Proverbs 19:5 — Word Study
WLCעֵ֣ד שְׁ֭קָרִים לֹ֣א יִנָּקֶ֑ה וְיָפִ֥יחַ כְּ֝זָבִ֗ים לֹ֣א יִמָּלֵֽט׃
BSAA falsesheqer [deceptive, untrue] witnessʻêd [one who testifies, gives testimony] will notlôʼ go unpunishednâqâh▸ [without penalty, unreprimanded] and one who utterspûwach▸ [speaks, breathes out] lieskâzâb [deceit, falsehoods] will notlôʼ escapemâlaṭ▸ [be delivered, slip away to safety]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| עֵ֣ד | a witness of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| שְׁ֭קָרִים | lies | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| לֹ֣א | not | Particle |
| יִנָּקֶ֑ה | he will go unpunished | Verb, Niphal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| וְיָפִ֥יחַ | and he may breathe out | Conjunction, verb qal third person masculine singular |
| כְּ֝זָבִ֗ים | lies | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| לֹ֣א | not | Particle |
| יִמָּלֵֽט׃ | he will escape | Verb, Niphal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape. |
| KJV | A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape. |
| ASV | A false witness shall not be unpunished; And he that uttereth lies shall not escape. |
| YLT | A false witness is not acquitted, Whoso breatheth out lies is not delivered. |
| WEB | A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free. |
| BBE | A false witness will not go without punishment, and the breather out of deceit will not go free. |
Where they part company is in the emphasis on punishment for deceitful actions — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence consists of a main clause followed by a subordinate clause, emphasizing the certainty of punishment for both types of deceit.





6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbנָקָה
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 — Proverbs 19:5
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 Consequences of Deceitgenerated
Proverbs 19:5 discusses the serious consequences faced by those who bear false witness and speak lies. This verse emphasizes the importance of truthfulness and integrity in testimony, reflecting a broader moral teaching found throughout the book of Proverbs. It serves as a reminder that dishonesty will ultimately lead to punishment, aligning with other wisdom literature that warns against deceitful behavior.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 19:9 | A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who pours out lies will perish. |
| 2 | Proverbs 6:19 | a false witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up discord among brothers. |
| 3 | Proverbs 21:28 | A lying witness will perish, but the man who listens to truth will speak forever. |
| 4 | Exodus 23:1 | “You shall not spread a false report. Do not join the wicked by being a malicious witness. |
| 5 | Deuteronomy 19:16–21 | If a false witness testifies against someone, accusing him of a crime, |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 9 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — עֵד, 'edgenerated
The word עֵד ('ed) means 'witness' and refers to someone who testifies or gives testimony. It is derived from a root suggesting emphatic affirmation, indicating a strong connection to the act of witnessing.
In this verse, it highlights the role of a witness in legal and moral contexts, emphasizing that a false witness will face consequences. The parsing indicates it is a masculine singular noun, showing it refers to an individual witness.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The translations agree that a false witness will not go unpunished and that one who speaks lies will not escape.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb in this verse is יִנָּקֶ֑ה, he will go unpunished, which governs the structure. The sentence consists of two clauses that parallel each other: one about the false witness and the other about the one who speaks lies.
The structure emphasizes the certainty of punishment for both types of deceitful behavior, with the use of לֹא (not) serving as a strong negation.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint uses the Greek word μάρτυς (martus) to translate עֵד, which also means 'witness'. This choice maintains the focus on the role of the witness in legal matters.
For שְׁ֭קָרִים, the LXX uses ψευδὴς (pseudēs), meaning 'false', which aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning, reinforcing the idea of deceit.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Proverbs 19:5 tells us that a person who gives false testimony will not escape punishment, and someone who speaks lies will not be able to avoid consequences. This verse highlights the importance of honesty and warns against deceitful behavior.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that those who bear false witness will face consequences for their actions, as dishonesty is morally and legally wrong.
Speaking lies can lead to harm and injustice, affecting relationships and the truth of legal matters, which is why it is condemned in Scripture.
This verse aligns with other teachings in Proverbs that emphasize the value of truthfulness and the dangers of deceit.
We learn that honesty is essential for integrity and that deceitful actions will ultimately lead to negative consequences.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what situations have I seen the consequences of dishonesty play out in my life or in others' lives?
