Israelites were commanded to pay wages daily in order to protect the livelihood of laborers and to uphold justice and compassion in economic dealings. Many workers depended on their daily wages to feed themselves and their families.
“You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy… each day you shall give him his wages, and not let the sun go down on it, for he is poor and has set his heart on it; lest he cry out against you to the Lord, and it be sin to you.” (Deuteronomy 24:14–15)
Delayed payment was viewed as oppression, especially toward those in financial hardship. This command emphasized the importance of fairness and the employer’s responsibility to consider the needs of others. By paying promptly, an employer honored the worker’s dignity and reflected God’s concern for the weak and vulnerable.
This law also served as a safeguard against greed and exploitation, reinforcing the principle that God’s people were to treat others with integrity in all areas of life, including work and business.
The New Testament affirms the same principle:
“Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries… have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.” (James 5:4)
Christians today are likewise called to be just and timely in their dealings, remembering that the Lord sees and judges how we treat one another.
