Proverbs 19:9
Proverbs 19:9 in Multiple Translations
A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who pours out lies will perish.
A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.
A false witness shall not be unpunished; And he that uttereth lies shall perish.
A false witness will not go without punishment, and the breather out of deceit will be cut off.
A false witness will be punished; people who tell lies will perish.
A false witnes shall not be vnpunished: and he that speaketh lyes, shall perish.
A false witness is not acquitted, And whoso breatheth out lies perisheth.
A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who utters lies shall perish.
A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.
A false witness shall not be unpunished: and he that speaketh lies, shall perish.
Those who tell lies in court will certainly be punished [LIT]; they will be ruined.
Berean Amplified Bible — Proverbs 19:9
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Proverbs 19:9 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
עֵ֣ד
שְׁ֭קָרִים
לֹ֣א
יִנָּקֶ֑ה
וְ/יָפִ֖יחַ
כְּזָבִ֣ים
יֹאבֵֽד
עֵ֣ד
ʻêd
H5707
witness
N-ms
שְׁ֭קָרִים
sheqer
H8267
deception
N-mp
לֹ֣א
lôʼ
H3808
not
Part
יִנָּקֶ֑ה
nâqâh
H5352
to clear
V-Niphal-Imperf-3ms
וְ/יָפִ֖יחַ
pûwach
H6315
to breathe
Conj | V-Hiphil-Imperf-3ms
כְּזָבִ֣ים
kâzâb
H3577
lie
N-mp
יֹאבֵֽד
ʼâbad
H6
to perish
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Proverbs 19:9
עֵ֣ד
ʻêd
H5707
"witness"
N-ms
This Hebrew word means witness or testimony, describing someone who sees or experiences something. It's used in the Bible to talk about people who testify to what they've seen, like in Deuteronomy when describing legal witnesses.
Definition: 1) witness 1a) witness, testimony, evidence (of things) 1b) witness (of people)
Usage: Occurs in 60 OT verses. KJV: witness. See also: Genesis 31:44; Psalms 27:12; Psalms 35:11.
שְׁ֭קָרִים
sheqer
H8267
"deception"
N-mp
This word refers to deception or falsehood, often implying a sense of betrayal or disappointment. It's used in the Bible to describe lies, false testimony, or deceitful behavior, like in Psalm 116:11, where the psalmist says all men are liars.
Definition: 1) lie, deception, disappointment, falsehood 1a) deception (what deceives or disappoints or betrays one) 1b) deceit, fraud, wrong 1b1) fraudulently, wrongfully (as adverb) 1c) falsehood (injurious in testimony) 1c1) testify falsehood, false oath, swear falsely 1d) falsity (of false or self-deceived prophets) 1e) lie, falsehood (in general) 1e1) false tongue 1f) in vain
Usage: Occurs in 109 OT verses. KJV: without a cause, deceit(-ful), false(-hood, -ly), feignedly, liar, [phrase] lie, lying, vain (thing), wrongfully. See also: Exodus 5:9; Proverbs 25:18; Psalms 7:15.
לֹ֣א
lôʼ
H3808
"not"
Part
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Definition: 1) not, no 1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition) 1b) not (with modifier-negation) 1c) nothing (subst) 1d) without (with particle) 1e) before (of time) Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Usage: Occurs in 3967 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as truly as, [phrase] of a truth, [phrase] verily, for want, [phrase] whether, without. See also: Genesis 2:5; Genesis 31:15; Exodus 4:9.
יִנָּקֶ֑ה
nâqâh
H5352
"to clear"
V-Niphal-Imperf-3ms
To be or make clean, either physically or morally, as seen in the book of Psalms where David asks God to cleanse him. This word is also used to describe being free from guilt or punishment. It appears in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
Definition: 1) to be empty, be clear, be pure, be free, be innocent, be desolate, be cut off 1a) (Qal) to be empty, be clean, be pure 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be cleaned out, be purged out 1b2) to be clean, be free from guilt, be innocent 1b3) to be free, be exempt from punishment 1b4) to be free, be exempt from obligation 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to hold innocent, acquit 1c2) to leave unpunished
Usage: Occurs in 33 OT verses. KJV: acquit [idiom] at all, [idiom] altogether, be blameless, cleanse, (be) clear(-ing), cut off, be desolate, be free, be (hold) guiltless, be (hold) innocent, [idiom] by no means, be quit, be (leave) unpunished, [idiom] utterly, [idiom] wholly. See also: Genesis 24:8; Psalms 19:14; Psalms 19:13.
וְ/יָפִ֖יחַ
pûwach
H6315
"to breathe"
Conj | V-Hiphil-Imperf-3ms
This Hebrew word means to breathe or blow air, and is used in various ways, such as to fan a breeze or kindle a fire. It can also mean to utter or speak. In the Bible, it appears in contexts like Exodus and Psalms, describing God's breath or a person's utterance.
