What Does the Bible Say About False Witness?

Proverbs 19:5 ESV / 73 helpful votes

A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will not escape.

Exodus 23:1 ESV / 69 helpful votes

“You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness.

Proverbs 6:16-19 ESV / 60 helpful votes

There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

Mark 10:19 ESV / 34 helpful votes

You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’”

John 8:44 ESV / 32 helpful votes

You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Exodus 23:1-3 ESV / 29 helpful votes

“You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness. You shall not fall in with the many to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the many, so as to pervert justice, nor shall you be partial to a poor man in his lawsuit.

Exodus 20:16 ESV / 28 helpful votes

“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

Revelation 21:8 ESV / 22 helpful votes

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Matthew 5:33-37 ESV / 18 helpful votes

“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.

Exodus 20:1-26 ESV / 13 helpful votes

And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, ...

Galatians 5:14 ESV / 12 helpful votes

For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Ezekiel 13:6-9 ESV / 10 helpful votes

They have seen false visions and lying divinations. They say, ‘Declares the Lord,’ when the Lord has not sent them, and yet they expect him to fulfill their word. Have you not seen a false vision and uttered a lying divination, whenever you have said, ‘Declares the Lord,’ although I have not spoken?” Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Because you have uttered falsehood and seen lying visions, therefore behold, I am against you, declares the Lord God. My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and who give lying divinations. They shall not be in the council of my people, nor be enrolled in the register of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord God.

Jeremiah 23:32 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Behold, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams, declares the Lord, and who tell them and lead my people astray by their lies and their recklessness, when I did not send them or charge them. So they do not profit this people at all, declares the Lord.

Isaiah 30:8-11 ESV / 10 helpful votes

And now, go, write it before them on a tablet and inscribe it in a book, that it may be for the time to come as a witness forever. For they are a rebellious people, lying children, children unwilling to hear the instruction of the Lord; who say to the seers, “Do not see,” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us what is right; speak to us smooth things, prophesy illusions, leave the way, turn aside from the path, let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel.”

Romans 13:9 ESV / 9 helpful votes

For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Matthew 23:27 ESV / 9 helpful votes

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness.

Leviticus 19:12 ESV / 9 helpful votes

You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord.

James 5:12 ESV / 7 helpful votes

But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

Isaiah 28:15 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Because you have said, “We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol we have an agreement, when the overwhelming whip passes through it will not come to us, for we have made lies our refuge, and in falsehood we have taken shelter”;

John 3:16 ESV / 6 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Proverbs 14:5 ESV / 6 helpful votes

A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies.

Proverbs 6:19 ESV / 6 helpful votes

A false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

Leviticus 19:16 ESV / 5 helpful votes

You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord.

Exodus 23:7 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Keep far from a false charge, and do not kill the innocent and righteous, for I will not acquit the wicked.

Revelation 1:1 ESV / 4 helpful votes

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

Ephesians 5:25 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,

Deuteronomy 5:20 ESV / 4 helpful votes

“‘And you shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

Leviticus 19:11 ESV / 4 helpful votes

“You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie to one another.

Ephesians 4:25 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.

Luke 3:14 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.”

Matthew 28:13-15 ESV / 3 helpful votes

And said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.

Matthew 19:18 ESV / 3 helpful votes

He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness,

Proverbs 21:28 ESV / 3 helpful votes

A false witness will perish, but the word of a man who hears will endure.

Proverbs 19:9 ESV / 3 helpful votes

A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish.

Deuteronomy 19:16-21 ESV / 3 helpful votes

If a malicious witness arises to accuse a person of wrongdoing, then both parties to the dispute shall appear before the Lord, before the priests and the judges who are in office in those days. The judges shall inquire diligently, and if the witness is a false witness and has accused his brother falsely, then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother. So you shall purge the evil from your midst. And the rest shall hear and fear, and shall never again commit any such evil among you. ...

Deuteronomy 19:16 ESV / 3 helpful votes

If a malicious witness arises to accuse a person of wrongdoing,

Exodus 20:11 ESV / 3 helpful votes

For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

1 Peter 3:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

Romans 6:23 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Acts 6:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.”

John 14:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 8:22 ESV / 2 helpful votes

So the Jews said, “Will he kill himself, since he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?”

John 3:16-17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Mark 14:56 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For many bore false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree.

Mark 14:55 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they found none.

Proverbs 25:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.

Proverbs 19:28 ESV / 2 helpful votes

A worthless witness mocks at justice, and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.

Proverbs 12:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Proverbs 12:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness utters deceit.

Psalm 27:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence.

Psalm 15:1-2 ESV / 2 helpful votes

A Psalm of David. O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill? He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart;

1 Kings 21:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And the two worthless men came in and sat opposite him. And the worthless men brought a charge against Naboth in the presence of the people, saying, “Naboth cursed God and the king.” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death with stones.

1 Kings 21:10-13 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And set two worthless men opposite him, and let them bring a charge against him, saying, ‘You have cursed God and the king.’ Then take him out and stone him to death.” And the men of his city, the elders and the leaders who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had sent word to them. As it was written in the letters that she had sent to them, they proclaimed a fast and set Naboth at the head of the people. And the two worthless men came in and sat opposite him. And the worthless men brought a charge against Naboth in the presence of the people, saying, “Naboth cursed God and the king.” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death with stones.

Deuteronomy 19:15-21 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established. If a malicious witness arises to accuse a person of wrongdoing, then both parties to the dispute shall appear before the Lord, before the priests and the judges who are in office in those days. The judges shall inquire diligently, and if the witness is a false witness and has accused his brother falsely, then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother. So you shall purge the evil from your midst. ...

Deuteronomy 5:6-21 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“‘I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. “‘You shall have no other gods before me. “‘You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. ...

Leviticus 19:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

Exodus 23:1-2 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness. You shall not fall in with the many to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the many, so as to pervert justice,

57 Bible Verses about False Witness

Proverbs 19:5 ESV / 73 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Exodus 23:1 ESV / 69 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 6:16-19 ESV / 60 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Mark 10:19 ESV / 34 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 8:44 ESV / 32 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Exodus 23:1-3 ESV / 29 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Exodus 20:16 ESV / 28 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Revelation 21:8 ESV / 22 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 5:33-37 ESV / 18 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Exodus 20:1-26 ESV / 13 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 5:14 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ezekiel 13:6-9 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Jeremiah 23:32 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 30:8-11 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 13:9 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 23:27 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Leviticus 19:12 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 5:12 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 28:15 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:16 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 14:5 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 6:19 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Leviticus 19:16 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Exodus 23:7 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Revelation 1:1 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 5:25 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Deuteronomy 5:20 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Leviticus 19:11 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:25 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 3:14 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 28:13-15 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 19:18 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 21:28 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 19:9 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Deuteronomy 19:16-21 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Deuteronomy 19:16 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Exodus 20:11 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 3:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 6:23 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 6:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 14:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 8:22 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:16-17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Mark 14:56 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Mark 14:55 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 25:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 19:28 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 12:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 12:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 27:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 15:1-2 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Kings 21:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Kings 21:10-13 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Deuteronomy 19:15-21 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Deuteronomy 5:6-21 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Leviticus 19:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Exodus 23:1-2 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

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