With what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again.

Understand the thought

Meaning in plain English

The standard you apply to others may also be applied to you. Measuring becomes an image for fairness, judgment and reciprocal treatment.

What the words are saying

Mete means to measure or give out a measure, and the repetition turns the act back toward the person doing it. Someone who judges harshly is asked to imagine facing the same standard themselves. The saying can encourage consistency in how people assess conduct or share something out. It does not establish that every action receives an equal return, or that a person’s misfortune proves earlier wrongdoing. A useful reading concerns the fairness of the standard chosen, rather than predicting what will happen next.

Everyday example

A team member asks whether a rule they propose for colleagues would also be fair when applied to their own work.

When to use it

Use it to examine whether a standard is consistent and fair to everyone involved.

Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.