Deuteronomy 5:20 — Word Study
WLCוְלֹֽא־ תַעֲנֶ֥ה בְרֵֽעֲךָ֖ עֵ֥ד שָֽׁוְא׃ ס
BSAYou shall notlôʼ [under any circumstance] bearʻânâh▸ [give or provide] falseshâvᵉʼ [deceptive, untrue, or vain] witnessʻêd [testimony or evidence] against your neighborrêaʻ [to the harm or injury of, close friend, companion, or fellow citizen]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְלֹֽא־ | and not | Conjunction, particle |
| תַעֲנֶ֥ה | you must testify | Verb, Qal, imperfect second person masculine singular |
| בְרֵֽעֲךָ֖ | against neighbor your | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| עֵ֥ד | testimony of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| שָֽׁוְא׃ ס | falsehood | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. |
| KJV | Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour. |
| ASV | Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbor. |
| YLT | 'Thou dost not answer against thy neighbour — a false testimony. |
| WEB | “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. |
| BBE | Do not give false witness against your neighbour; |
The translations agree on the prohibition of false testimony, emphasizing the ethical implications of the command.
The sentence is structured with a main clause followed by a prepositional phrase and a noun phrase, clearly outlining the command's focus.
4 commentators on this verse
Jamieson, Ellicott, Cambridge, Whedon & more — read them ›
clause
verbעָנָה
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Deuteronomy 5:20
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Ten Commandmentsgenerated
Deuteronomy 5:20 is part of the Ten Commandments, a foundational set of laws given to the Israelites. This commandment specifically addresses the integrity of one's speech and the importance of honesty in interactions with others. It emphasizes that one should not provide false testimony, which can harm relationships and community trust. This principle is reflected in other biblical passages, such as Exodus 20:16 and Proverbs 6:19.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deuteronomy 19:16–21 | If a false witness testifies against someone, accusing him of a crime, |
| 2 | Exodus 20:16 | You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. |
| 3 | Exodus 23:1 | “You shall not spread a false report. Do not join the wicked by being a malicious witness. |
| 4 | 1 Kings 21:13 | And the two scoundrels came in and sat opposite Naboth, and these men testified against him before the people, saying, “Naboth has cursed both God and the king!” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death. |
| 5 | Proverbs 6:19 | a false witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up discord among brothers. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — שָׁוְא, Shav'generated
The Hebrew word שָׁוְא (shav') conveys the idea of emptiness or falsehood. It describes something that is deceitful or without value, often associated with lies or vanity. In this context, it refers specifically to false testimony that can lead to injustice.
This word is a noun and is used in a legal context, emphasizing the seriousness of bearing false witness. The commandment underscores the moral obligation to speak truthfully, as falsehood can cause significant harm to individuals and the community.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The verse is rendered in the Berean Standard Bible as 'You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.' This is consistent across translations like the KJV and ASV, which also emphasize the prohibition against false testimony.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main clause of the verse is governed by the finite verb תַעֲנֶ֥ה, you must testify, with a prepositional phrase בְרֵֽעֲךָ֖ against your neighbor and a noun phrase עֵ֥ד שָֽׁוְא׃ false witness serving as the object. The structure highlights the command's focus on the act of testimony and its ethical implications.
The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the prohibition, starting with the negation וְלֹֽא־ (and not), which underscores the seriousness of the command.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew word עֵד is translated as μαρτυρίαν (marturian), meaning 'witness' or 'testimony.' This choice reflects the importance of legal testimony in both the Hebrew and Greek contexts.
The translation of שָׁוְא as ψευδῆ (pseudē) indicates a focus on falsehood, aligning with the command's emphasis on truthfulness.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Deuteronomy 5:20 commands that one must not give false testimony against a neighbor. This instruction is part of the Ten Commandments, which guide ethical behavior and promote honesty within the community.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
To bear false witness means to give untrue testimony about someone, which can lead to harm or injustice.
This commandment is crucial for maintaining trust and integrity within a community, as false testimony can damage relationships.
Bearing false witness contradicts the love and respect we should have for our neighbors, as it harms their reputation and well-being.
Yes, other verses such as Exodus 20:16 and Proverbs 6:19 also address the issue of false testimony.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what situations have I seen the impact of false testimony on individuals or communities?
