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Question

What does the Bible say about the ninth commandment? What does "false witness" (ed shaqer / ed shav) mean -- Exodus uses sheqer (H8267, "lying/deceitful") while Deuteronomy uses shav (H7723, "vain/worthless"). Is this limited to courtroom testimony or does it cover all falsehood?

Topics

FALSEHOOD

General scriptures concerning EXO 20:16; 23:1; LEV 6:2-7; 19:11,12,16; JOB 13:4; 21:34; 27:4; 31:5,6,33; 36:4; PSA 5:6,9; 10:7; 12:2,3; 28:3; 31:18; 34:13; 36:3; 50:19,20; 52:2-5; 55:21,23; 58:3; 59:12; 62:4; 63:11; 101:5,7; 109:2; 116:11; 119:29,69,163; 120:2-4; 144:8,11; PRO 2:12-15; 3:3; 6:12,13,17-19; 10:9,10,18,31; 11:9; 12:17,19,20,22; 13:5; 14:5,8,25; 17:4,7; 19:5,9,22,28; 20:17; 21:6; 26:18,19,24-26,28; 27:14; ECC 5:6; ISA 28:15; 32:7; 57:11; 59:3,4,12,13; 63:8; JER 7:8,28; 9:3,5,6,8; 12:6; 50:36; EZK 22:9; HOS 4:1,2; OBA 1:7; MIC 6:12; NAM 3:1; ZEP 3:13; MAT 25:44-46; JHN 8:44,45; EPH 4:25,29; COL 3:9; 1TI 1:9,10; 4:2; 1PE 3:10,16; REV 21:8,27; 22:15

See also: ACCUSATION FALSE; CONSPIRACY; DECEIT; DECEPTION; FALSE WITNESS; FLATTERY; HYPOCRISY; PERJURY; TEACHERS FALSE

INSTANCES OF: Satan (Gen 3:4,5; Job 1:9,10; 2:4,5; Mat 4:8,9); Adam/Eve (Gen 3:12,13); Cain (Gen 4:9); Abraham (Gen 12:11-19; 20:2); Sarah (Gen 18:15; 20:5,16); Isaac (Gen 26:7-10); Rebekah and Jacob (Gen 27:6-24,46); Jacob's sons re Shechemites (Gen 34); Joseph's brothers (Gen 37:29-35); Potiphar's wife (Gen 39:14-17); Pharaoh (Exo 7-12); Aaron (Exo 32:1-24); Rahab (Jos 2:4-6); Gibeonites (Jos 9); Ehud (Jdg 3:16-23); Saul (1Sa 15:1-26; 22:11-16); David (1Sa 21; 21:13-15; 27:8-12); Michal (1Sa 19:12-17); Hushai (2Sa 16:16-19; 17:7-14); Naboth conspirators (1Ki 21:7-13); Gehazi (2Ki 5:20-24); Jehu (2Ki 10:18-28); Herod (Mat 2:8); Jewish leaders (Mat 11:19; 21:24-27; 9:2-6; 26:65); Peter denying Jesus (Mat 26:69-75); Roman soldiers (Mat 28:13,15); Ananias and Sapphira (Act 5:1-10); Stephen's accusers (Act 6:11-14)

WITNESS

General scriptures concerning LEV 5:1; PRO 18:17 - Qualified by oath EXO 22:11; NUM 5:19,21; 1KI 8:31,32 - By laying hands on the accused LEV 24:14 - Two necessary to establish a fact NUM 35:30; DEU 17:6; 19:15; MAT 18:16; JHN 8:17; 2CO 13:1; 1TI 5:19; HEB 10:28 - Required to throw the first stone in executing the sentence DEU 13:9; 17:5-7; ACT 7:58 - Incorruptible PSA 15:4 - Corrupted by money MAT 28:11-15; ACT 6:11,13

TESTIMONY

LEGAL: See EVIDENCE; WITNESSES RELIGIOUS: 1CH 16:8,9; PSA 9:11; 18:49; 26:6,7; 119:27,172; 145:11,12; ISA 12:4-6; 32:4; 43:10; 44:8; 45:24; JER 51:10; MAT 5:15; 10:32; MRK 4:21; 5:16,19,20; LUK 8:16,38,39; 12:8,9; 24:48; JHN 4:28-30,39,41,42; 15:27; ACT 1:8,22; ROM 10:9,10; 1CO 1:5,6; 12:3; 13:1; EPH 5:19; PHP 3:7-14; 1TI 6:12,13; 2TI 1:8; HEB 2:3,12; 1PE 3:15; 5:1; REV 12:11

