Exodus 20:16 — Word Study
WLCלֹֽא־ תַעֲנֶ֥ה בְרֵעֲךָ֖ עֵ֥ד שָֽׁקֶר׃ ס
BSAYou shall notlôʼ [under any circumstances] bearʻânâh▸ [give or provide] falsesheqer [deceptive or untrue] witnessʻêd [testimony or evidence] against your neighborrêaʻ [to the harm or injury of, close or nearby, friend or companion]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| לֹֽא־ | not | Particle |
| תַעֲנֶ֥ה | you must testify | Verb, Qal, imperfect second person masculine singular |
| בְרֵעֲךָ֖ | against neighbor your | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| עֵ֥ד | testimony of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| שָֽׁקֶר׃ 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 | Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. |
| ASV | Thou shalt not 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 against false witness — see How Translations Differ.
A straightforward command with a clear prohibition and a specification of the subject affected.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & 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 — Exodus 20:16
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 Ninth Commandmentgenerated
Exodus 20:16 is part of the Ten Commandments, which outline the moral and ethical standards God expects from His people. This command specifically addresses the importance of honesty and integrity in testimony, highlighting the serious consequences of falsehoods in relationships with others. It emphasizes the need for truth in community interactions, as seen in the surrounding commandments that promote respect and justice.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exodus 23:6–7 | You shall not deny justice to the poor in their lawsuits. |
| 2 | Leviticus 19:11–16 | You must not steal. You must not lie or deceive one another. |
| 3 | Deuteronomy 19:15–21 | A lone witness is not sufficient to establish any wrongdoing or sin against a man, regardless of what offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. |
| 4 | 1 Samuel 22:8–19 | Is that why all of you have conspired against me? Not one of you told me that my own son had made a covenant with the son of Jesse. Not one of you has shown concern for me or revealed to me that my son has stirred up my own servant to lie in wait against me, as is the case today.” |
| 5 | 1 Kings 21:10–13 | But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them testify, ‘You have cursed both God and the king!’ Then take him out and stone him to death.” |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 15 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — שֶׁקֶר, Sha.kergenerated
The word שֶׁ֫קֶר (sheqer) means 'falsehood' or 'deception.' It encompasses various forms of deceit, including lies and wrongful testimony. The parsing as a noun indicates it is a thing or concept, rather than an action, emphasizing the nature of what is being prohibited.
This command warns against the act of bearing false witness, which can harm relationships and disrupt community trust. It highlights the gravity of misrepresenting the truth, especially when it comes to legal testimony or personal character.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The translations agree on the wording of the command, emphasizing the prohibition against false testimony.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main clause is governed by the finite verb תַעֲנֶ֥ה, you shall testify, which is negated by לֹֽא־, not. The structure emphasizes the prohibition directly before the action, making it clear that false testimony is forbidden.
The sentence includes a prepositional phrase בְרֵעֲךָ֖, against your neighbor, which specifies the context of the testimony, highlighting the personal nature of the command.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates תַעֲנֶ֥ה as ψευδομαρτυρήσεις, which means 'false witness' or 'false testimony.' This choice underscores the seriousness of the command and aligns with the Hebrew meaning of providing untrue testimony.
The Greek word emphasizes the legal and moral implications of bearing false witness, suggesting a broader interpretation of the command's intent.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Exodus 20:16 tells us that we must not lie or give false testimony about others. This command is part of the Ten Commandments, which guide how we should treat one another. Honesty is crucial in our relationships and in maintaining trust within our communities.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
To bear false witness means to give untrue testimony about someone, which can harm their reputation and relationships.
Honesty is vital because it fosters trust and integrity in relationships, ensuring that justice is upheld in the community.
This command applies to modern life by reminding us to speak truthfully about others and to avoid spreading rumors or false information.
Lying can lead to broken relationships, loss of trust, and potential legal consequences, as it undermines the foundation of community and justice.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what situations have I been tempted to speak untruths about others?
- How can I promote honesty and integrity in my relationships?
- What steps can I take to ensure I provide accurate testimony when needed?
- How does this command shape my understanding of justice and community?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early Church Fathers, including Augustine of Hippo, reference this command to discuss the nature of truth and testimony in their writings.
In the Decalogue itself it is written, “You shall not bear false witness,” in which classification every lie is embraced, for whoever pronounces any statement gives testimony to his own mind.Early Church Fathers on Exodus 20 →
The law says to you, for example, “You shall not bear false witness.” If you know what the truth of the evidence is, you have light in your mind.Early Church Fathers on Exodus 20 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Exodus 20:16 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Neither publicly in a court of judicature, by laying things to his charge that are false, and swearing to them, to his hurt and damage; nor
Read John Gill on Exodus 20 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour , [ `eed (H5707) shaaqer (H8267)] - false, lying evidence, not only in a court of
Read Robert Jamieson on Exodus 20 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleHeb. not answer, viz. when thou art asked in judgment, 19:16; or, not speak a false testimony, or as a false witness; which doth not only forbid perjury in judgment, but also all unjust censure, slander, backbiting, scorning, false accusation, and the like; and also requires a just and candid judgment of him, and of his words and actions, speaking well of him, as far as truth and justice will permit, and defending his good name against the calumnies and detractions of others. Against thy neighbour; no, nor for thy neighbours; but he saith against, both because such perjuries, slanders, &c. are most commonly designed against them, and because this is a great aggravation of the sin, when a…
Read Matthew Poole on Exodus 20 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsExodus 20:16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.Ver. 16. Thou shalt not bear false witness.] Neither bear it, nor hear it; raise, nor receive wrong reports of another; make a lie, nor love it when it is made. The truth must be spoken, and that in love. Doeg had a false tongue, though he spoke nothing but truth against David.
