Proverbs 19:9 kjv
A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.
Proverbs 19:9 nkjv
A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies shall perish.
Proverbs 19:9 niv
A false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will perish.
Proverbs 19:9 esv
A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish.
Proverbs 19:9 nlt
A false witness will not go unpunished,
and a liar will be destroyed.
Proverbs 19 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 19:5 | A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will not escape. | Reiterates the certainty of consequences for deceit. |
| Exod 20:16 | "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." | The Ninth Commandment against perjury. |
| Deut 5:20 | "Neither shall you bear false witness against your neighbor." | Restates the Ninth Commandment. |
| Deut 19:16-21 | If a malicious witness rises up against a person to accuse him of wrongdoing... | Outlines severe legal penalties for false testimony. |
| Prov 6:16-19 | There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination... a false witness who breathes out lies. | Lists false witness as an abhorrent sin to God. |
| Matt 15:19 | For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. | Links false witness to inner corruption. |
| Rev 21:8 | But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable... all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death. | Describes the eternal fate of liars. |
| Col 3:9 | Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices. | Believers commanded to abandon falsehood. |
| Eph 4:25 | Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor. | Exhortation for renewed believers to speak truth. |
| Prov 12:17 | "Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness speaks deceit." | Contrasts truth with deceitful witness. |
| Prov 14:5 | A truthful witness does not deceive, but a false witness breathes out lies. | Differentiates between honest and deceptive witness. |
| Prov 21:28 | A false witness will perish, but a truthful witness will speak forever. | Directly connects false witness with ruin. |
| Psa 5:6 | You destroy those who speak lies; the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man. | God's judgment upon those who lie. |
| Psa 120:2-4 | Deliver me, O LORD, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue... Sharp arrows of the warrior, with burning coals of broomtree! | Implies severe retribution for those with deceitful tongues. |
| Rom 2:6-9 | He will render to each one according to his works: ... but for those who are self-seeking... wrath and fury. | Principle of divine recompense for all actions. |
| Heb 10:30 | For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine; I will repay," says the Lord. | God's ultimate role as judge and avenger. |
| Isa 3:10-11 | Tell the righteous that it shall be well with them... Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, for what his hands have dealt out shall be done to him. | Principle of wickedness bringing ill consequences. |
| Gal 6:7 | Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. | Universal law of consequences for one's actions. |
| Prov 11:21 | Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered. | Universal promise of judgment for the wicked. |
| Psa 15:1-2 | O LORD, who shall sojourn in Your tent? ... He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart. | Connection between righteousness and inner truth. |
| Psa 34:13 | Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. | Direct command to avoid lying and deceit. |
| 1 Pet 3:10 | For "Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit." | Echoes Psa 34:13, linking truthfulness with well-being. |
| John 8:44 | You are of your father the devil... When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. | Identifies the devil as the origin of lies. |
| Zech 8:16 | "These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace." | Command to practice truth and righteous justice. |
| 1 Tim 1:9-10 | Understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless... for liars, for perjurers. | Identifies liars and perjurers as those violating God's law. |
Proverbs 19 verses
Proverbs 19 9 Meaning
Proverbs 19:9 conveys that individuals who bear false witness in judicial settings, or those who consistently and habitually utter falsehoods, will inevitably face severe consequences. Neither the specific act of perjury nor a general lifestyle of deceit will escape divine and natural retribution. Those whose words are rooted in untruth will ultimately be ruined or destroyed.
Proverbs 19 9 Context
The book of Proverbs is an exposition of divine wisdom, providing instruction on how to live wisely and righteously in every sphere of life. Proverbs chapter 19 specifically delves into contrasts between wise and foolish conduct, righteous and wicked actions, emphasizing the outcomes of diligence, character, and prudence. Verses within this chapter consistently highlight the inevitable consequences of one’s moral choices, stressing that good actions bring favor while evil deeds result in ruin. Proverbs 19:9 appears in a section reinforcing the theme of divine justice concerning honesty. In ancient Israelite society, the testimony of witnesses was critical in legal proceedings, making "false witness" a grave offense that could pervert justice, harm the innocent, and undermine social order. The severe legal and social penalties for perjury under the Mosaic Law reflect the high value placed on truth and the detestation of dishonesty.
