Truthfulness protects our neighbors and preserves our own integrity.
“Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, And do not deceive with your lips.” (v.28)
This proverb warns that testifying falsely can undermine justice and erode communal trust. It is echoing the commandment that forbids bearing false witness against a neighbor (Exodus 20:16), and it admonishes believers not to twist the truth for personal gain. Deception may offer a short-term advantage, but as Proverbs often emphasizes, sowing evil will eventually bring its own harm and loss (see Proverbs 11:27-28).
Speaking truthfully to and about our neighbors aligns with the way God designed social relationships to function. God’s people are to be marked by honesty and love toward one another (Romans 13:9), rather than manipulation. Throughout Scripture, lying lips are portrayed as destructive (Proverbs 6:16-19) and stand in opposition to God’s nature, since He Himself is truth (John 14:6). In the New Testament, believers are called to “lay aside falsehood” in order to build each other up (Ephesians 4:25).
This verse serves as a practical reminder not to exploit legal processes or personal conversations by exaggerating facts, withholding information, or engaging in slander. Instead, obedience to God’s ways of truth-telling fosters safety and mutual respect in any community. Far from restricting personal freedom, this principle grants the genuine liberty of a clear conscience and healthy relationships.
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Proverbs 24:28 meaning
“Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, And do not deceive with your lips.” (v.28)
This proverb warns that testifying falsely can undermine justice and erode communal trust. It is echoing the commandment that forbids bearing false witness against a neighbor (Exodus 20:16), and it admonishes believers not to twist the truth for personal gain. Deception may offer a short-term advantage, but as Proverbs often emphasizes, sowing evil will eventually bring its own harm and loss (see Proverbs 11:27-28).
Speaking truthfully to and about our neighbors aligns with the way God designed social relationships to function. God’s people are to be marked by honesty and love toward one another (Romans 13:9), rather than manipulation. Throughout Scripture, lying lips are portrayed as destructive (Proverbs 6:16-19) and stand in opposition to God’s nature, since He Himself is truth (John 14:6). In the New Testament, believers are called to “lay aside falsehood” in order to build each other up (Ephesians 4:25).
This verse serves as a practical reminder not to exploit legal processes or personal conversations by exaggerating facts, withholding information, or engaging in slander. Instead, obedience to God’s ways of truth-telling fosters safety and mutual respect in any community. Far from restricting personal freedom, this principle grants the genuine liberty of a clear conscience and healthy relationships.