Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Deuteronomy 24:15
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.
15. his day ] Cp. Job 14:6, Mat 20:2.
setteth his heart ] Lit. lifteth up his desire ( nephesh). The Heb. term with its several meanings suggests how his life depends on his wage. Being poor he cannot be indifferent to it.
cry against thee, etc] Cp. Deu 24:13, Deu 15:9. And it be sin unto thee, see on Deu 15:9.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 15. He is poor, and setteth his heart upon it] How exceedingly natural is this! The poor servant who seldom sees money, yet finds from his master’s affluence that it procures all the conveniences and comforts of life, longs for the time when he shall receive his wages; should his pay be delayed after the time is expired, he may naturally be expected to cry unto God against him who withholds it. See most of these subjects treated at large on Ex 22:21-27.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
At his day; at the time appointed, weekly or daily.
Neither shall the sun go down upon it, to wit, after the day upon which it is due, and desired or demanded by him; for justice must not be denied or delayed.
Setteth his heart upon it, Heb. lifteth up his soul to it, which notes his great desire and hope of it, and his dependence upon it: see Psa 24:4; Jer 22:27.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
At his day thou shalt give [him] his hire,…. At the close of the day, when his work is done, the hire agreed for must be paid him; and, by the same rule, all such that were hired by the week, month, or year, were to have their wages paid them at the day their time was up:
neither shall the sun go down upon it; it was to be paid before sun setting, or at it; see Le 19:13;
for he [is] poor, and setteth his heart upon it; being poor, he cannot wait any longer for the payment of it; his personal and family wants are such as require immediate payment; and besides, he has been eagerly expecting it, and earnestly desiring it, that he may satisfy the craving necessities of himself and family; and therefore it would be a great balk and disappointment to him to have his wages detained:
lest he cry against thee to the Lord; having none to apply unto but him, who is the patron of the poor and needy, not being able to help himself, nor having interest in any to interpose on his behalf; and his cry, and the cry of his hire too, enter into the ears of the Lord of hosts, and is regarded by him, Jas 5:4;
and it be sin unto thee: be imputed to him, the guilt charged on him, and punishment inflicted for it.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Ver. 15. At his day thou shalt give him his hire This particularly concerns those who live by their daily labour: they ought to be paid before the sun goes down; all ought to receive their wages, whether labourers or servants, at the time agreed upon; for this is what he setteth his heart upon; or, as the Vulgate has it, for from hence he supports his soul, or life. The bread of the needy is their life, saith the son of Sirach; he that defraudeth him thereof is a man of blood: he that taketh away his neighbour’s living, slayeth him; and he that defraudeth the labourer of his hire, is a blood-shedder. Sir 34:21-22. He sheddeth blood, inasmuch as the wages of the labourer are what supports him, and as, according to the Scripture, the life of man is in his blood. See St. Augustin. Quaest. in Levit. col. 516.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
the sun go down. Compare Jam 5:4.
and setteth = and he lifteth up.
his heart = his soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
At his: Lev 19:13, Pro 3:27, Pro 3:28, Jer 22:13, Mat 20:8, Mar 10:19, Jam 5:4
setteth his heart upon it: Heb. lifteth his soul unto it, Psa 24:4, Psa 25:1, Psa 86:4
lest he: Deu 15:9, Exo 22:23, Exo 22:24, Job 31:38, Job 34:28, Job 35:9, Pro 22:22, Pro 22:23, Pro 23:10, Pro 23:11, Isa 5:7, Jam 5:4
Reciprocal: Gen 31:12 – I have seen Exo 2:23 – cry Deu 24:13 – the sun 1Ki 12:31 – an house Job 7:2 – as an hireling Psa 103:6 – executeth Mal 3:5 – against those Rom 13:8 – Owe Eph 4:26 – let Eph 6:9 – ye Col 4:1 – give 1Ti 5:18 – The labourer