EVIDENCE

LAWS CONCERNING: EXO 20:16; 23:1,7; LEV 5:1; 24:14; NUM 35:30; DEU 17:6,7; 19:15-21; PRO 24:28; MAT 18:16; 19:18; HEB 10:28 SELF-CRIMINATING: JOS 7:19-21

TRUTH

  • Saints should worship God in JHN 4:24
  • Serve God in JOS 24:14; 1SA 12:24
  • Walk in presence of God in 1KI 2:4; 2KI 20:3
  • Esteem as inestimable PRO 23:23
  • Love ZEC 8:19
  • Rejoice in 1CO 13:6
  • Speak to one another ZEC 8:16; EPH 4:25
  • Bind around the neck PRO 3:3
  • The fruit of the Spirit is in EPH 5:9
  • Those who speak truth show forth righteousness PRO 12:17
  • Those who speak truth are the delight of God PRO 12:22
  • The evil are destitute of HOS 4:1; speak not JER 9:5; uphold not ISA 59:14,15; plead not for ISA 59:4
  • Punished for want of JER 9:5,9; HOS 4:1,3
  • OF GOD: Is one of his attributes DEU 32:4; ISA 65:16; Inviolable NUM 23:19; TIT 1:2
  • Satan is devoid of JHN 8:44

INTEGRITY

General scriptures concerning: GEN 18:19; EXO 18:21; DEU 16:19,20; PSA 7:3-5,8; 15:1-5; 24:3-5; PRO 10:9; 11:3,5; 12:22; 19:1; 20:7; ISA 33:15,16; MIC 6:8; LUK 3:13,14; ACT 23:1; 24:16; ROM 9:1; 2CO 4:2; 7:2; 8:21; PHP 4:8; 1TI 1:5; HEB 13:18; 1PE 2:12

INSTANCES OF: Egyptian midwives (Exo 1:17-21); Moses (Num 16:15); Samuel (1Sa 12:4); Daniel (Dan 6:4); Nathanael (Jhn 1:47)

HONESTY

General scriptures concerning: LEV 19:35,36; DEU 16:20; 25:13-16; PSA 7:3,4; 15:5; 24:4; PRO 11:1; 12:22; ISA 33:15,16; MAT 7:12; MRK 10:19; ACT 24:16; 2CO 4:1,2; 7:2; 8:21; PHP 4:8; HEB 13:18; 1PE 2:12

DECEPTION

INSTANCES OF: By Satan GEN 3:4; Abraham (Gen 12:13; 20:2); Isaac (Gen 26:7); Jacob and Rebekah (Gen 27:6-23); Gibeonites (Jos 9:3-15); Delilah (Jdg 16:4-20); David (1Sa 21:10-15); Hushai (2Sa 16:15-19); Gehazi (2Ki 5:20); Herod (Mat 2:8); Ananias/Sapphira (Act 5:1)

DECEIT

  • Is falsehood PSA 119:118
  • The tongue is an instrument of ROM 3:13
  • Comes from the heart MRK 7:22
  • God abhors PSA 5:6
  • Forbidden PRO 24:28; 1PE 3:10
  • Christ was perfectly free from ISA 53:9; 1PE 2:22
  • Saints free from PSA 24:4; ZEP 3:13; REV 14:5
  • False witnesses use PRO 12:17
  • Blessedness of being free from PSA 24:4,5; 32:2
  • Punishment of PSA 55:23; JER 9:7-9

PERJURY

General scriptures concerning: LEV 6:2-7; 19:12; ISA 48:1; JER 5:2; 7:9; HOS 10:4; ZEC 5:4; 8:17; MAL 3:5; MAT 5:33; 1TI 1:9,10 INSTANCES OF: Zedekiah (2Ch 36:13); Witnesses against Naboth (1Ki 21:8-13); Against Jesus (Mat 26:59; Mrk 14:56,57); Against Stephen (Act 6:11,13,14); Peter denying Jesus (Mat 26:74)

