Do not join the wicked by being a malicious witness.
This phrase warns against complicity in injustice. In biblical times, legal systems relied heavily on witness testimony, making the integrity of witnesses crucial for justice. A malicious witness could pervert justice, leading to the condemnation of the innocent or the acquittal of the guilty. Proverbs 19:5 states, "A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will not escape." The call to avoid joining the wicked reflects the broader biblical theme of separating oneself from evil influences (Psalm 1:1). Jesus, during His trial, faced false witnesses (Mark 14:56), highlighting the destructive power of deceit and the importance of truth in the pursuit of justice.

Exodus 23:1 opens with a clear prohibition: “You shall not spread a false report”.

• Truthfulness is a core expectation. The ninth commandment already warned, “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:16). This verse applies that command to everyday speech, not just court testimony.

• Lies distort reality, injure reputations, and fracture community. Proverbs 6:16-19 lists “a lying tongue” and “one who spreads strife among brothers” among the seven things the LORD hates, underscoring how seriously He views false reports.

• Speaking truth reflects God’s character. Titus 1:2 reminds us that “God, who cannot lie,” anchors our hope; therefore, His people must resist any temptation to pass along rumor, exaggeration, or deceit.

• Practical take-aways:

– Verify before repeating (Proverbs 18:13).

– Refuse to pass on gossip, even subtly (Proverbs 20:19).

– Correct misinformation when you can (Ephesians 4:25).

The verse continues, “Do not join the wicked…”.

• The warning broadens from individual speech to social alignment. The righteous must guard against team-ups with those bent on wrongdoing. Psalm 1:1 echoes this: “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked.”

• Evil can be contagious. Proverbs 13:20 notes, “the companion of fools will suffer harm.” By refusing partnership with the wicked, believers keep clear moral boundaries.

• Peer pressure is powerful, especially in legal or public disputes. Proverbs 1:10-15 pictures sinners urging, “Throw in your lot with us.” God says, “Don’t do it.”

• Standing apart may cost temporal approval, yet brings lasting integrity (1 Peter 4:3-4).

“…by being a malicious witness” specifies the setting: testimony meant to injure.

• In the ancient courtroom, justice stood or fell on witnesses. Deuteronomy 19:15-19 required at least two witnesses and imposed the very penalty sought on anyone proven false—a deterrent against malicious testimony.

• A malicious witness is not merely mistaken; he or she intentionally twists facts to harm the innocent or aid the guilty (Proverbs 25:18 likens such a person to “a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow”).

• Scripture gives sobering examples: the false witnesses against Naboth (1 Kings 21:10-13), Stephen (Acts 6:11-14), and ultimately Jesus (Matthew 26:59-61). Their lies led to deadly injustices.

• For believers today:

– Never sign, post, share, or state anything untrue about someone, especially in legal, workplace, or online settings.

– If called to testify, remember God watches every word (Matthew 12:36).

– Protect the vulnerable from slander (Proverbs 31:8-9).

Exodus 23:1 calls God’s people to live as truth-bearers who refuse both careless rumor and deliberate deceit. We must:

• Guard our tongues, ensuring every report aligns with reality.

• Refuse partnerships that compromise righteousness.

• Oppose any form of malicious testimony, defending justice even when costly.

By embodying honesty and integrity, we mirror the God who is light, “and in Him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5).

(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.) . . .