Proverbs 19 9 Word analysis
- "A false witness": (
עֵד שְׁקָרִים,‘êḏ šəqāriym).‘êḏ(witness): Designates someone providing testimony, especially in legal contexts. Their role inherently demands accuracy.šəqāriym(falsehoods, lies, deceit): Signifies deliberate untruth or deceptive acts. The form highlights the pervasive nature or multiplicity of falsehoods.
- "will not go unpunished": (
לֹא יִנָּקֶה,lōʾ yinnāqe̲h).lōʾ(not): A direct negation.yinnāqe̲h(will be acquitted, held innocent, go free, cleansed): From the rootnāqâ, meaning to be clean or free from guilt. The negative phrase asserts absolute culpability, meaning there will be no acquittal or exemption from penalty. It indicates certain accountability, whether from human law or divine judgment.
- "and he who breathes out": (
וְיָפִיחַ,wəyāp̄îḥa).wə(and): Links this phrase to the preceding one, presenting a parallel or expanded concept.yāp̄îḥa(breathes out, blows, utters): From the rootnāpaḥ, this vivid verb implies a deliberate, effortless, or habitual emanation of words, as one breathes. It suggests a constant outflow of deception, indicating a person for whom lying is a natural tendency or practice, rather than an isolated incident.
- "lies": (
כְּזָבִים,kəzāḇîm).kəzāḇîm(lies, falsehoods, deceits): Another term for deliberate untruths, reinforcing the depth of deception. Its pairing withšəqāriymbroadens the scope of "lies" from legal testimony to general conduct.
- "will perish": (
יֹאבֵד,yōʾḇēḏ).yōʾḇēḏ(will be lost, destroyed, perish, vanish): From the rootʾāḇaḏ. In the wisdom literature, "perishing" often denotes ruin, destruction of one's reputation, prosperity, and well-being, both earthly and spiritual, indicating ultimate failure or separation from a thriving life in God.
Words-group Analysis:
- "A false witness will not go unpunished": This first half targets specific perjury, an act directly against truth and justice within a formal setting. The legalistic language and the assured retribution (
lo yinnāqeh) highlight the inescapable consequences under God's righteous law and within human society. - "and he who breathes out lies will perish": This second part broadens the warning to any who habitually and effortlessly engage in falsehood. The imagery of "breathes out" suggests a natural, ingrained habit of deceit. The consequence of "perishing" speaks to a more holistic, devastating ruin – social, moral, spiritual, and potentially eternal – emphasizing the deep corruption and ultimate downfall awaiting those whose lives are characterized by untruth.
Proverbs 19 9 Bonus section
The strong parallelism in Proverbs 19:9, utilizing different but related Hebrew terms for "falsehood" (šeqer and kazab), underscores the comprehensiveness of the divine judgment against deceit. It shows that God detests not only the direct corruption of justice through perjury but also the broader, insidious practice of general dishonesty that poisons relationships and society. The punishment (lo yinnāqeh, will not go unpunished) implies an active seeking out and infliction of consequence, not merely a passive state of not being acquitted. The use of "perish" suggests a severe judgment often leading to a spiritual "death" or ruin rather than simply a physical demise, aligning with broader biblical themes where the wicked "perish" in contrast to the flourishing righteous. This proverb serves as a theological statement about God's nature as truth and justice, asserting that deviation from these principles inevitably leads to destruction.
Proverbs 19 9 Commentary
Proverbs 19:9 presents an unyielding declaration of divine justice against all forms of dishonesty, from the solemn act of perjury in court to the casual, habitual utterance of lies. It asserts that such actions carry an inescapable cost. The initial clause specifically addresses the individual who perverts justice by false testimony, guaranteeing that such a person will not avoid the repercussions for their egregious act. The second clause expands this certainty of judgment to anyone who consistently makes falsehood their standard mode of communication. The powerful imagery of "breathes out lies" depicts a person whose very being seems to exhale deceit, highlighting the ingrained nature of their dishonesty. For such an individual, the ultimate outcome is not merely temporal punishment, but "perishing," signifying a profound and comprehensive ruin encompassing their well-being, integrity, and destiny. The verse serves as a crucial reminder of God's perfect justice and His abhorrence of anything contrary to truth, calling all to unwavering integrity.