THEOSISEphraem the Syrian
Do not wrong a servant who dedicates himself to your service, and do not delay the wages of a worker simply because he labors for you. Remunerate him promptly, and you shall receive your recompense in due season.
Leviticus 19:13Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers
Thou shalt not calumniate thy neighbour, nor oppress him by violence. The wages of him that hath been hired by thee shall not abide with thee until the morning.
לֹֽא־תַעֲשֹׁ֥ק אֶת־רֵֽעֲךָ֖ וְלֹ֣א תִגְזֹ֑ל לֹֽא־תָלִ֞ין פְּעֻלַּ֥ת שָׂכִ֛יר אִתְּךָ֖ עַד־בֹּֽקֶר׃
The Church Fathers on this verse
2 Church Fathers comment on this verse · 3 commentaries
Ambrose of Milan
Let no one withhold from a worker his rightful compensation, for we too serve as laborers in the vineyard of our Lord, anticipating a reward for our efforts (cf. Matthew 20:1-16). And you, merchant, whoever you may be—if you fail to provide your worker with payment, which is trivial and momentary, you shall forfeit the rewards of the heavenly promises. Therefore, do not deprive the worker, as the Law instructs, of his rightful payment.
Similarly, divine law instructs us to refrain from taking anything for personal benefit from others, explicitly prohibiting the denial of rightful wages to a laborer. The call of humanity compels us to assist the needy, while cruelty seeks to demand more than it offers. It is utterly unjust, under the guise of compassion, to request more from someone unable to pay even a lesser amount if they find themselves in distress. By freeing a debtor from their creditor, you essentially make them beholden to you. This is reminiscent of Cicero's writings, where he warns against such an approach, reflecting on the nature of true humanity versus actions that merely perpetuate injustice.
Cross references
Passages read together with this verse.
- Jas 5:4Behold the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which by fraud has been kept back by you, crieth: and the cry of them hath entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.
- Mal 3:5And I will come to you in judgment, and will be a speedy witness against sorcerers, and adulterers, and false swearers, and them that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widows, and the fatherless: and oppress the stranger, and have not feared me, saith the Lord of hosts.
- Deut 24:14Thou shalt not refuse the hire of the needy, and the poor, whether he be thy brother, or a stranger that dwelleth with thee in the land, and is within thy gates:
- Deut 24:15But thou shalt pay him the price of his labour the same day, before the going down of the sun, because he is poor, and with it maintaineth his life: lest he cry against thee to the Lord, and it be reputed to thee for a sin.
- Jer 22:13Woe to him that buildeth up his house by injustice, and his chambers not in judgment: that will oppress his friend without cause, and will not pay him his wages.
- Prov 20:10Diverse weights and diverse measures, both are abominable before God.
- Ex 22:21Thou shalt not molest a stranger, nor afflict him: for yourselves also were strangers in the land of Egypt.
- Ezek 22:29The people of the land have used oppression, and committed robbery: they afflicted the needy and poor, and they oppressed the stranger by calumny without judgment.