Mitzvah —
211
Not to deny possession of something entrusted to you
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לֹ֖א תִּגְנֹ֑בוּ וְלֹא־תְכַחֲשׁ֥וּ וְלֹֽא־תְשַׁקְּר֖וּ אִ֥ישׁ בַּעֲמִיתֽוֹ׃ - פָּרָשַׁת קְדשִׁים
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Leviticus 19:11 - "You shall not steal. You shall not deny falsely. You shall not lie, one man to his fellow."
This Mitzvah's Summary
מִצְוָה עֲשֵׂה - Positive Commandment
מִצְוָה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה - Negative Commandment
Business / Commerce – מִשָּׂא וּמַתָּן
It is forbidden to deny possession of something entrusted, whether through lying or swearing falsely.
This mitzvah prohibits denying that one holds money, property, or items entrusted by another person. The prohibition applies whether the denial is verbal or through a false oath. It combines theft, deception, and misuse of Hashem’s Name when an oath is invoked.
The Torah demands integrity in financial dealings, protecting trust between individuals and safeguarding the sanctity of oaths.
Commentary & Classical Explanation:
- Rambam (Hilchot Gezelah 4:1): One who denies a deposit through a false oath violates both theft and swearing falsely in Hashem’s Name.
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 224): Explains that this mitzvah preserves honesty and prevents financial injustice among people.
- Talmud (Shevuot 29a): Discusses oaths of denial (shevuat hapesikadon) as among the most severe, since they harm both man and G-d.
- Rashi (Leviticus 19:11): Clarifies that “do not lie one to another” includes financial falsehoods and denials of responsibility.
Commentaries
(Source: Chabad.org)
Applying this Mitzvah Today
Notes on this Mitzvah's Fundamentals
Faith – אֱמוּנָה
- Rambam (Hilchot Shevuot 1:3) explains that denying a deposit with an oath erodes faith in Divine justice, as it treats Hashem’s holy Name as a cover for dishonesty.
Truth / Justice – צֶדֶק
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 224) writes that the root of this mitzvah is to preserve fairness and protect social trust. Without honesty in entrusted items, justice collapses.
Speech – דָּבָר
- Rashi (Leviticus 19:11) interprets “do not lie one to another” as financial dishonesty, showing that truthful speech is central to monetary integrity.
Theft / Robbery – גְּנֵיבָה / גְּזֵלָה
- Rambam (Hilchot Gezelah 4:1) rules that denying a deposit through a false oath is both theft and oath-breaking, compounding the transgression.
Business / Commerce – מִשָּׂא וּמַתָּן
- The Talmud (Shevuot 29a) highlights that oaths of denial are especially severe because they corrupt the trust necessary for all trade and partnerships.
Vows / Oaths – נְדָרִים / שְׁבוּעוֹת
- Rambam (Hilchot Shevuot 7:1) categorizes this as part of shevuat hapesikadon, where financial deceit and misuse of Hashem’s Name converge into one prohibition.
Community – קְהִלָּה
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 224) emphasizes that dishonesty in entrusted items undermines the very bonds of society. Trust in deposits and oaths sustains communal life.
Bein Adam L’Chavero (between people)
- This mitzvah primarily safeguards trust and fairness between individuals. Denying a deposit robs another of property and violates interpersonal integrity.
Bein Adam L’Makom (between a person and G-d)
- When denial is sealed with a false oath, it also desecrates Hashem’s Name. Talmud (Shevuot 39a) teaches that the world trembles at false oaths, showing the Divine dimension of this sin.
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