Exodus 23:1
New International Version
“Do not spread false reports. Do not help a guilty person by being a malicious witness.

New Living Translation
“You must not pass along false rumors. You must not cooperate with evil people by lying on the witness stand.

English Standard Version
“You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness.

Berean Standard Bible
“You shall not spread a false report. Do not join the wicked by being a malicious witness.

King James Bible
Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.

New King James Version
“You shall not circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.

New American Standard Bible
“You shall not give a false report; do not join your hand with a wicked person to be a malicious witness.

NASB 1995
“You shall not bear a false report; do not join your hand with a wicked man to be a malicious witness.

NASB 1977
“You shall not bear a false report; do not join your hand with a wicked man to be a malicious witness.

Legacy Standard Bible
“You shall not bear a false report; do not join your hand with a wicked man to be a malicious witness.

Amplified Bible
“You shall not give a false report; you shall not join hands with the wicked to be a malicious witness [promoting wrong and violence].

Christian Standard Bible
“You must not spread a false report. Do not join the wicked to be a malicious witness.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
You must not spread a false report. Do not join the wicked to be a malicious witness.”

American Standard Version
Thou shalt not take up a false report: put not thy hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.

Contemporary English Version
Don't spread harmful rumors or help a criminal by giving false evidence.

English Revised Version
Thou shalt not take up a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
[The LORD continued,] "Never spread false rumors. Don't join forces with wicked people by giving false testimony.

Good News Translation
"Do not spread false rumors, and do not help a guilty person by giving false testimony.

International Standard Version
"You are not to spread a false report, nor are you to join forces with the wicked to be a malicious witness.

Majority Standard Bible
“You shall not spread a false report. Do not join the wicked by being a malicious witness.

NET Bible
"You must not give a false report. Do not make common cause with the wicked to be a malicious witness.

New Heart English Bible
"You shall not spread a false report. Do not join your hand with the wicked to be an unjust witness.

Webster's Bible Translation
Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thy hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.

World English Bible
“You shall not spread a false report. Don’t join your hand with the wicked to be a malicious witness.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
You do not lift up a vain report; you do not put your hand with a wicked man to be a violent witness.

Young's Literal Translation
'Thou dost not lift up a vain report; thou dost not put thy hand with a wicked man to be a violent witness.

Smith's Literal Translation
Thou shalt not take up a false report: thou shalt not put thy hand with the unjust one to be a witness of wrong.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Thou shalt not receive the voice of a lie: neither shalt thou join thy hand to bear false witness for a wicked person.

Catholic Public Domain Version
“You shall not accept a lying voice. Neither shall you join your hand so as to give false testimony on behalf on the impious.

New American Bible
You shall not repeat a false report. Do not join your hand with the wicked to be a witness supporting violence.

New Revised Standard Version
You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with the wicked to act as a malicious witness.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
YOU shall not confirm a false report: do not stretch out your hand taking oaths with the guilty to become a false witness for him.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
You shall not confirm a false report; you shall not stretch your hand with the guilty to be a lying witness for him.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Thou shalt not utter a false report; put not thy hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Thou shalt not receive a vain report: thou shalt not agree with the unjust man to become an unjust witness.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Justice and Mercy
1“You shall not spread a false report. Do not join the wicked by being a malicious witness. 2You shall not follow the crowd in wrongdoing. When you testify in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd.…

Cross References
Leviticus 19:11
You must not steal. You must not lie or deceive one another.

Deuteronomy 19:16-19
If a false witness testifies against someone, accusing him of a crime, / both parties to the dispute must stand in the presence of the LORD, before the priests and judges who are in office at that time. / The judges shall investigate thoroughly, and if the witness is proven to be a liar who has falsely accused his brother, ...

Proverbs 19:5
A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape.

Proverbs 6:16-19
There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him: / haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, / a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil, ...

Psalm 15:2-3
He who walks with integrity and practices righteousness, who speaks the truth from his heart, / who has no slander on his tongue, who does no harm to his neighbor, who casts no scorn on his friend,

Proverbs 12:17
He who speaks the truth declares what is right, but a false witness speaks deceit.

Proverbs 14:5
An honest witness does not deceive, but a dishonest witness pours forth lies.

Proverbs 24:28
Do not testify against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips.

Matthew 5:11
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.

Matthew 26:59-60
Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking false testimony against Jesus in order to put Him to death. / But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward

Mark 14:56-57
For many bore false witness against Jesus, but their testimony was inconsistent. / Then some men stood up and testified falsely against Him:

Luke 3:14
Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” “Do not take money by force or false accusation,” he said. “Be content with your wages.”

Luke 19:8
But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, half of my possessions I give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will repay it fourfold.”

Acts 6:13
where they presented false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law.

Acts 24:13
Nor can they prove to you any of their charges against me.


