחִיךָ נֶשֶׁךְ כֶּסֶף נֶשֶׁךְ אֹכֶל נֶשֶׁךְ כָּל דָּבָר אֲשֶׁר יִשָּׁךְ (דברים כג, כ), שֶׁהַכֹּל לָאו אֶחָד, כִּי לֹא בְּהִכָּפֵל הַלְּשׁוֹנוֹת תִּרְבֶּינָה הַמִּצְוֹת כְּשֶׁיִּהְיֶה הָעִנְיָן אֶחָד, וְכֵן לֹא יֵרָאֶה לְךָ חָמֵץ וְלֹא יֵרָאֶה לְךָ שְׂאֹר (שמות יג ז). שֶׁהֵן לָאו אֶחָד, לְפִי שֶׁהָעִנְיָן אֶחָד אֶלָּא שֶׁנֶּאֶמְרוּ לְבֵאוּר תַּשְׁלוּם הָעִנְיָן.
And Rambam wrote (Sefer HaMitzvot LaRambam, Negative Commandments 272), “And do not think that they are two [distinct] commandments since they are two negative statements [in the Torah]. Indeed, [the two statements] have come to complete the laws of the commandment, such that two types of size are included — and they are the weight and the measure. [It is] as if it stated, ‘You should not have two sizes, not in measurement and not in weight.’ [It is] like ‘You shall not take interest from loans to your brother, whether in money or food or anything else that can be taken as interest’ (Deuteronomy 23:20) — which is all one negative commandment. As it is not by the duplication of expressions that [the number of] commandments increase, when it is all one matter. And so [too with] ‘no leavened bread shall be found with you, and no leaven shall be found’ (Exodus 13:7), which is [all] one negative commandment, since it is [all] one matter. Rather, [the two expressions] are stated to complete the elucidation of the matter.”
מִשָּׁרְשֵׁי מִצְוָה זוֹ, וּקְצָת דִּינֶיהָ כְּמִנְהָגִי בַּסֵּפֶר הַזֶּה כָּתַבְתִּי בְּסֵדֶר קְדֹשִׁים תִּהְיוּ (מצוה רנט) בְּמִצְוַת צִדּוּק הַמֹּאזְנַיִם (מצוה רנח) וְהָאַזְהָרָה שֶׁלֹּא לְשַׁקֵּר בָּהֶם, וּמִשָּׁם תִּרְאֶה מָה שֶׁצָּרִיךְ לְךָ בָּזוֹ.
I have written about the roots of this commandment — as is my custom in this book — in the Order of Kedoshim Tehiyu (Sefer HaChinukh 259) regarding the commandment of just scales and the warning (Sefer HaChinukh 258) not to lie with [the scales]. And from there you can see what you need about this [commandment].
וְנוֹהֶגֶת בְּכָל מָקוֹם וּבְכָל זְמַן, בִּזְכָרִים וּנְקֵבוֹת. וְהָעוֹבֵר עָלֶיהָ וְשׁוֹהֶה מִשְׁקָל חָסֵר אוֹ מֹאזְנַיִם חֲסֵרוֹת בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ, וַאֲפִלּוּ לֹא יִשְׁקֹל בָּהֶם לְעוֹלָם, עָבַר עַל לָאו זֶה, וְאֵין בּוֹ מַלְקוּת, לְפִי שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ מַעֲשֶׂה, וְעוֹד שֶׁאֲפִלּוּ עָבַר וְשָׁקַל בָּהֶם, לְתַשְׁלוּמִין נִתָּן, וּכְבָר נוֹדַע שֶׁאֵין לוֹקִין אַלָּאו שֶׁנִּתָּן לְתַשְׁלוּמִין.
And it is practiced in every place and at all times by males and females. And one who transgresses it and holds over a deficient weight or a deficient scale in the midst of his home — and even if he does not ever weigh with them — has violated this negative commandment. And there are no lashes for it, as there is no act [involved] with it; and also, even if he transgressed it and weighed with them, it is given to repayment. And it is already known that we only give lashes for a negative commandment that is not given to repayment.