- How can I ensure that I speak truthfully about others, especially when discussing sensitive matters?
- What steps can I take to promote honesty and integrity in my relationships?
- How does understanding this commandment help me to love my neighbor better?
Commentators on this verse — 4 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Deuteronomy 5:20 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThou shalt not kill. No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on Deuteronomy 5 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(17-20) The wording of these four commandments is the same with that of Exodus 20.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Deuteronomy 5 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges17–20. The Sixth to the Ninth Commandments, as in Exodus 20:13-16, except that for the simple not used there, we have here and not = neither, to introduce the Seventh, Eighth and Ninth Commandments; and that in the Ninth instead of sheḳ ?er = false of Exo 20:16 there is the wider term shav’ = vain, groundless, as in the Third Commandment. For this term see on Exodus 20:7; and cp. Exodus 23:1 (E), where it is applied to a report or rumour.
Read Cambridge on Deuteronomy 5 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the BibleOF THE TEN , Deuteronomy 5:6-21.Here, on the plains of Moab, in sight of the Land of Promise, thirty-eight years after the first announcement of the law on Sinai, Moses repeats the code which Jehovah
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Deuteronomy 5 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
You must not offer false testimony against another.
Tyndale line
Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour.
Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbor.
Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour.
Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbor.
Neither shalt thou beare false witnesse against thy neighbour.
Strictly literal
Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour.
'Thou dost not answer against thy neighbour — a false testimony.
You do not answer [with] a false testimony against your neighbor.
(5:17C) Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbor.
You will not give false witness against your neighbor.
From the Latin
Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour.
Simplified
You must not give false evidence against others.
Do not give false witness against your neighbour;
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text is supported by the Septuagint and the Samaritan Pentateuch, which agree word for word. The Dead Sea Scrolls show some variations, with certain words supplied by editors, but the core message remains consistent across these ancient witnesses.
וְלֹֽא־ תַעֲנֶ֥ה בְרֵֽעֲךָ֖ עֵ֥ד שָֽׁוְא׃ ס
5 of the 5 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
לא תענה ברעך עד שׁוא
Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.
[ולא] [תענה] [ברעי׳ך] [עד] [שוא]
nothing on the leather here — 5 supplied entire by an editor.
ולוא תענה ברעי׳כה עד שו
5 words on the leather.
[ולא] [תענה] [ברע׳ך] עד שו
2 words on the leather — 3 supplied entire by an editor.
[ולא] [תענה] [ברע׳ך] [עד] [שוא]
nothing on the leather here — 5 supplied entire by an editor.
לוא תענה ברעי׳ך עד שוא
5 words on the leather.
לוא תענה ברעי׳ך [עד] [שוא]
2 words on the leather — 1 partly restored, 2 supplied entire by an editor.
לא תענה ברע׳ך עד שקר
5 words on the leather.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Deuteronomy 5:20
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
base
H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not
3808 lo' lo
or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often
used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,
ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,
no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out
of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +
of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.
לֹא (lo) — not.
1) not, no
1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)
1b) not (with modifier-negation)
1c) nothing (subst)
1d) without (with particle)
1e) before (of time)
Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Conj | Part — Conjunction · particleHC/Tn
The Hebrew word עָנָה (*anah*) is built from a primitive root meaning to heed or pay attention, covering a range of meanings including to answer, respond, testify, and sing. It appears in contexts where one responds to speech or circumstances, and can also refer to singing. The lexicons indicate that it can imply both verbal responses and musical expression.
[עוּן] vb. dwell
base
עָנָה 316 vb. answer, respond
Qal
answer, respond to sthg. said, actual or implied
respond to an occasion, speak in view of circumstances
money meets all demands
specif. respond as a witness, testify
less oft. make response as one accused (respondent)
Niph.
make answer
be answered
Hiph. wholly dub.; causes all things to respond in the joy of his heart
base
עָנָה vb. sing
Qal sing, utter tunefully
Pi. sing sweetly of it
base
H6030a עוּן dwell H6030b עָנָה answer, respond .. answer, respond to sthg. said, actual or implied
. . respond to an occasion, speak in view of circumstances
. money meets all demands
. . specif. respond as a witness, testify
. less oft. make response as one accused (respondent)
. . make answer
. be answered
. wholly dub.; causes all things to respond in the joy of his heart
H6030c עָנָה sing
6030 `anah aw-naw'
a primitive root; properly, to eye or (generally) to heed,
i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extens. to
begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout, testify,
announce:--give account, afflict (by mistake for 6031),
(cause to, give) answer, bring low (by mistake for 6031), cry,
hear, Leannoth, lift up, say, X scholar, (give a) shout, sing
(together by course), speak, testify, utter, (bear) witness.
