Posted by Jeff Short on September 5, 2018 · Leave a Comment
A man that beareth false witness against his neighbor is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
– Proverbs 25:18
Verses 18-20 are a group of verses with a loose connection rather than a more formal, topical one. These sayings use vivid imagery and you could loosely group them together around the theme of unreliability. This verse warns of the danger of a
false witness. False witnesses are compared to a
maul, a
sword, and a
sharp arrow. These are all deadly weapons designed to inflict damage, pain, and even death. False witness is likewise a deadly weapon and the wielder is not trustworthy.
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Posted by Jeff Short on June 27, 2018 · Leave a Comment
Be not a witness against thy neighbor without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.
– Proverbs 24:28
Verse 28 is a saying against bearing false witness. The word for
without cause literally means for nothing. It can refer to free, or without cost, but can also mean without a reason. In the context of a false witness, it means to make a baseless accusation. The law required a witness to have firsthand knowledge to give testimony in a case (Leviticus 5:1). Judges were responsible to examine the witnesses’ evidence and establish the truthfulness of the testimony (Deuteronomy 19:18-21). Wisdom as well as the law condemns being a false witness (Exodus 23:1; Proverbs 14:5; 19:5; 21:28).
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Posted by Jeff Short on February 24, 2018 · Leave a Comment
A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.
– Proverbs 21:28
The word for
perish means to go astray, or be destroyed. A
false witness is a lying witness, which works all kinds of evil (Proverbs 6:19; 19:5). The second phrase is difficult and interpretations vary. The word for
constantly means enduring, or perpetuity. The word for
heareth means to hear intelligently, or to understand. From the contrast with the first phrase, we know a faithful witness is in view (Leviticus 5:1). In ultimate terms, truth will endure and falsehood will not last (Proverbs 12:19), and that seems the overall point of the proverb.
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Posted by Jeff Short on December 9, 2017 · Leave a Comment
An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.
– Proverbs 19:28
The word for
witness means testimony, or evidence. Proverbs has several warnings or condemnations of a false witness (Proverbs 6:19; 12:17; 14:5; 19:5, 9; 21:28; 25:18). Here it is an
ungodly witness, or witness of Belial. He is a thoroughly wicked and deceitful witness. Deliberately twisted testimony
scorneth, or mocks,
judgment, or justice in the sense of a verdict. The word for
devoureth means to swallow, or we would say gulp down. The second phrase pictures the ungodly witness as enjoying and greedily devouring
iniquity, or wickedness. It reminds us of how the fool laps up foolishness (Proverbs 15:14).
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Posted by Jeff Short on November 11, 2017 · Leave a Comment
A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.
– Proverbs 19:9
A false witness is an abomination to God and forbidden strictly by the law (Proverbs 6:16-19; Deuteronomy 19:16-21). This proverb is the same as Proverbs 19:5, except for the consequence, perish. The word mean be destroyed and all liars shall meet just judgment, in this life or in the one to come (Revelation 21:8).
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Posted by Jeff Short on November 6, 2017 · Leave a Comment
A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.
– Proverbs 19:5
The word for
unpunished means to be clear, or innocent. It has a judicial gloss here, since
false witness has legal connotations.
False witness is one of the hated abominations in Proverbs 6:16-19. The law forbids false witness and prescribes strict punishment for it (Exodus 20:16; 23:1; Deuteronomy 19:16). A false witness may go unchecked in this life, but this proverb promises he
shall not escape (Revelation 21:8, 27; 22:15).
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Posted by Jeff Short on June 11, 2017 · Leave a Comment
A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.
– Proverbs 14:25
True justice is dependent on truth, according this proverb and elsewhere (Proverbs 14:5). Wisdom will not trust in a false witness, for such a witness may benefit in the short term, but it is just as likely to hurt. True righteousness will not rejoice in unrighteousness even if it might benefit them.
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Posted by Jeff Short on May 22, 2017 · Leave a Comment
A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.
– Proverbs 14:5
Truth telling is the character of a
faithful witness, just as deceit is of a
false witness (Proverbs 12:17; 13:5). The word for
utter means to breathe out and the picture is one a habitual liar. A faithful witness will not lie and cannot be bribed to. The false witness needs no incentive, but lies readily. The lies of a false witness are an abomination to God (Proverbs 6:19).
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Posted by Jeff Short on April 10, 2017 · Leave a Comment
He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.
– Proverbs 12:17
The word for
righteousness means justice and along with the term
false witness, this proverb has a legal connotation. Speaking truth reliably manifests or upholds justice (Proverbs 14:5, 25). So the thought here includes consistency or reliability in those who speak truth. A
false witness is more than one who lies. Their lies or deceit through omission perverts justice (Proverbs 19:28; 24:28).
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Proverbs 25:18
Posted by Jeff Short on September 5, 2018 · Leave a Comment
A man that beareth false witness against his neighbor is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
Verses 18-20 are a group of verses with a loose connection rather than a more formal, topical one. These sayings use vivid imagery and you could loosely group them together around the theme of unreliability. This verse warns of the danger of a false witness. False witnesses are compared to a maul, a sword, and a sharp arrow. These are all deadly weapons designed to inflict damage, pain, and even death. False witness is likewise a deadly weapon and the wielder is not trustworthy.– Proverbs 25:18
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