- How can I ensure that I am a truthful witness in my own words and actions?
- What are some practical steps I can take to avoid deceitful behavior?
- How can I encourage others to value honesty in their own lives?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early Church Fathers have commented on this verse, noting the importance of truthfulness and the consequences of false testimony.
There are true martyrs and false ones, because there are true and false witnesses. But Scripture says, “The false witness shall not go unpunished.” If the false witness will not escape punishment,Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 19 →
A false witness will not go unpunished, etc. He reproved him who only followed words of knowledge without the efficacy of operation; now he reproves him who corrupts the very words of divine authority by misinterpretation.Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 19 →
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Proverbs 19:5 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleA false witness shall not be unpunished,.... He that bears false witness against his neighbour in an open court of judicature; though be may not be detected by men, and so escape the punishment due
Read John Gill on Proverbs 19 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryA false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape. A false witness ... and (he that) speaketh (Hebrew, breatheth forth) lies shall not escape. Proverbs 19:9 repeats this.
Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 19 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleShall not be unpunished; though he escape the observation and punishment of men, yet he shall not avoid the judgment of God. That speaketh lies; that accustometh himself to lying, either in judgment or in common conversation.
Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 19 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsProverbs 19:5 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and [he that] speaketh lies shall not escape.Ver. 5. A false witness shall not be unpunished.] Many poor people care not to lend their rich friend an oath at a need; and many rich, though they think ill of pillory perjury, yet they make little conscience of a merry lie. Neither of these shall pass unpunished. And this sentence may be to them, as those knuckles of a man’ s hand were to Belshazzar, to write them their destiny, or as Daniel was to him, to read it unto them.
Read John Trapp on Proverbs 19 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges5. speaketh] Lit. breatheth out; and so in Proverbs 19:9 below.
Read Cambridge on Proverbs 19 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible5. Not be unpunished — Better, as margin, not “held innocent.” Shall not escape — Namely, not escape punishment. The first clause is equivalent to, shall be guilty; the second, shall not go unpunished.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Proverbs 19 →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
A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape.
A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free.
A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape.
A false witness will not go unpunished, and the one who spouts out lies will not escape punishment.
Tyndale line
A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.
A false witness shall not be unpunished; And he that uttereth lies shall not escape.
A false witness shall not be unpunished; and he that uttereth lies shall not escape.
A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.
A false witnes shall not be vnpunished: and he that speaketh lyes, shall not escape.
Strictly literal
A false witness shall not be held innocent, and he that uttereth lies shall not escape.
A false witness is not acquitted, Whoso breatheth out lies is not delivered.
A false witness is not acquitted, || Whoever breathes out lies is not delivered.
A false witness shall not remain unpunished, and he that uttereth lies shall not escape.
A false witness will not go unpunished and he who breathes out lies will not escape.
From the Latin
A false witness shall not be unpunished: and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.
Simplified
A false witness will be punished; liars won't get away with their lies.
A false witness will not go without punishment, and the breather out of deceit will not go free.
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 Septuagint largely agree in their wording for this verse. The Septuagint matches 7 of the 8 words from the Hebrew text, indicating a strong consistency in the message about the consequences of false testimony.
עֵ֣ד שְׁ֭קָרִים לֹ֣א יִנָּקֶ֑ה וְיָפִ֥יחַ כְּ֝זָבִ֗ים לֹ֣א יִמָּלֵֽט׃
7 of the 8 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.
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 Proverbs 19:5
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.
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-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
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
נָקָה (naqah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to be clean or free from guilt, and it can also imply being empty or desolate. The entries indicate that it encompasses a range of meanings, including acquitting someone of guilt, being exempt from punishment, and being purged or cleaned out. The lexicons suggest various nuances, but they consistently focus on themes of innocence and cleanliness.
[נָקָה] vb. be empty(?), clean
Qal Inf. Abs.
Niph.
be cleaned out
be clean, free from guilt, innocent
be free, exempt from punishment
free, exempt from obligation
Pi.
hold innocent, acquit
leave unpunished
base
H5352 נָקָה be empty(?), clean .Inf. Abs.