Treasury of Scripture

You shall not raise a false report: put not your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.

shalt not

Exodus 23:7
Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.

Exodus 20:16
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

Leviticus 19:16
Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the LORD.

raise or receive.

Deuteronomy 5:20
Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour.

Deuteronomy 19:16-21
If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong; …

1 Kings 21:10-13
And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die…

Jump to Previous
Accept Agreement Bear Evil-Doers Extend Further Hand Hands Help Join Lift Malicious Raise Report Reports Spread Statement Unrighteous Utter Violent Wicked Witness
Jump to Next
Accept Agreement Bear Evil-Doers Extend Further Hand Hands Help Join Lift Malicious Raise Report Reports Spread Statement Unrighteous Utter Violent Wicked Witness
Exodus 23
1. Of slander, false witness, and partiality
4. Of charitableness
6. Of justice in judgment
8. Of taking bribes
9. Of oppressing a stranger
10. Of the year of rest
12. Of the Sabbath
13. Of idolatry
14. Of the three feasts
18. Of the blood and the fat of the sacrifice
20. An angel is promised, with a blessing, if they obey him














You shall not spread
The phrase "You shall not spread" is a direct command, emphasizing the active role individuals play in the dissemination of information. The Hebrew root for "spread" is "nasa," which can mean to lift, carry, or bear. This implies a responsibility not to carry or lift up falsehoods. In a historical context, oral communication was the primary means of spreading news, and thus, the integrity of the community relied heavily on truthful speech. This command underscores the importance of personal integrity and the power of words to build or destroy.

a false report
The term "false report" in Hebrew is "shema shav," where "shema" means report or rumor, and "shav" means falsehood or emptiness. This phrase warns against the dissemination of untruths, which can lead to injustice and harm. In the ancient Near Eastern context, false reports could lead to wrongful punishment or social unrest. Theologically, this aligns with the broader biblical theme of truth as a reflection of God's character, who is described as a God of truth (Deuteronomy 32:4).

Do not join
"Do not join" is a call to separate oneself from sinful actions and influences. The Hebrew word "chabar" means to associate or be in league with. This phrase suggests a conscious decision to avoid complicity in wrongdoing. Historically, this reflects the communal nature of ancient Israelite society, where individual actions could impact the entire community. It is a reminder of the call to holiness and the pursuit of righteousness.

the wicked
The term "wicked" is translated from the Hebrew word "rasha," which refers to those who are guilty or morally wrong. In the biblical context, the wicked are often contrasted with the righteous, and their actions are seen as contrary to God's law. This phrase serves as a warning against aligning oneself with those who oppose God's standards, emphasizing the importance of moral discernment and the pursuit of justice.

by being a malicious witness
The phrase "malicious witness" comes from the Hebrew "ed chamas," where "ed" means witness and "chamas" means violence or wrong. This highlights the destructive power of false testimony, which can lead to violence and injustice. In the legal systems of the ancient world, witnesses played a crucial role in determining outcomes, and thus, honesty was paramount. This commandment reflects God's desire for justice and truth in human interactions, encouraging believers to uphold these values in their own lives.

XXIII.

(1-19) The "miscellaneous laws" are here continued. From Exodus 23:1 to Exodus 23:9 no kind of sequence in the laws can be traced; from Exodus 23:10 to the first clause of Exodus 23:19 there is, on the contrary, a certain connection, since the laws enunciated are concerned with ceremonial observance. The closing law, however, is not ceremonial, but the prohibition of a practice considered to be cruel. On the whole, it may be said that The Book of the Covenant maintains its unsystematic character to the close. (See Note on Exodus 20:22-26.) . . .

Verse 1. - The ninth commandment is here expanded and developed. Thou shalt not raise a false report, forbids the origination of a calumny; the other clause prohibits the joining with others in spreading one. Both clauses have a special reference to bearing witness in a court, but neither would seem to be confined to it.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
You shall not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

spread
תִשָּׂ֖א (ṯiś·śā)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take

a false
שָׁ֑וְא (šāw)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7723: Evil, idolatry, uselessness

report.
שֵׁ֣מַע (šê·ma‘)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8088: Something heard, a sound, rumor, announcement, audience

Do not
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

join
תָּ֤שֶׁת (tā·šeṯ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - second person masculine singular
Strong's 7896: To put, set

the wicked
רָשָׁ֔ע (rā·šā‘)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7563: Wrong, an, bad person

by being
לִהְיֹ֖ת (lih·yōṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

a malicious
חָמָֽס׃ (ḥā·mās)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2555: Violence, wrong, by meton, unjust gain

witness.
עֵ֥ד (‘êḏ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5707: A witness, testimony, a recorder, prince


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OT Law: Exodus 23:1 You shall not spread a false report (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 22:31
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