Exodus 23:1
Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.
Original Language Analysis
לֹ֥א
H3808
לֹ֥א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
1 of 12
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תִשָּׂ֖א
Thou shalt not raise
H5375
תִשָּׂ֖א
Thou shalt not raise
Strong's:
H5375
Word #:
2 of 12
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
שֵׁ֣מַע
report
H8088
שֵׁ֣מַע
report
Strong's:
H8088
Word #:
3 of 12
something heard, i.e., a sound, rumor, announcement; abstractly, audience
שָׁ֑וְא
a false
H7723
שָׁ֑וְא
a false
Strong's:
H7723
Word #:
4 of 12
evil (as destructive), literally (ruin) or morally (especially guile); figuratively idolatry (as false, subjective), uselessness (as deceptive, object
אַל
H408
אַל
Strong's:
H408
Word #:
5 of 12
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
יָֽדְךָ֙
not thine hand
H3027
יָֽדְךָ֙
not thine hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
7 of 12
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
עִם
H5973
עִם
Strong's:
H5973
Word #:
8 of 12
adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then
רָשָׁ֔ע
with the wicked
H7563
רָשָׁ֔ע
with the wicked
Strong's:
H7563
Word #:
9 of 12
morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person
לִֽהְיֹ֖ת
H1961
לִֽהְיֹ֖ת
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
10 of 12
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
Cross References
Psalms 101:5Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.Proverbs 19:5A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.Exodus 20:16Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.Psalms 35:11False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.Deuteronomy 5:20Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour.Leviticus 19:16Thou 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.Revelation 12:10And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.Proverbs 19:9A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.Romans 3:8And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.Psalms 15:3He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
Historical Context
False witness in ancient courts could result in death sentences. Without forensic evidence, testimony was crucial. Deuteronomy 19:16-21 prescribes severe penalties for false witnesses—the punishment they sought to impose.
Questions for Reflection
- How does this command extend the ninth commandment from courtroom to everyday conversation?
- In what ways do Christians 'raise false reports' through gossip, exaggeration, or social media?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.
'Raise false report' (לֹא תִשָּׂא שֵׁמַע שָׁוְא, lo tissa shema shav)—don't carry/spread empty rumors. This expands the ninth commandment from courtroom to conversation. 'Put not thy hand with the wicked'—don't partner with evil people for malicious testimony. Proverbs repeatedly warns against false witness (6:19, 12:17, 19:5, 25:18). Jesus warns 'every idle word' will be judged (Matthew 12:36). James says the tongue is a fire that defiles the whole body (James 3:6). The community that tolerates gossip and slander cannot maintain justice. Covenant people must be truth-tellers; our 'yes' must be yes (Matthew 5:37).