. . be cleaned out
. be clean, free from guilt, innocent
. be free, exempt from punishment
. free, exempt from obligation
. . hold innocent, acquit
. leave unpunished
5352 naqah naw-kaw'
a primitive root; to be (or make) clean (literally or
figuratively); by implication (in an adverse sense) to be
bare, i.e. extirpated:--acquit X at all, X altogether, be
blameless, cleanse, (be) clear(-ing), cut off, be desolate, be
free, be (hold) guiltless, be (hold) innocent, X by no means,
be quit, be (leave) unpunished, X utterly, X wholly.
נָקָה (na.qah) — to clear.
1) to be empty, be clear, be pure, be free, be innocent, be desolate, be cut off
1a) (Qal) to be empty, be clean, be pure
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be cleaned out, be purged out
1b2) to be clean, be free from guilt, be innocent
1b3) to be free, be exempt from punishment
1b4) to be free, be exempt from obligation
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to hold innocent, acquit
1c2) to leave unpunished
V-Niphal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Niphal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVNi3ms
פּוּחַ (puwach) is a primitive root meaning to breathe or blow. It encompasses actions such as puffing, fanning, and uttering, and can also imply excitement or inflaming. The verb appears in various forms, including Qal and Hiphil, indicating different nuances like causing to exhale or expressing wrath.
[פּוּחַ] vb. breathe, blow
Qal until the day breathes, i.e. grows cool
Hiph.
cause garden to exhale
puff, snort, against
with the fire of my wrath will I blow against thee
excite, inflame city
puff = pant for it
breathe out, utter
base
H6315 פּוּחַ
6315 puwach poo'akh
a primitive root; to puff, i.e. blow with the breath or air;
hence, to fan (as a breeze), to utter, to kindle (a fire), to
scoff:--blow (upon), break, puff, bring into a snare, speak,
utter.
פּוּחַ (pu.ach) — to breathe.
1) to breathe, blow
1a) (Qal) to breathe
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to cause to exhale or breathe
1b2) to puff, snort
1b3) to excite, inflame
1b4) to puff, pant for it
1b5) to breathe out, utter
1b6) to blow, blast
Conj | V-Hiphil-Imperf-3ms — Conjunction · verb qal third person masculine singularHC/Vqu3ms
כָּזָב (kazab) refers to a lie or falsehood, encompassing meanings like deceit and untruth. It is derived from a root that suggests the concept of deception. The entries consistently describe it as a term for falsehood without significant disagreement among lexicons.
כָּזָב n.m. lie, falsehood, deceptive thing
base
H3577 כָּזָב lie, falsehood, deceptive thing
3577 kazab kaw-zawb'
from 3576; falsehood; literally (untruth) or figuratively
(idol):--deceitful, false, leasing, + liar, lie, lying.
see HEBREW for 03576
כָּזָב (ka.zav) — lie.
a lie, untruth, falsehood, deceptive thing
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
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
מָלַט (malat) is a Hebrew verb primarily meaning to escape or slip away. It encompasses various nuances such as delivering, saving, and even giving birth in specific contexts. The entries indicate that it can refer to both physical escape and the act of laying eggs. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.
[מָלַט] vb. slip away (not in Qal)
Niph.
slip away
escape
pass. be delivered
Pi.
lay (eggs)
let escape
deliver
Hiph.
give birth to a male child
deliver
Hithp.
slip forth, escape (sparks of fire from jaws of crocodile)
escape
base
H4422 מָלַט slip away . . slip away
. escape
. pass. be delivered
. . lay (eggs)
. let escape
. deliver
. . give birth to a male child
. deliver
. . slip forth, escape (sparks of fire from jaws of crocodile)
. escape
4422 malat maw-lat'
a primitive root; properly, to be smooth, i.e. (by
implication) to escape (as if by slipperiness); causatively,
to release or rescue; specifically, to bring forth young, emit
sparks:--deliver (self), escape, lay, leap out, let alone,
let go, preserve, save, X speedily, X surely.
מָלַט (ma.lat) — to escape.
1) to slip away, escape, deliver, save, be delivered
1a)(Niphal)
1a1) to slip away
1a2) to escape
1a3) to be delivered
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to lay, let slip out (of eggs)
1b2) to let escape
1b3) to deliver, save (life)
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to give birth to
1c2) to deliver
1d) (Hithpael)
1d1) to slip forth, slip out, escape
1d2) to escape
V-Niphal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Niphal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVNi3ms
