Proverbs 25:18
◄  Proverbs 25:18  ►
New International Version (©2011)
Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor.

New Living Translation (©2007)
Telling lies about others is as harmful as hitting them with an ax, wounding them with a sword, or shooting them with a sharp arrow.

English Standard Version (©2001)
A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Like a club and a sword and a sharp arrow Is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
A man giving false testimony against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.

International Standard Version (©2012)
A club, a sword, and a sharp arrow— that's what a man is who lies about his neighbor.

NET Bible (©2006)
Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow, so is the one who testifies against his neighbor as a false witness.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
Like a club, a sword and a sharp arrow, so is a man that testifies false testimony against his neighbor.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
[Like] a club and a sword and a sharp arrow, [so] is a person who gives false testimony against his neighbor.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
A man that bears false witness against his neighbor is a club, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

American King James Version
A man that bears false witness against his neighbor is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

American Standard Version
A man that beareth false witness against his neighbor Is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

Douay-Rheims Bible
A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour, is like a dart and a sword and a sharp arrow.

Darby Bible Translation
A maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, is a man that beareth false witness against his neighbour.

English Revised Version
A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

Webster's Bible Translation
A man that beareth false witness against his neighbor is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

World English Bible
A man who gives false testimony against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.

Young's Literal Translation
A maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, Is the man testifying against his neighbour a false testimony.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

25:17. We cannot be upon good terms with our neighbours, without discretion as well as sincerity. How much better a Friend is God than any other friend! The oftener we come to him, the more welcome. 18. A false testimony is dangerous in every thing.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 18. - Hebrew, A maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow - a man that beareth false witness against his neighbour (see on Ver. 11). One who bears false witness against his neighbour prepares for him the instruments of death, such as those mentioned here. "A maul" (mephits), usually a heavy wooden hammer (compare malleus and "mallet"); here a club, or mace, used in battle, ῤόπαλον (Septuagint; comp. Jeremiah 51:20). There is a kind of climax in the three offensive weapons named - the club bruises, the sword inflicts wounds, the arrow pierces to the heart; and the three may represent the various baneful effects of false testimony, how it bruises reputation, spoils possessions, deprives of life. The second clause is from the Decalogue (Exodus 20:16).

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour,.... In whose house he has often been, and whom he has frequently visited; and, observing what was done there, not only discovers and tells abroad the secrets of his family, but even things which are false; yea, in a court of judicature, appears a witness against him, and swears falsely to his hurt and prejudice. Such a man

is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow; that is, to his neighbour, against whom he bears false witness; and, by so doing, he mauls his fame, his credit, character, and reputation; and, as with a sword, takes away his life; and against whom there is no more guarding than against a sharp arrow, that comes from afar, suddenly and swiftly.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

18. A false witness is as destructive to reputation, as such weapons to the body (Pr 24:28).

beareth … witness—literally, "answereth questions," as before a judge, against his neighbor.

Proverbs 25:18 Parallel Commentaries

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More Proverbs of Solomon
…17Withdraw your foot from your neighbor's house; lest he be weary of you, and so hate you. 18A man that bears false witness against his neighbor is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow. 19Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint. …

Exodus 20:16 "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
Psalm 57:4 I am in the midst of lions; I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts-- men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.
Psalm 120:4 He will punish you with a warrior's sharp arrows, with burning coals of the broom bush.
Proverbs 12:18 The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Proverbs 24:28 Do not testify against your neighbor without cause-- would you use your lips to mislead?
Proverbs 25:17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor's house-- too much of you, and they will hate you.
Jeremiah 9:8 Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks deceitfully. With their mouths they all speak cordially to their neighbors, but in their hearts they set traps for them.