See also 1042, 1043.
see HEBREW for 06031
see HEBREW for 06031
see HEBREW for 01042
see HEBREW for 01043
עוּן (un) — to dwell.
(Qal) to dwell
עָנָה (a.nah) — to answer.
1) to answer, respond, testify, speak, shout
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to answer, respond to
1a2) to testify, respond as a witness
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to make answer
1b2) to be answered, receive answer
Aramaic equivalent: a.nah (עֲנָה "to answer" H6032)
עָנָה (a.nah) — to sing.
(Qal) to sing, utter tunefully
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine singularHVqi2ms
רֵעַ (rea`) refers to a friend, companion, or fellow, emphasizing close associations such as brotherhood or intimacy. It can also denote a neighbor or another person in a broader sense. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to associate.'
רֵעַ 187 n.m. friend, companion, fellow
base
H7453 רֵעַ friend, companion, fellow
7453 rea` ray'-ah
or reya2 {ray'-ah}; from 7462; an associate (more or less
close):--brother, companion, fellow, friend, husband, lover,
neighbour, X (an-)other.
see HEBREW for 0reya2
see HEBREW for 07462
רֵעַ (re.a) — neighbor.
1) friend, companion, fellow, another person
1a) friend, intimate
1b) fellow, fellow-citizen, another person (weaker sense)
1c) other, another (reciprocal phrase)
Prep | N-ms | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncmsc/Sp2ms
עֵד (ed) means 'witness' and encompasses both the act of witnessing and the person who testifies. It is derived from a root suggesting emphatic affirmation. The term can refer to evidence of things or to individuals providing testimony.
עֵד 69 n.m. witness (prob. fr. reiterating, hence emphatically affirming)
witness, testimony, evidence, of things
witness, a person
base
H5707 עֵד witness (prob. fr. reiterating, hence emphatically affirming) . witness, testimony, evidence, of things
. witness, a person
5707 `ed ayd
contracted from 5749 ; concretely, a witness; abstractly,
testimony; specifically, a recorder, i.e. prince:--witness.
see HEBREW for 05749
עֵד (ed) — witness.
1) witness
1a) witness, testimony, evidence (of things)
1b) witness (of people)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
The Hebrew word שָׁוְא (*shav*) means emptiness or vanity. It conveys ideas of falsehood, worthlessness, and deception, both in a literal sense and in terms of moral or spiritual emptiness. The lexicons highlight its use in describing empty speech or conduct that is devoid of value.
שָׁוְא n.[m.] emptiness, vanity
base
H7723 שָׁוְא emptiness, vanity
7723 shav' shawv
or shav {shav}; from the same as 7722 in the sense of
desolating; evil (as destructive), literally (ruin) or morally
(especially guile); figuratively idolatry (as false,
subjective), uselessness (as deceptive, objective; also
adverbially, in vain):--false(-ly), lie, lying, vain, vanity.
see HEBREW for 07722
שָׁוְא (shav) — vanity: false.
: false
1) emptiness, vanity, falsehood
1a) emptiness, nothingness, vanity
1b) emptiness of speech, lying
1c) worthlessness (of conduct)
Also means: shav (שָׁוְא ": vain" H7723H)
שָׁוְא (shav) — vanity: vain.
: vain/empty/worthless
1) emptiness, vanity, falsehood
1a) emptiness, nothingness, vanity
1b) emptiness of speech, lying
1c) worthlessness (of conduct)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
fols'-hood.
See LYING.
→ General scriptures concerning Ex 20:16; 23:1; Le 6:2-7; 19:11,12,16; Job 13:4; 21:34; 27:4; 31:5,6,33; 36:4; Ps 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; Pr 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; Ec 5:6; Isa 28:15; 32:7; 57:11; 59:3,4,12,13; 63:8;