Definition and Context
Bearing false witness refers to the act of giving false testimony or lying, particularly in a legal setting. This concept is deeply rooted in biblical teachings and is considered a serious offense against God's commandments. It is primarily associated with the Ninth Commandment, which explicitly prohibits such behavior.

Biblical References
The prohibition against bearing false witness is first introduced in the Ten Commandments. In Exodus 20:16 , it is stated: "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." This commandment underscores the importance of truthfulness and integrity in maintaining justice and community harmony.

Deuteronomy 5:20 reiterates this commandment: "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." The repetition of this commandment in Deuteronomy emphasizes its significance in the moral and legal framework of Israelite society.

Moral and Ethical Implications
Bearing false witness is not merely a legal issue but also a moral one. It is seen as a violation of trust and an act that can lead to the unjust treatment of others. Proverbs 19:5 warns, "A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape." This highlights the divine justice that awaits those who engage in deceit.

The New Testament also addresses the issue of false testimony. In Matthew 15:19 , Jesus lists false testimony among the evils that come from the heart: "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander." This indicates that bearing false witness is not only a legal transgression but also a reflection of a corrupt heart.

Consequences and Warnings
The Bible provides numerous examples and warnings about the consequences of bearing false witness. In the account of Naboth's vineyard (1 Kings 21), false witnesses are used to unjustly accuse Naboth, leading to his execution and the seizure of his property by King Ahab. This narrative illustrates the destructive power of false testimony and the resulting divine judgment.

Psalm 27:12 expresses a plea for deliverance from false witnesses: "Do not hand me over to the will of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence." This verse reflects the distress and danger faced by those who are victims of false accusations.

Theological Significance
Bearing false witness is fundamentally opposed to the nature of God, who is described as a God of truth. In John 14:6 , Jesus declares, "I am the way and the truth and the life." As followers of Christ, Christians are called to emulate His truthfulness and reject deceit in all its forms.

The Apostle Paul, in Ephesians 4:25 , exhorts believers: "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body." This instruction emphasizes the importance of truthfulness within the Christian community and the broader society.

Practical Application
In practical terms, bearing false witness can manifest in various forms, including perjury, slander, and gossip. Christians are encouraged to cultivate honesty and integrity in their speech and actions. James 3:5-6 warns of the destructive potential of the tongue: "So also the tongue is a small part of the body, but it boasts of great things. Consider how small a spark sets a great forest ablaze. The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body."

By adhering to the biblical commandment against bearing false witness, believers contribute to a just and truthful society, reflecting the character of God in their daily lives.Proverbs 19:5
A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaks lies shall not escape.
Topicalbible.org

Proverbs 6:16-19
These six things does the LORD hate: yes, seven are an abomination to him:
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John 8:44
You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and stayed not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Topicalbible.org

Exodus 20:16
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
Topicalbible.org

Proverbs 19:9
A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaks lies shall perish.
Topicalbible.org

Petilianus Said: "It is Written, Thou Shalt not Bear False Witness ...
... When then we say that you hold our opinions, we are not shown to be bearing false
witness, unless you can show that we are not in the Church of Christ, which ...
/.../chapter 58 131 petilianus.htm

The Ninth Commandment
... Thou shalt not bear false witness.' There is a twofold bearing false witness: 1.
There is bearing false witness for another.2. Bearing false witness against ...
/.../watson/the ten commandments/2 9 the ninth commandment.htm

That Christians have no Authority for Committing Suicide in any ...
... written, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." If, then, he who makes false
statements about himself is not less guilty of bearing false witness than if ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 20 that christians have no.htm

Thou Shalt not Bear False Witness against Thy Neighbor.
... so that in all places it is truly a high, great, rare work, not to be a false witness
against one's neighbor. II. There is a second bearing of witness to the ...
/.../luther/a treatise on good works/thou shalt not bear false.htm

Ninth Commandment
... PERJURY. The bearing of false witness is forbidden, but this must not be limited
merely to testimony given in the law court or under oath. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/weighed and wanting/ninth commandment.htm

Whether the Other Six Precepts of the Decalogue are Fittingly ...
... Therefore these precepts are unfittingly expressed. Objection 2: Further, these
precepts forbid murder, adultery, stealing and bearing false witness. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the other six precepts.htm

Whether the New Law Directed Man Sufficiently as Regards Interior ...
... to murder, and the movement of desire tending to adultery, seem to be in us from
nature somewhat, but not the desire of stealing or bearing false witness. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the new law directed.htm

Justin Accuses Crescens of Ignorant Prejudice against the ...
... the teachings of Christ, he is thoroughly depraved, and far worse than the illiterate,
who often refrain from discussing or bearing false witness about matters ...
/.../chapter iii justin accuses crescens of.htm

The Folly of Slander. Part 1.
... That which is in Holy Scripture forbidden and reproved under several names and notions:
of bearing false witness, false accusation, railing censure, sycophantry ...
/.../barrow/sermons on evil-speaking by isaac barrow/the folly of slander part.htm

The Life of Mr. Alexander Moncrief.
... so terrified in his conscience, that he could get no rest till he went to the next
synod, to acknowledge that horrid sin, in bearing false witness against his ...
/.../howie/biographia scoticana scots worthies/the life of mr alexander 3.htm

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