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Proverbs 19:5 — Word Study

Depth

WLCעֵ֣ד שְׁ֭קָרִים לֹ֣א יִנָּקֶ֑ה וְיָפִ֥יחַ כְּ֝זָבִ֗ים לֹ֣א יִמָּלֵֽט׃

BSAA falsesheqer [deceptive, untrue] witnessʻêd [one who testifies, gives testimony] will notlôʼ go unpunishednâqâh [without penalty, unreprimanded] and one who utterspûwach [speaks, breathes out] lieskâzâb [deceit, falsehoods] will notlôʼ escapemâlaṭ [be delivered, slip away to safety]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 19
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 5 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (yi.ma.Let) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 19:5quick helps
In a sentenceProverbs warns that false witnesses and liars will face consequences.
Who is speakingThe author of Proverbs, sharing wisdom about honesty.
Where we areA section on the consequences of deceitful behavior.
The hard wordשְׁ֭קָרִים
Take awayDeceit is not without repercussions.
6 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbנָקָה The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — Proverbs 19:5

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — The Consequences of Deceitgenerated

4Wealth attracts many friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend.
5A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape.
6Many seek the favor of the prince, and everyone is a friend of the gift giver.
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.

Proverbs 19:5 discusses the serious consequences faced by those who bear false witness and speak lies. This verse emphasizes the importance of truthfulness and integrity in testimony, reflecting a broader moral teaching found throughout the book of Proverbs. It serves as a reminder that dishonesty will ultimately lead to punishment, aligning with other wisdom literature that warns against deceitful behavior.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 19:9A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who pours out lies will perish.
2Proverbs 6:19a false witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up discord among brothers.
3Proverbs 21:28A lying witness will perish, but the man who listens to truth will speak forever.
4Exodus 23:1“You shall not spread a false report. Do not join the wicked by being a malicious witness.
5Deuteronomy 19:16–21If a false witness testifies against someone, accusing him of a crime,

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 9 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word עֵד, 'edgenerated

The word עֵד ('ed) means 'witness' and refers to someone who testifies or gives testimony. It is derived from a root suggesting emphatic affirmation, indicating a strong connection to the act of witnessing.

In this verse, it highlights the role of a witness in legal and moral contexts, emphasizing that a false witness will face consequences. The parsing indicates it is a masculine singular noun, showing it refers to an individual witness.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The translations agree that a false witness will not go unpunished and that one who speaks lies will not escape.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb in this verse is יִנָּקֶ֑ה, he will go unpunished, which governs the structure. The sentence consists of two clauses that parallel each other: one about the false witness and the other about the one who speaks lies.

The structure emphasizes the certainty of punishment for both types of deceitful behavior, with the use of לֹא (not) serving as a strong negation.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint uses the Greek word μάρτυς (martus) to translate עֵד, which also means 'witness'. This choice maintains the focus on the role of the witness in legal matters.

For שְׁ֭קָרִים, the LXX uses ψευδὴς (pseudēs), meaning 'false', which aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning, reinforcing the idea of deceit.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 19:5 tells us that a person who gives false testimony will not escape punishment, and someone who speaks lies will not be able to avoid consequences. This verse highlights the importance of honesty and warns against deceitful behavior.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that a false witness will not go unpunished?

It means that those who bear false witness will face consequences for their actions, as dishonesty is morally and legally wrong.

Why is speaking lies considered so serious?

Speaking lies can lead to harm and injustice, affecting relationships and the truth of legal matters, which is why it is condemned in Scripture.

How does this verse relate to other teachings in Proverbs?

This verse aligns with other teachings in Proverbs that emphasize the value of truthfulness and the dangers of deceit.

What can we learn from this verse about honesty?

We learn that honesty is essential for integrity and that deceitful actions will ultimately lead to negative consequences.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what situations have I seen the consequences of dishonesty play out in my life or in others' lives?
  2. How can I ensure that I am a truthful witness in my own words and actions?
  3. What are some practical steps I can take to avoid deceitful behavior?
  4. How can I encourage others to value honesty in their own lives?

The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it

Early Church Fathers have commented on this verse, noting the importance of truthfulness and the consequences of false testimony.

Augustine of HippoSERMON 286:1 354–430
There are true martyrs and false ones, because there are true and false witnesses. But Scripture says, “The false witness shall not go unpunished.” If the false witness will not escape punishment,
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 19 →
BedeCommentary on Proverbs c. 673–735
A false witness will not go unpunished, etc. He reproved him who only followed words of knowledge without the efficacy of operation; now he reproves him who corrupts the very words of divine authority by misinterpretation.
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 19 →

Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 19:5 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

A false witness shall not be unpunished,.... He that bears false witness against his neighbour in an open court of judicature; though be may not be detected by men, and so escape the punishment due

Read John Gill on Proverbs 19 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape. A false witness ... and (he that) speaketh (Hebrew, breatheth forth) lies shall not escape. Proverbs 19:9 repeats this.

Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 19 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Shall not be unpunished; though he escape the observation and punishment of men, yet he shall not avoid the judgment of God. That speaketh lies; that accustometh himself to lying, either in judgment or in common conversation.

Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 19 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Proverbs 19:5 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and [he that] speaketh lies shall not escape.Ver. 5. A false witness shall not be unpunished.] Many poor people care not to lend their rich friend an oath at a need; and many rich, though they think ill of pillory perjury, yet they make little conscience of a merry lie. Neither of these shall pass unpunished. And this sentence may be to them, as those knuckles of a man’ s hand were to Belshazzar, to write them their destiny, or as Daniel was to him, to read it unto them.

Read John Trapp on Proverbs 19 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

5. speaketh] Lit. breatheth out; and so in Proverbs 19:9 below.

Read Cambridge on Proverbs 19 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

5. Not be unpunished — Better, as margin, not “held innocent.” Shall not escape — Namely, not escape punishment. The first clause is equivalent to, shall be guilty; the second, shall not go unpunished.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Proverbs 19 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape.

NETBNew English Translation2006

A false witness will not go unpunished, and the one who spouts out lies will not escape punishment.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

A false witness shall not be unpunished; And he that uttereth lies shall not escape.

RVARevised Version, American1894

A false witness shall not be unpunished; and he that uttereth lies shall not escape.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

A false witnes shall not be vnpunished: and he that speaketh lyes, shall not escape.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

A false witness shall not be held innocent, and he that uttereth lies shall not escape.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

A false witness is not acquitted, Whoso breatheth out lies is not delivered.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

A false witness is not acquitted, || Whoever breathes out lies is not delivered.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

A false witness shall not remain unpunished, and he that uttereth lies shall not escape.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

A false witness will not go unpunished and he who breathes out lies will not escape.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

A false witness shall not be unpunished: and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

A false witness will be punished; liars won't get away with their lies.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

A false witness will not go without punishment, and the breather out of deceit will not go free.

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

clausenoun phrase · subjectעֵ֣דa.witnessשְׁ֭קָרִיםof.liesadverbialלֹ֣אnotverbיִנָּקֶ֑הhe.will.go.unpunishedוְandclausenoun phrase · subjectclauseverbיָפִ֥יחַhe.breathes.outobjectכְּ֝זָבִ֗יםliesadverbialלֹ֣אnotverbיִמָּלֵֽטhe.will.escape

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree in their wording for this verse. The Septuagint matches 7 of the 8 words from the Hebrew text, indicating a strong consistency in the message about the consequences of false testimony.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

עֵ֣ד שְׁ֭קָרִים לֹ֣א יִנָּקֶ֑ה וְיָפִ֥יחַ כְּ֝זָבִ֗ים לֹ֣א יִמָּלֵֽט׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
עֵ֣דμάρτυςשְׁ֭קָרִיםψευδὴςלֹ֣אοὐκוְיָפִ֥יחַδὲכְּ֝זָבִ֗יםἀδίκωςלֹ֣אοὐיִמָּלֵֽט׃διαφεύχεται

7 of the 8 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

Proverbs 19:5עֵדa witness oa witness ofעֵדשֶׁ֫קֶרliesliesשֶׁ֫קֶרלֹאnotnotלֹאנָקָהhe will go he will go unpuנָקָהפּוּחַand he may and he may breaפּוּחַכָּזָבliesliesכָּזָבלֹאnotnotלֹאמָלַטhe will esche will escapeמָלַטעוּדto upholdto upholdעוּדשָׁקַרto dealto dealשָׁקַרכָּזַבto lieto lieכָּזַביָכֹלbe ablebe ableיָכֹלעוֹדstillstillעוֹדשֶׁ֫קֶרdeceptiondeceptionשֶׁ֫קֶרעֵדwitnesswitnessעֵדנָבָאto prophesto prophesyנָבָאפֶּ֫שַׁעtransgresstransgressionפֶּ֫שַׁעצֵלshadowshadowצֵלכָּזָבlielieכָּזָבפּוּחַto breatheto breatheפּוּחַקָסַםto divineto divineקָסַםנוּסto fleeto fleeנוּס
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in Proverbs 19:5

