Proverbs 19:9 — Word Study
WLCעֵ֣ד שְׁ֭קָרִים לֹ֣א יִנָּקֶ֑ה וְיָפִ֖יחַ כְּזָבִ֣ים יֹאבֵֽד׃ פ
BSAA falsesheqer [deceptive, untrue] witnessʻêd [one who testifies, provides testimony] will notlôʼ [never] go unpunishednâqâh▸ [without penalty, acquitted] and one who pours outpûwach▸ [speaks, utters] lieskâzâb [deceit, falsehoods] will perishʼâbad▸ [be destroyed, lost]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| עֵ֣ד | a witness of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| שְׁ֭קָרִים | lies | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| לֹ֣א | not | Particle |
| יִנָּקֶ֑ה | he will go unpunished | Verb, Niphal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| וְיָפִ֖יחַ | and he may breathe out | Conjunction, verb qal third person masculine singular |
| כְּזָבִ֣ים | lies | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| יֹאבֵֽד׃ פ | he will perish | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who pours out lies will perish. |
| KJV | A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish. |
| ASV | A false witness shall not be unpunished; And he that uttereth lies shall perish. |
| YLT | A false witness is not acquitted, And whoso breatheth out lies perisheth. |
| WEB | A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who utters lies shall perish. |
| BBE | A false witness will not go without punishment, and the breather out of deceit will be cut off. |
Where they part company is in the rendering of שְׁ֭קָרִים — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence consists of a main clause followed by two subordinate clauses, emphasizing the consequences of dishonesty.





6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbנָקָה
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
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 19:9
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 — Wisdom Literature of Proverbsgenerated
Proverbs 19:9 presents a stark warning about the consequences of dishonesty. The verse emphasizes that a false witness will not escape punishment, while those who spread lies will ultimately face destruction. This teaching fits within the broader context of Proverbs, which often contrasts wisdom and folly, urging adherence to truth and integrity in speech and action.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 9:15–17 | The head is the elder and honorable man, and the tail is the prophet who teaches lies. |
| 2 | 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!’ |
| 3 | 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. |
| 4 | 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, |
| 5 | 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, |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 11 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — עֵד, 'edgenerated
The word עֵד ('ed) is a noun meaning 'witness' and refers to someone who testifies or provides testimony. It is derived from a root that suggests emphatic affirmation, indicating a strong connection to the act of witnessing or the person testifying.
In this verse, the emphasis is on the consequences that await a false witness, highlighting the importance of honesty and integrity in legal and moral contexts.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The verse is rendered in the Berean Standard Bible as well as in the KJV and ASV, which share the phrase 'A false witness will not go unpunished'.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main clause is introduced with עֵ֣ד, witness, and is followed by two additional clauses: one detailing the punishment for false witnesses and another regarding those who speak lies. The structure emphasizes the consequences of dishonesty.
The finite verbs יִנָּקֶ֑ה (he will go unpunished) and יֹאבֵֽד (he will perish) anchor the clauses, indicating the outcomes tied to the actions described.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew עֵד is rendered as μάρτυς (martys), which also means 'witness'. This choice maintains the focus on testimony and its implications.
The translation of שְׁ֭קָרִים as ψευδὴς (pseudēs) indicates a focus on the nature of the lies, emphasizing their deceptive quality.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Proverbs 19:9 warns that a false witness will face punishment, while those who speak lies will be destroyed. This verse teaches the importance of truthfulness and the consequences of deceit.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that those who give false testimony will face consequences for their actions, indicating that justice will prevail.
Lying undermines trust and can lead to injustice, making it a serious moral failing that has repercussions.
This verse aligns with Proverbs' emphasis on wisdom, integrity, and the moral order of the universe, where truth is upheld.
We learn that honesty is crucial and that deceitful behavior ultimately leads to negative outcomes.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what situations have I seen dishonesty lead to negative consequences?
- How can I ensure that I am a truthful witness in my own life?
- What steps can I take to promote honesty in my community?
- How does understanding the consequences of lies affect my behavior and decisions?
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Proverbs 19:9 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleA 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,
Read John Gill on Proverbs 19 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryA false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish. No JFB commentary on this verse.
Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 19 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThis 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.
Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 19 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsProverbs 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.
Read John Trapp on Proverbs 19 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges9. shall perish] We have, shall not escape, in the otherwise identical proverb of Pro 19:5 above.
