King James Version

What Does Deuteronomy 24:15 Mean?

Deuteronomy 24:15 in the King James Version says “At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart up...” — study this verse from Deuteronomy chapter 24 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the LORD, and it be sin unto thee. setteth: Heb. lifteth his soul unto it”

Deuteronomy 24:15 · KJV

Context

13

In any case thou shalt deliver him the pledge again when the sun goeth down, that he may sleep in his own raiment, and bless thee: and it shall be righteousness unto thee before the LORD thy God.

14

Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates:

15

At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the LORD, and it be sin unto thee. setteth: Heb. lifteth his soul unto it

16

The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.

17

Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger, nor of the fatherless; nor take a widow's raiment to pledge:

Read Deuteronomy 24 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it—Be-yomo titten sekharo ve-lo tavo alav ha-shemesh ("on his day you shall give his wages, and not shall set on it the sun") mandates immediate payment before sunset. The day laborer's survival depends on daily wages; delayed payment equals oppression. This echoes Leviticus 19:13's parallel command.

For he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it—Ki ani hu ve-elav hu nose et-nafsho ("for poor he is, and to it he lifts up his soul") reveals the psychological and spiritual weight of wages for the poor. Nose et-nafsho (literally "lifts up his soul/life") describes desperate longing and dependency—these wages represent not just money but survival, dignity, provision for children. Withholding them crushes hope.

Lest he cry against thee unto the LORD, and it be sin unto thee—God hears the oppressed worker's cry (yiqra alekha el-YHWH). This echoes Exodus 22:23-24: the cries of the oppressed reach God's ears and provoke His judgment. Haya bekha chet ("it shall be sin in you") makes wage theft a serious covenantal violation, not merely an economic dispute. James 5:4 declares such cries "have entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth."

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Historical & Cultural Context

The immediacy of payment requirement reflects the harsh reality of subsistence economies. Day laborers lived hand-to-mouth; no payment meant no food. The phrase "setteth his heart upon it" captures desperate waiting—will the employer pay fairly, or find excuses? Archaeological evidence from ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Israel shows workers often received rations (bread, beer, oil) as wages. This law protected both monetary and in-kind payment. The theological grounding ("lest he cry... unto the LORD") elevates labor justice to covenant relationship with God.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the phrase "setteth his heart upon it" deepen your empathy for those whose economic survival depends on timely and fair payment, and what responsibility does this create for employers and consumers?
  2. What does God's attentiveness to the oppressed worker's cry reveal about His character and priorities, and how should this shape our engagement with economic justice issues?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 23 words
בְּיוֹמוֹ֩1 of 23

“At his day”

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

תִתֵּ֨ן2 of 23

“thou shalt give”

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

שְׂכָר֜וֹ3 of 23

“him his hire”

H7939

payment of contract; concretely, salary, fare, maintenance; by implication, compensation, benefit

וְֽלֹא4 of 23
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

תָב֧וֹא5 of 23

“go down”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

עָלָ֣יו6 of 23
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

הַשֶּׁ֗מֶשׁ7 of 23

“neither shall the sun”

H8121

the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e., (architectural) a notched battlement

כִּ֤י8 of 23
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

עָנִי֙9 of 23

“upon it for he is poor”

H6041

depressed, in mind or circumstances

ה֔וּא10 of 23
H1931

he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo

וְאֵלָ֕יו11 of 23
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

ה֥וּא12 of 23
H1931

he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo

נֹשֵׂ֖א13 of 23

“and setteth”

H5375

to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative

אֶת14 of 23
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

נַפְשׁ֑וֹ15 of 23

“his heart”

H5315

properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment

וְלֹֽא16 of 23
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

יִקְרָ֤א17 of 23

“upon it lest he cry”

H7121

to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)

עָלֶ֙יךָ֙18 of 23
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

אֶל19 of 23
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

יְהוָ֔ה20 of 23

“against thee unto the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

וְהָיָ֥ה21 of 23
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

בְךָ֖22 of 23
H0
חֵֽטְא׃23 of 23

“and it be sin”

H2399

a crime or its penalty

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Deuteronomy. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Deuteronomy 24:15 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Deuteronomy 24:15 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Leviticus 19:13Proverbs 3:27-28James 5:4Jeremiah 22:13Deuteronomy 15:9Job 35:9

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