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

a witness of lies not he will go unpunished and he may breathe out lies not he will escape
עֵ֣ד'ed a witness of H5707 Noun common · masculine singular construct
70× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
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.
Amplified meaning
one who testifies, gives testimony
Tyndale gloss
witness
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עֵד (ed) means 'witness' and encompasses both the act of witnessing and the person who testifies. It is derived from a root suggesting emphatic affirmation. The term can refer to evidence of things or to individuals providing testimony.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עֵד 69 n.m. witness (prob. fr. reiterating, hence emphatically affirming)

witness, testimony, evidence, of things

witness, a person

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5707 עֵד witness (prob. fr. reiterating, hence emphatically affirming) . witness, testimony, evidence, of things

. witness, a person

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5707 `ed ayd

contracted from 5749 ; concretely, a witness; abstractly,

testimony; specifically, a recorder, i.e. prince:--witness.

see HEBREW for 05749

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עֵד (ed) — witness.

1) witness

1a) witness, testimony, evidence (of things)

1b) witness (of people)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

a witness of lies not he will go unpunished and he may breathe out lies not he will escape
שְׁ֭קָרִיםShe.ka.rim lies H8267 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
113× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
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.
Amplified meaning
deceptive, untrue
Tyndale gloss
deception
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שֶׁ֫קֶר (sheqer) refers to deception, falsehood, and disappointment. It encompasses various forms of deceit, including fraud and wrongful testimony. The word is built from the root associated with untruths and can imply sham or lying. It is used in contexts involving false prophets and general dishonesty.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֶׁ֫קֶר 113 n.m. deception, disappointment, falsehood

deception, what deceives, disappoints, and betrays one

deceit, fraud, wrong

injurious falsehood, in testimony

falsity, of false or self-deceived prophets

lie, falsehood, in gen.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8267 שֶׁ֫קֶר deception, disappointment, falsehood . deception, what deceives, disappoints, and betrays one

. deceit, fraud, wrong

. injurious falsehood, in testimony

. falsity, of false or self-deceived prophets

. lie, falsehood, in gen.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8267 sheqer sheh'-ker

from 8266; an untruth; by implication, a sham (often

adverbial):--without a cause, deceit(-ful),

false(-hood, -ly), feignedly, liar, + lie, lying, vain

(thing), wrongfully.

see HEBREW for 08266

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֶׁ֫קֶר (she.qer) — deception.

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
a witness of lies not he will go unpunished and he may breathe out lies not he will escape
לֹ֣אlo' not H3808 Particle
5,170× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
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.
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֹא or לוֹא adv. not

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3808 lo' lo

or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often

used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,

ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,

no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out

of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +

of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֹא (lo) — not.

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)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
a witness of lies not he will go unpunished and he may breathe out lies not he will escape
יִנָּקֶ֑הyi.na.Keh he will go unpunished H5352 Verb · Niphal · imperfect third person masculine singular
44× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
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.
Amplified meaning
without penalty, unreprimanded
Tyndale gloss
to clear
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָקָה (naqah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to be clean or free from guilt, and it can also imply being empty or desolate. The entries indicate that it encompasses a range of meanings, including acquitting someone of guilt, being exempt from punishment, and being purged or cleaned out. The lexicons suggest various nuances, but they consistently focus on themes of innocence and cleanliness.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[נָקָה] vb. be empty(?), clean

Qal Inf. Abs.

Niph.

be cleaned out

be clean, free from guilt, innocent

be free, exempt from punishment

free, exempt from obligation

Pi.

hold innocent, acquit

leave unpunished

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5352 נָקָה be empty(?), clean .Inf. Abs.

. . be cleaned out

. be clean, free from guilt, innocent

. be free, exempt from punishment

. free, exempt from obligation

. . hold innocent, acquit

. leave unpunished

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5352 naqah naw-kaw'

a primitive root; to be (or make) clean (literally or

figuratively); by implication (in an adverse sense) to be

bare, i.e. extirpated:--acquit X at all, X altogether, be

blameless, cleanse, (be) clear(-ing), cut off, be desolate, be

free, be (hold) guiltless, be (hold) innocent, X by no means,

be quit, be (leave) unpunished, X utterly, X wholly.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָקָה (na.qah) — to clear.