Definition: 1) to breathe, blow 1a) (Qal) to breathe 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to cause to exhale or breathe 1b2) to puff, snort 1b3) to excite, inflame 1b4) to puff, pant for it 1b5) to breathe out, utter 1b6) to blow, blast
Usage: Occurs in 14 OT verses. KJV: blow (upon), break, puff, bring into a snare, speak, utter. See also: Psalms 10:5; Proverbs 19:9; Psalms 12:6.
כְּזָבִ֣ים
kâzâb
H3577
"lie"
N-mp
A lie or falsehood is what this word represents, whether it is a literal untruth or a figurative idol, and is often used to describe the deceitful nature of humanity.
Definition: a lie, untruth, falsehood, deceptive thing
Usage: Occurs in 29 OT verses. KJV: deceitful, false, leasing, + liar, lie, lying. See also: Psalms 4:3; Proverbs 30:8; Psalms 5:7.
יֹאבֵֽד
ʼâbad
H6
"to perish"
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
To perish means to be destroyed or lost, whether it's a person, animal, or thing, like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19.
Definition: 1) perish, vanish, go astray, be destroyed 1a) (Qal) 1a1) perish, die, be exterminated 1a2) perish, vanish (fig.) 1a3) be lost, strayed 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to destroy, kill, cause to perish, to give up (as lost), exterminate 1b2) to blot out, do away with, cause to vanish, (fig.) 1b3) cause to stray, lose 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to destroy, put to death 1c1a) of divine judgment 1c2) object name of kings (fig.) Aramaic equivalent: a.vad (אֲבַד "to destroy" H0007)
Usage: Occurs in 174 OT verses. KJV: break, destroy(-uction), [phrase] not escape, fail, lose, (cause to, make) perish, spend, [idiom] and surely, take, be undone, [idiom] utterly, be void of, have no way to flee. See also: Exodus 10:7; Psalms 112:10; Psalms 1:6.
Study Notes — Proverbs 19:9
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Proverbs 19:9 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 19:9
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 19:9
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 19:9
- Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 19:9
- Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 19:9
- Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 19:9
- Sermons on Proverbs 19:9
Context — The Man of Integrity
7All the brothers of a poor man hate him— how much more do his friends avoid him! He may pursue them with pleading, but they are nowhere to be found.
8He who acquires wisdom loves himself; one who safeguards understanding will find success.
9A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who pours out lies will perish.
10Luxury is unseemly for a fool— how much worse for a slave to rule over princes! 11A man’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Revelation 22:15 | But outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. |
| 2 | Proverbs 19:5 | A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape. |
| 3 | Revelation 19:20 | But the beast was captured along with the false prophet, who on its behalf had performed signs deceiving those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. Both the beast and the false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. |
| 4 | Revelation 21:8 | But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.” |
| 5 | Jeremiah 28:15–17 | Then the prophet Jeremiah said to the prophet Hananiah, “Listen, Hananiah! The LORD did not send you, but you have persuaded this people to trust in a lie. Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘I am about to remove you from the face of the earth. You will die this year because you have preached rebellion against the LORD.’” And in the seventh month of that very year, the prophet Hananiah died. |
| 6 | Jeremiah 29:31–32 | “Send a message telling all the exiles what the LORD says concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite. Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you—though I did not send him—and has made you trust in a lie, this is what the LORD says: ‘I will surely punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his descendants. He will have no one left among this people, nor will he see the good that I will bring to My people, declares the LORD, for he has preached rebellion against the LORD.’” |
| 7 | Jeremiah 23:25–32 | “I have heard the sayings of the prophets who prophesy lies in My name: ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’ How long will this continue in the hearts of these prophets who prophesy falsehood, these prophets of the delusion of their own minds? They suppose the dreams that they tell one another will make My people forget My name, just as their fathers forgot My name through the worship of Baal. Let the prophet who has a dream retell it, but let him who has My word speak it truthfully. For what is straw compared to grain?” declares the LORD. “Is not My word like fire,” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer that smashes a rock?” “Therefore behold,” declares the LORD, “I am against the prophets who steal from one another words they attribute to Me.” “Yes,” declares the LORD, “I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and proclaim, ‘The LORD declares it.’” “Indeed,” declares the LORD, “I am against those who prophesy false dreams and retell them to lead My people astray with their reckless lies. It was not I who sent them or commanded them, and they are of no benefit at all to these people,” declares the LORD. |
| 8 | Ezekiel 13:22 | Because you have disheartened the righteous with your lies, even though I have caused them no grief, and because you have encouraged the wicked not to turn from their evil ways to save their lives, |
| 9 | 2 Thessalonians 2:8–10 | And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of His mouth and annihilate by the majesty of His arrival. The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the working of Satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder, and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them. |
| 10 | 1 Timothy 4:1–2 | Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, influenced by the hypocrisy of liars, whose consciences are seared with a hot iron. |
Proverbs 19:9 Summary
Proverbs 19:9 teaches us that lying or giving false testimony has serious consequences. If we intentionally deceive others, we will face punishment, and if we continue in this behavior, it can lead to spiritual death (as seen in Revelation 21:8). Speaking the truth, even when it's hard, is important because it shows respect for God and for others (Exodus 20:16). By choosing to be honest and truthful, we can build trust and strong relationships, and we can trust that God will guide us in our words and actions (Psalm 37:3-6).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of a false witness in Proverbs 19:9?
