In Proverbs 25:18 we read, “Like a club and a sword and a sharp arrow is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor” (v.18). The imagery is blunt and forceful: weapons of violence indicate that deceit can inflict injury on others as surely as physical blows. Throughout the ancient Near East, legal systems guarded against false testimony, recognizing how it could destroy an innocent person’s reputation as effectively as any weapon. Israel’s own laws commanded the telling of truth so that no one would be unjustly harmed or wrongfully condemned, reflecting God’s desire for a society built on integrity.
To “bear false witness” is to testify deceitfully about a neighbor, twisting facts for selfish gain. Proverbs often compares the power of words to potent tools: the righteous tongue can heal and guide, but a dishonest tongue can fracture relationships and disrupt entire communities. This verse paints a sober reminder that lying about someone has a destructive power akin to wielding a spear or swinging a club, striking deep at the heart of trust and communion between people, and ultimately running counter to God’s command to live in truth and love.
In the larger biblical context, false witness is also forbidden in the Ten Commandments, showing how deeply God values honest speech. Jesus further underscored the principle of truth-telling by teaching His disciples to speak plainly, letting their “yes” be yes and their “no” be no, thereby forsaking all forms of deceit (Matthew 5:37). These scriptural themes invite believers to examine how they use their words, that they might help and heal rather than wound and distort reality.
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Proverbs 25:18 meaning
In Proverbs 25:18 we read, “Like a club and a sword and a sharp arrow is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor” (v.18). The imagery is blunt and forceful: weapons of violence indicate that deceit can inflict injury on others as surely as physical blows. Throughout the ancient Near East, legal systems guarded against false testimony, recognizing how it could destroy an innocent person’s reputation as effectively as any weapon. Israel’s own laws commanded the telling of truth so that no one would be unjustly harmed or wrongfully condemned, reflecting God’s desire for a society built on integrity.
To “bear false witness” is to testify deceitfully about a neighbor, twisting facts for selfish gain. Proverbs often compares the power of words to potent tools: the righteous tongue can heal and guide, but a dishonest tongue can fracture relationships and disrupt entire communities. This verse paints a sober reminder that lying about someone has a destructive power akin to wielding a spear or swinging a club, striking deep at the heart of trust and communion between people, and ultimately running counter to God’s command to live in truth and love.
In the larger biblical context, false witness is also forbidden in the Ten Commandments, showing how deeply God values honest speech. Jesus further underscored the principle of truth-telling by teaching His disciples to speak plainly, letting their “yes” be yes and their “no” be no, thereby forsaking all forms of deceit (Matthew 5:37). These scriptural themes invite believers to examine how they use their words, that they might help and heal rather than wound and distort reality.