SLANDER

  • Comes from the evil heart LUK 6:45
  • Often arises from hatred PSA 109:3
  • A characteristic of the Devil REV 12:10
  • Saints should keep tongues from PSA 34:13; 1PE 3:10
  • Saints should lay aside EPH 4:31
  • Blessed in enduring MAT 5:11
  • Characterized as avoiding PSA 15:1,3
  • Effects: Separating friends PRO 16:28; 17:9; Deadly wounds PRO 18:8; 26:22; Strife PRO 26:20; Discord among brethren PRO 6:19; Murder PSA 31:13; EZK 22:9
  • Punishment for DEU 19:16-21 INSTANCES OF: Against Naboth (1Ki 21:9-14); Against Jesus (Mat 26:60; Mrk 14:64; Jhn 5:18; 8:48); Against Stephen (Act 6:11-14)

GOSSIP

FORBIDDEN: LEV 19:16; PSA 50:20; PRO 11:13; 20:19; EZK 22:9

LIARS

  • All men are liars PSA 116:11
  • Satan, a deceiver JHN 8:44,55
  • Prohibited from the Kingdom of Heaven REV 21:8

ACCUSATION, FALSE

General scriptures concerning: EXO 23:1,7; LEV 19:16; PSA 41:5-9; MAT 5:11; LUK 3:14; 2TI 3:3; 1PE 4:14 INSTANCES OF: Against Joseph (Gen 39:7-20); Against Naboth (1Ki 21:10,13); Against Jesus (Mat 9:34; 26:59-61; Mrk 3:22; Luk 23:2; Jhn 18:30); Against Stephen (Act 6:11,13); Against Paul (Act 17:7; 21:28; 24:5,6)

LYING

  • Lying spirit from God 1KI 22:21-23; 2CH 18:20-22

DISHONESTY

General scriptures concerning: LEV 6:2-7; 19:13,35,36; DEU 25:13-16; PRO 11:1; 20:10; ISA 32:7; HOS 4:1,2; MIC 6:10,11; NAM 3:1 INSTANCES OF: Jacob steals blessing (Gen 27:6-29); Achan (Jos 7:11-26); Ahab confiscates Naboth's vineyard (1Ki 21:2-16); Judas (Jhn 12:6)

SINCERITY

  • Jesus was an example of 1PE 2:22
  • Should characterize our love toward God 2CO 8:8,24; our faith 1TI 1:5; our love to one another ROM 12:9; 1PE 1:22; 1JN 3:18
  • Evil people are devoid of PSA 5:9; 55:21
  • Blessedness of PSA 32:2 EXEMPLIFIED by: Nathanael JHN 1:47; Paul 2CO 1:12

FAITHFULNESS

EXHORTATION TO: PSA 12:1; 31:23; PRO 20:6; 28:20; MAT 10:22; 1CO 4:2; REV 2:10

CONSCIENCE

General scriptures concerning: JOB 15:21,24; 27:6; PRO 20:12; ROM 2:14,15; ACT 23:1; 24:16; 1TI 1:5,19; 3:9; HEB 13:18; 1PE 3:16 FAITHFUL INSTANCES: Egyptian midwives (Exo 1:17-21); Daniel (Dan 1:8); Peter (Act 4:19,20; 5:29) GUILTY INSTANCES: Adam and Eve (Gen 3:7,8); David (1Sa 24:5; 2Sa 24:10; Psa 32; 51); Peter (Mat 26:75); Judas (Mat 27:3-5)

FALSE CONFIDENCE

In self: DEU 29:19; PRO 3:5; 26:12; ISA 5:21; ROM 12:16; 2CO 1:9 In outward resources: PSA 20:7; 33:17; ISA 31:1-3; JER 48:7

SELF-DECEPTION

General scriptures concerning: JAS 1:26

  • FALSE WITNESS (referenced in multiple entries but has no standalone Nave's topic)
  • TALEBEARER (referenced under GOSSIP)
  • SPEAKING EVIL (referenced under SLANDER and GOSSIP)
  • FLATTERY (referenced under FALSEHOOD)
  • TEACHERS FALSE (referenced under FALSEHOOD)