A false witness is someone who intentionally gives false testimony, and according to Proverbs 19:9, they will not go unpunished, as seen also in Deuteronomy 19:16-19 where the punishment for a false witness is specified.
How does one 'pour out lies' as mentioned in Proverbs 19:9?
Pouring out lies refers to speaking falsehoods or deceiving others, and as the verse warns, such behavior will lead to perishing, a concept also found in Revelation 21:8 where all liars are excluded from eternal life.
Is Proverbs 19:9 suggesting that God immediately punishes those who lie or give false witness?
While Proverbs 19:9 does promise punishment for false witnesses and liars, the timing of this punishment is not specified, but as seen in Psalm 37:13, God's judgment is certain, though it may not always be immediate.
How can we avoid being false witnesses or pouring out lies?
To avoid being false witnesses or lying, we must strive for honesty and integrity in all our interactions, as commanded in Exodus 20:16 and emphasized in Ephesians 4:25 where we are told to speak the truth in love.
Reflection Questions
- What are some situations in my life where I am tempted to exaggerate or distort the truth, and how can I choose to speak honestly instead?
- How does the promise of punishment for false witnesses and liars in Proverbs 19:9 impact my willingness to be truthful, even when it's difficult?
- In what ways can I cultivate a habit of speaking the truth in love, as encouraged in Ephesians 4:25, in my everyday conversations?
- How does the concept of perishing as a result of lying, as mentioned in Proverbs 19:9, relate to my understanding of the importance of honesty and integrity in my relationship with God and others?
Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 19:9
A false witness shall not be unpunished,.... [See comments on Proverbs 19:5]; and [he that] speaketh lies shall perish; or "be lost", shall be undone for ever; he shall not enter into the holy city,
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 19:9
A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish. No JFB commentary on this verse.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 19:9
This was said before, , and seems to be here repeated, either for its great use and weight in human society, and to show how much God abhors such practices; or to show the pernicious effects of this sin, and consequently of all other sins, one eminent kind being put for all the rest, and this in opposition to the good effects of wisdom or piety, which he declared in the foregoing verse.
Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 19:9
Proverbs 19:9 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and [he that] speaketh lies shall perish.Ver. 9. A false witness, &c.] See Proverbs 19:5.
Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 19:9
9. shall perish] We have, shall not escape, in the otherwise identical proverb of Pro 19:5 above.
Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 19:9
9. A false witness shall not be unpunished — This is the same as Proverbs 19:5, except one word, shall perish, or be lost, as in a wilderness.
Sermons on Proverbs 19:9
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
(Proverbs) ch.18:4 - 19:5 by Zac Poonen | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the danger of building a crowd of admirers based on generosity, as it can hinder the growth of the body of Christ. The Bible warns that a fal |
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Lying Lips by Erlo Stegen | This sermon focuses on the seriousness of lying according to Proverbs 12:22, highlighting how lying lips are an abomination to the Lord. The speaker emphasizes the importance of sp |
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Some of the Mis Representations by Job Scott | In this sermon, the preacher exposes the misrepresentations contained in a pamphlet titled 'A Letter from a Friend in America to Luke Howard of Tottenham, near London.' The preache |
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The Ignatian Epistles Entirely Spurious - Part 3 by William Dool Killen | William Dool Killen preaches about the controversy surrounding the date of the martyrdom of Polycarp and its implications on the Ignatian Epistles. He discusses the arguments prese |
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Gods Order in Christ - Part 7 by T. Austin-Sparks | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the parable of casting something into the waters and the waters being healed. They explain that throughout history, every step forward has onl |
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(Wonderful 50 Days) 05 - Peter at Gallilee by Ed Miller | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the final 40 days of Jesus before his ascension. He emphasizes that during this time, Jesus had a great burden for missions and evangelism. J |
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Satan Must Find Nothing in Us by Zac Poonen | This sermon emphasizes the importance of understanding Satan's tactics and the need to be a testimony to Satan by living a life free from pride, rebellion, discontent, lying, and m |