The Ninth Commandment, “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:16), is a clear two-part moral directive. One, God wants people to tell the truth. Two, God wants people to NOT harm their neighbors. So the question about lying should be pretty easy, but it isn’t.
First, we must remember that the Ten Commandments were given, along with many other laws, to guide God’s people back into a relationship with Him that was broken in the Garden of Eden. Though He knew that these people would not live up to the commandments he was setting forward, God wanted them to understand that the boundaries he was erecting were for their own good and for the good of their community.
The commandments are so important that the Ninth, for example, has shaped legal systems, ethical teachings, and societal values for centuries. This commandment is much more than a prohibition against lying, its deeper implications extend to integrity, justice, and the preservation of truth in human relationships.
In its original context, the Ninth Commandment primarily referred to legal testimony. In ancient Israel, false accusations could lead to severe consequences, including unjust punishment or even death. The commandment ensured that justice was upheld by requiring truthful testimony in courts and disputes.
Over time, biblical scholars and theologians expanded its meaning beyond legal settings. Many view it as a broader call to honesty in all aspects of life. Proverbs 12:22 states, “The Lord detests lying lips, but He delights in people who are trustworthy.” This verse reinforces the idea that truthfulness is not just a legal necessity but a divine expectation.
Jesus emphasized the importance of truth in His teachings. In John 8:44, He condemned deceit, associating lies with the influence of evil. In contrast, He declared in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” His words highlight that truth is not merely a moral principle but a reflection of God’s nature.
Throughout history, societies have recognized the value of truth in governance and social order. In medieval Europe, perjury—lying under oath—was considered a grave offense, often punishable by severe penalties. Many legal systems today still uphold strict consequences for false testimony. Beyond legal systems, this commandment has shaped cultural norms. Honesty in business, journalism, and personal relationships is widely regarded as essential for trust and stability.
Truth in a marriage is as essential as love. An untruthful spouse cannot truly love, and an unloving spouse is likely to give false testimony about his wife or her husband to anyone who will listen.
So, given all the Bible says about truthfulness, when is lying okay? Not surprisingly, we have clues in the Bible itself. Perhaps the most well-known is the deception of Rahab the prostitute who protected the spies sent into Jericho by Moses. (Joshua 2:1-24) More than that, Rahab protected her family, helped pull off a vital reconnaissance mission, had faith that empowered a nation, and became a matriarch of the most famous royal lineage in Scripture. It’s an impressive résumé. Rahab’s lying was part of God’s plan for redemption. She is mentioned three times in the New Tetament–more than Joshua, the great general who led the Israelites into the Promised Land.
Rahab’s descendants included King David, King Solomon and Jesus. Rahab’s lies and deception were in the interest of love, one of God’s greatest characteristics. Love also was exhibited when the prophet of God, Elisha, was about to be captured by a great Syrian army. (2 Kings 6:1-23) At Elisha’s request, God blinded the army, and when the blind soldiers asked where they could find Elisha, the prophet did not say, “here I am,” but rather led them away into the city where the King of Israel could have struck them down. God had other plans and at Elisha’s command, the captured soldiers were fed a great feast and sent back to Syria. Deception allowed Elisha to remain free, the soldiers to return home unharmed and the Israelite king and his citizens to be spared.
Does this justify lying? I think this shows us that God is a God of compassion and love. At times, that trumps deception. But God still favors truthfulness over the lies of the devil.
In today’s era of misinformation and digital deception, the Ninth Commandment remains as relevant as ever. It challenges individuals to uphold integrity in speech, resist falsehoods, and promote justice. God’s command to not bear false testimony against one’s neighbor is not just about avoiding lies—it is about embracing truth as a foundation for righteousness.
And God spoke all these words:
2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
3 “You shall have no other gods before me.
4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
13 “You shall not murder.
14 “You shall not commit adultery.
15 “You shall not steal.
16 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
Exodus 20:1-17
Image by StockSnap from Pixabay
Answers to Life’s Greatest Questions is provided by Living Dialog Ministries. Visit our website at LivingDialog.org where you’ll see the wide range of books and booklets to help you go deeper in the study of God’s Word.