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Niphal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Niphal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVNi3ms
a witness of lies not he will go unpunished and he may breathe out lies not he will escape
וְיָפִ֥יחַve.ya.Fi.ach and he may breathe out H6315 Conjunction · verb qal third person masculine singular
14× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
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.
Amplified meaning
speaks, breathes out
Tyndale gloss
to breathe
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פּוּחַ (puwach) is a primitive root meaning to breathe or blow. It encompasses actions such as puffing, fanning, and uttering, and can also imply excitement or inflaming. The verb appears in various forms, including Qal and Hiphil, indicating different nuances like causing to exhale or expressing wrath.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[פּוּחַ] vb. breathe, blow

Qal until the day breathes, i.e. grows cool

Hiph.

cause garden to exhale

puff, snort, against

with the fire of my wrath will I blow against thee

excite, inflame city

puff = pant for it

breathe out, utter

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6315 פּוּחַ

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6315 puwach poo'akh

a primitive root; to puff, i.e. blow with the breath or air;

hence, to fan (as a breeze), to utter, to kindle (a fire), to

scoff:--blow (upon), break, puff, bring into a snare, speak,

utter.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פּוּחַ (pu.ach) — to breathe.

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Hiphil-Imperf-3ms — Conjunction · verb qal third person masculine singular
HC/Vqu3ms
a witness of lies not he will go unpunished and he may breathe out lies not he will escape
כְּ֝זָבִ֗יםke.za.Vim lies H3577 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
31× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
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.
Amplified meaning
deceit, falsehoods
Tyndale gloss
lie
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כָּזָב (kazab) refers to a lie or falsehood, encompassing meanings like deceit and untruth. It is derived from a root that suggests the concept of deception. The entries consistently describe it as a term for falsehood without significant disagreement among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כָּזָב n.m. lie, falsehood, deceptive thing

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3577 כָּזָב lie, falsehood, deceptive thing

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3577 kazab kaw-zawb'

from 3576; falsehood; literally (untruth) or figuratively

(idol):--deceitful, false, leasing, + liar, lie, lying.

see HEBREW for 03576

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כָּזָב (ka.zav) — lie.

a lie, untruth, falsehood, deceptive thing

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
a witness of lies not he will go unpunished and he may breathe out lies not he will escape
לֹ֣אlo' not H3808 Particle
5,170× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
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.
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לֹא or לוֹא adv. not

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3808 lo' lo

or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often

used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,

ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,

no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out

of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +

of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לֹא (lo) — not.

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)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTn
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
a witness of lies not he will go unpunished and he may breathe out lies not he will escape
יִמָּלֵֽט׃yi.ma.Let he will escape H4422 Verb · Niphal · imperfect third person masculine singular
95× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to escape or be delivered, like slipping away to safety. It is used in the Bible to describe people being saved from danger, like in the book of Psalms. The KJV translates it as deliver or escape.
Amplified meaning
be delivered, slip away to safety
Tyndale gloss
to escape
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָלַט (malat) is a Hebrew verb primarily meaning to escape or slip away. It encompasses various nuances such as delivering, saving, and even giving birth in specific contexts. The entries indicate that it can refer to both physical escape and the act of laying eggs. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[מָלַט] vb. slip away (not in Qal)

Niph.

slip away

escape

pass. be delivered

Pi.

lay (eggs)

let escape

deliver

Hiph.

give birth to a male child

deliver

Hithp.

slip forth, escape (sparks of fire from jaws of crocodile)

escape

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4422 מָלַט slip away . . slip away

. escape

. pass. be delivered

. . lay (eggs)

. let escape

. deliver

. . give birth to a male child

. deliver

. . slip forth, escape (sparks of fire from jaws of crocodile)

. escape

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4422 malat maw-lat'

a primitive root; properly, to be smooth, i.e. (by

implication) to escape (as if by slipperiness); causatively,

to release or rescue; specifically, to bring forth young, emit

sparks:--deliver (self), escape, lay, leap out, let alone,

let go, preserve, save, X speedily, X surely.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָלַט (ma.lat) — to escape.

1) to slip away, escape, deliver, save, be delivered

1a)(Niphal)

1a1) to slip away

1a2) to escape

1a3) to be delivered

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to lay, let slip out (of eggs)

1b2) to let escape

1b3) to deliver, save (life)

1c) (Hiphil)

1c1) to give birth to

1c2) to deliver

1d) (Hithpael)

1d1) to slip forth, slip out, escape

1d2) to escape

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Niphal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Niphal · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVNi3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible

→ NONE, FROM THE JUDGMENTS OF GOD Ge 3:7-11; 4:9-11; Job 34:21,22; Isa 10:3; Mt 23:33; Ro 2:3; 1Th 5:2,3; Heb 2:2,3; 12:25,26; Re 6:15-17

See SIN, FRUITS OF

See SIN, PUNISHMENT OF

See JUDGMENTS, NO ESCAPE FROM

Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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