Leviticus 25:14 Meaning: How Not to Wrong Your Neighbor in Business
“‘If you sell anything to your neighbor, or buy from your neighbor, you shall not wrong one another.
And if thou sell ought unto thy neighbour, or buyest ought of thy neighbour’s hand, ye shall not oppress one another:
And if thou sell aught unto thy neighbor, or buy of thy neighbor’s hand, ye shall not wrong one another.
`And when thou sellest anything to thy fellow, or buyest from the hand of thy fellow, ye do not oppress one another;
And if ye sell ought unto your neighbour, or buy of your neighbour's hand, ye shall not overreach one another.
Meaning in one sentence
What does it mean to wrong someone in a transaction? Leviticus 25:14 reveals God's heart for honest business between neighbors.
Context
This verse sits at the heart of Leviticus 25, a chapter devoted to the Year of Jubilee. Every fiftieth year, land was to return to its original family, slaves were freed, and debts were released. In this context, buying and selling land was really about leasing crops until the next Jubilee. So a sale was temporary, and the price depended on how many harvests remained. God gave these rules to prevent anyone from taking advantage of a neighbor's hardship. The whole system was designed to preserve family inheritances and prevent permanent poverty.
Key Words
Two Hebrew words stand out. The verb translated wrong (tōnū, H3238) means to oppress, maltreat, or take advantage of, to use your power or position to get an unfair benefit. It appears again in verse 17 and in 1 Samuel 12:3, where Samuel insists he never defrauded or oppressed anyone. The other key word is neighbor (amit, H5997), a close term meaning fellow citizen, associate, someone you share life with. This is not a distant stranger; it is a person in your community, your brother. Together these words paint a picture: when you buy or sell with someone you share life with, you are not to squeeze them for profit. The transaction is a relationship, not a game.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have seen this verse as a foundation for ethical business. Wesleyan commentators like Adam Clarke emphasized that buying below value or selling above value, taking advantage of ignorance, is equivalent to theft. The Reformed tradition (Matthew Henry, Gill) applies it broadly: no advantage from another's necessity or lack of knowledge. Catholic social teaching echoes this in principles of just price and the common good. Some traditions stress that the immediate context is land sales in Israel, but the moral principle, do not exploit your neighbor, is universal. All agree that honest dealing reflects the character of God, who is just and merciful.
A common misunderstanding
A common misreading is to think that wronging only means outright fraud, lying or stealing. In fact, the Hebrew verb includes any unfair advantage: demanding too much from someone in need, paying too little because they do not know the value, or using your superior knowledge to get a better deal. This verse calls for genuine fairness, not just technical legality.
Living This Out
This week, pay attention to the small transactions. When you sell something online, do you set a fair price even if the buyer might pay more? When you buy from a friend or a stranger, do you offer a fair price even if they might accept less? The command is not just about land in ancient Israel, it is about any time money changes hands between two people. The fear of God (verse 17) is the foundation: we do not exploit because we answer to a just God. Let that shape even the price you offer for a used car or a service.
Main takeaway: God calls His people to let the fear of Him govern every transaction, so that no one is exploited for another's gain.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
When you trade toys or snacks with a friend, do you make sure it is fair? God says we should not trick others to get what we want. Be honest and kind in every trade.
For ages 9, 12
This verse was for when people bought and sold land in Israel. But the same rule applies today: do not use someone's need or ignorance to get a better deal. Whether it is a garage sale, a school fundraiser, or an online trade, God sees how you treat others. Fairness is a way of loving your neighbor.
Questions People Ask
What does it mean to 'wrong' someone in a transaction according to this verse?
The Hebrew verb (tōnū) means to oppress, maltreat, or take advantage of. It includes any unfair dealing: overcharging someone in need, underpaying because they are desperate, or using your superior knowledge to cheat them. It is not limited to outright fraud.
Does this command apply only to land sales, or to all business?
The immediate context is land sales tied to the Jubilee, but the words 'anything you sell' and 'buy from your neighbor' suggest a broader principle. Historic Christian teaching has applied this command to all commercial transactions as a standard of fairness.
How does the Jubilee context affect the meaning?
In the Jubilee system, land returned to its original family every fifty years, so sales were really leases of harvests. This limited how much anyone could profit from another's misfortune. The command against oppression ensured that even within that system, everyone dealt honestly.
What does the word 'neighbor' mean in Leviticus 25:14?
The Hebrew word (amit) means a close associate, fellow citizen, or member of your community. It is a relational term, not a distant stranger. The command applies especially to those you share life with.
How do Christians apply this verse today?
Many Christians see it as a call to honesty in all business dealings, from negotiating prices to writing contracts. It challenges us to avoid exploiting someone else's need or ignorance, and to seek fair outcomes that reflect God's justice and love for every person.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study