Bible Strands
Proverbs 19:5
A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The passage sits within a wisdom collection addressing general conduct, framed between observations on how wealth alters relationships (19:4) and how political favor is purchased (19:6).
The words — יִנָּקֶ֑ה (yi.na.Keh) means he will go unpunished, and יִמָּלֵֽט (yi.ma.Let) means he will escape.
The thread — The warning against false testimony recurs in Proverbs 6:19, Exodus 23:1, and Proverbs 21:28.
Why it lands — It requires readers to reject deceptive speech in legal and social matters, noting that the text states falsehood inevitably meets consequences.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 21:28 A lying witness will perish, but the man who listens to truth will speak forever.
- Exodus 23:1 “You shall not spread a false report. Do not join the wicked by being a malicious witness.
- Proverbs 6:19 a false witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up discord among brothers.
- Proverbs 19:9 A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who pours out lies will perish.
- Deuteronomy 5:11 You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave anyone unpunished who takes His name in vain.
- Deuteronomy 19:16 If a false witness testifies against someone, accusing him of a crime,
- Daniel 6:24 At the command of the king, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought and thrown into the den of lions—they and their children and wives. And before they had reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
- 1 Kings 2:9 Now therefore, do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man. You know what you ought to do to him to bring his gray head down to Sheol in blood.”
- Psalms 120:3 What will He do to you, and what will be added to you, O deceitful tongue?