What are the bible proverbs about lying? Find out in this article with commentary on each verse.
Introduction
God is concerned about lying in the Bible. This is probably because lying is a sin that affects other people. A lie can cost someone their integrity or even send an innocent person to jail. The results of lying are devastating. The fall of man and its devastating curses was a result of the devil’s lies. Jesus’ false conviction resulted from false witnesses. The persecution of Christians started off with lies from the religious leaders who were jealous of the growth of the Christian belief even after the murder of their leader Jesus Christ.Â
7 Bible proverbs about lying
Proverbs 6:16-17
These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
Lying is on the list of what God considers to be abominations. It is a serious crime in the eyes of God. The devil is called the father of lies and he is an adversary of God. His lies led to the rebellion of a third of the angels of God in Heaven. In the New Testament, Ananias and Saphira lied to the Holy Spirit and God killed them on the spot (Acts 5:1-10). God does not tolerate lying.
Proverbs 10:18
He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.
Lying against someone is evidence of hatred towards that person. When you love someone, you will protect them and wish the best for them. But when you hate someone, you can even pretend to love them, ‌deceiving them. You become a hypocrite. Historically, a fool was defined as a clown. In the modern world, a fool is an idiot. Proverbs 10:18 blatantly says that a liar who makes false statements that damage a person’s reputation is an idiot.
Proverbs 12:22
Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.
The Lord is transparent about how he feels about lying. It disgusts Him. He despises the habit of lying. The lying that God is addressing is deceit and falsehood. Lying without a cause. The ninth commandment (Exodus 20:16) forbids lying, bearing false witness against your neighbour. God is pleased with those who are honest, those that can be relied on.
Proverbs 14:5
A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.
The book of Proverbs often contrasts behavior and character. The contrast here is that of the faithful and the false. These characters bring about opposite results. A faithful witness will not lie because he is trustworthy. However, a false witness will lie because of his foolish, ignorant character.
Proverbs 17:7
Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
The verse compares the character and lifestyle of a person to his speech. How a person speaks is a measurement of who he is. It is unbefitting and worse for a ruler to be a liar, a man without integrity. We expect wise words from righteous men. When wise words come from a liar, we do not take them seriously because of his track record of ungodliness.
Proverbs 25:18
A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
Lying is equated to murder. Telling lies about your neighbour (a neighbour refers to someone you know) is like wounding them with a sword or shooting them with an arrow with the intention to cause grievous body harm. Lying is a pre-meditated crime, you intentionally withhold the truth and choose to lie. Lying about someone damages their reputation, credibility and character. Imagine being falsely accused of murder. How much damage would that do to a person in this modern day where everything is published on news networks and social media?
Proverbs 30:8
Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:
This is a proverb of request. It is a request to be preserved from sin, not just ordinary sin, but one that is capable of destroying other people. A liar is a deceiver and the roots of deceit can spread deep and wide. Look at how the Jewish religious leaders deceived people into agreeing to crucify Jesus. Every lie has bad consequences. As Christians, we should strive to be holy just as God is holy.
The second request is for a comfortable life. The writer of this proverb does not want to be rich or poor, he just wants to be in the middle class and serve God from his comfortable position. There is nothing wrong with riches, but some people have swayed away from the Lord when they get rich. Money brings out the evil in them.
Conclusion
God is incapable of lying. When you accept Jesus as your Lord and personal saviour, you put on His nature. That means there should be no room for lying in you. Lying was invented by the devil, God hates it, it is cancer that will wreak havoc if left unchecked.Â