Read John Trapp on Exodus 20 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(16) Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.—Our fourth duty to our neighbour is not to injure his character. Our great poet has said— “Who steals my purse, steals trash, But he who filches from me my good name, Robs me of that which not enriches him, Yet leaves me poor indeed,”— Thus indicating the fact that calumny may injure a man more than robbery. False witness is, of course, worst when given in a court of justice; and this offence has generally been made punishable by law. It was peculiar to the Hebrew legislation that it not only forbade and punished (Deuteronomy 19:16-20) false testimony of this extreme kind, but denounced also the far commoner, yet scarcely less…
Read Charles John Ellicott on Exodus 20 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleTHE NINTH COMMANDMENT Against false testimony, perjury, c. Verse 16. Thou shalt not bear false witness, &c.] Not only false oaths, to deprive a man of his life or of his right, are here prohibited, but all whispering, tale-bearing, slander, and calumny in a word, whatever is deposed as a truth, which is false in fact, and tends to injure another in his goods, person, or character, is against the spirit and letter of this law. Suppressing the truth when known, by which a person may be defrauded of his property or his good name, or lie under injuries or disabilities which a discovery of the truth would have prevented, is also a crime against this law. He who bears a false testimony against or…
Read AdamClarke on Exodus 20 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges16. The ninth commandment. Against bearing false witness, primarily in a court of law,—a specially common crime in the East,—but also more generally by taking away the character of a neighbour by false imputations (cf. Exodus 23:1). bear false witness] lit. answer (in a forensic sense, in a court of law, Deuteronomy 19:16; Deuteronomy 19:18, Numbers 35:30 [EVV. testify], but also more generally, 1 Samuel 12:3 [‘witness’], Deuteronomy 31:21 al. [‘testify’]) as a false witness: Deuteronomy 5:20 has ‘as an empty, insincere, witness’ (the word explained on v. 7). For the penalty for false witness, see Deuteronomy 19:16-21. Cf. Proverbs 14:5; Proverbs 19:5; Proverbs 25:18 (same Heb. as here).
Read Cambridge on Exodus 20 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the BibleTHE NINTH , Exodus 20:16. 16. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour — The law which guards the property of a man is appropriately followed by one which guards his good name.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Exodus 20 →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 shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
Tyndale line
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
Thou shalt not beare false witnes against thy neighbour.
Strictly literal
Thou shalt not 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.
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
You must not give false testimony against your neighbor.
From the Latin
Thou shalt not 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 and the Samaritan Pentateuch agree word for word on this command. The Septuagint matches all five words from the Hebrew text, maintaining the same meaning while presenting a different word order.
לֹֽא־ תַעֲנֶ֥ה בְרֵעֲךָ֖ עֵ֥ד שָֽׁקֶר׃ 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 שׁקר
Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.
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 Exodus 20:16
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)
Part — ParticleHTn
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…
שֶׁ֫קֶר (sheqer) refers to deception, falsehood, and disappointment. It encompasses various forms of deceit, including fraud and wrongful testimony. The word is built from the root associated with untruths and can imply sham or lying. It is used in contexts involving false prophets and general dishonesty.
שֶׁ֫קֶר 113 n.m. deception, disappointment, falsehood
deception, what deceives, disappoints, and betrays one
deceit, fraud, wrong
injurious falsehood, in testimony
falsity, of false or self-deceived prophets
lie, falsehood, in gen.
base
H8267 שֶׁ֫קֶר deception, disappointment, falsehood . deception, what deceives, disappoints, and betrays one
. deceit, fraud, wrong
. injurious falsehood, in testimony
. falsity, of false or self-deceived prophets
. lie, falsehood, in gen.
8267 sheqer sheh'-ker
from 8266; an untruth; by implication, a sham (often
adverbial):--without a cause, deceit(-ful),
false(-hood, -ly), feignedly, liar, + lie, lying, vain
(thing), wrongfully.
see HEBREW for 08266
שֶׁ֫קֶר (she.qer) — deception.
1) lie, deception, disappointment, falsehood
1a) deception (what deceives or disappoints or betrays one)
1b) deceit, fraud, wrong
1b1) fraudulently, wrongfully (as adverb)
1c) falsehood (injurious in testimony)
1c1) testify falsehood, false oath, swear falsely
1d) falsity (of false or self-deceived prophets)
1e) lie, falsehood (in general)
1e1) false tongue
1f) in vain
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;