Read Cambridge on Proverbs 19 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible9. 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.
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
A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who pours out lies will perish.
A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who utters lies shall perish.
A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who pours out lies will perish.
A false witness will not go unpunished, and the one who spouts out lies will perish.
Tyndale line
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 shall not be unpunished; and he that uttereth lies shall perish.
A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.
A false witnes shall not be vnpunished: and he that speaketh lyes, shall perish.
Strictly literal
A false witness shall not be held innocent, and he that uttereth lies shall perish.
A false witness is not acquitted, And whoso breatheth out lies perisheth.
A false witness is not acquitted, || And whoever breathes out lies perishes.
A false witness shall not remain unpunished, and he that uttereth lies shall perish.
A false witness will not go unpunished, but the one who breathes out lies will perish.
From the Latin
A false witness shall not be unpunished: and he that speaketh lies, shall perish.
Simplified
A false witness will be punished; people who tell lies will perish.
A false witness will not go without punishment, and the breather out of deceit will be cut off.
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.
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 content, with five of the seven words matched. The Septuagint's word order and articles differ, but the essential message remains consistent.
עֵ֣ד שְׁ֭קָרִים לֹ֣א יִנָּקֶ֑ה וְיָפִ֖יחַ כְּזָבִ֣ים יֹאבֵֽד׃ פ
5 of the 7 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.
Lexicons — every word in Proverbs 19:9
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.
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.
עֵד 69 n.m. witness (prob. fr. reiterating, hence emphatically affirming)
witness, testimony, evidence, of things
witness, a person
base
H5707 עֵד witness (prob. fr. reiterating, hence emphatically affirming) . witness, testimony, evidence, of things
. witness, a person
5707 `ed ayd
contracted from 5749 ; concretely, a witness; abstractly,
testimony; specifically, a recorder, i.e. prince:--witness.
see HEBREW for 05749
עֵד (ed) — witness.
1) witness
1a) witness, testimony, evidence (of things)
1b) witness (of people)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
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.
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…
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.
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
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.
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
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
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
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.'
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
base
H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not
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.
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)
Part — ParticleHTn
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.
[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
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
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.
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
V-Niphal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Niphal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVNi3ms
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.
[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
H6315 פּוּחַ
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.
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
Conj | V-Hiphil-Imperf-3ms — Conjunction · verb qal third person masculine singularHC/Vqu3ms
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.
כָּזָב n.m. lie, falsehood, deceptive thing
base
H3577 כָּזָב lie, falsehood, deceptive thing
3577 kazab kaw-zawb'
from 3576; falsehood; literally (untruth) or figuratively
(idol):--deceitful, false, leasing, + liar, lie, lying.
see HEBREW for 03576
כָּזָב (ka.zav) — lie.
a lie, untruth, falsehood, deceptive thing
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
אָבַד (abad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to perish or be lost. It encompasses a range of meanings, including dying, vanishing, and destruction, often in a moral or judgment context. The word appears in various forms in the Old Testament, with uses related to individuals, nations, and inanimate objects. The lexicons indicate that it can also imply causing something to perish or stray.
אָבַד vb. perish (M I אבד, As. abâtu Dl W 184 Aram אֲבַד, Syriac).—
Qal Pf. א׳ Nu 21:30 +; אָבְדוּ ψ 10:16 + (+ Ez 6:3 𝔊 Co) etc.; Impf. יֹאבַד Jb 3:3 Je 4:9; יֹאבֵ֑ד Jb 20:7 + 2t.; 3fs. תֹּאבַד Dt 22:3 + 4t.; תֹּאבֵ֑ד Jb 8:13 + 3t.; יֹאבְדוּ Ju 5:31 + 3t.; יֹאבֵ֑דוּ Jb 4:9 +; 3fpl. וַתֹּאבַדְנָה֙ I S 9:3; תֹּאבֵדוּן Dt 4:26 +; נֹאבֵ֑ד Jon 1:6…
Read the full entry →H6 אָבַד perish .. perish, die, of individuals
. fig. perish, vanish, subj. memory
. be lost, strayed
. . cause to perish, destroy, kill
. fig. cause to vanish, blot out, do away with
. cause to stray, lose
. . destroy, put to death, in judgment
. fig. obj. name of kings; hope; voice of mirth etc.
6 'abad aw-bad'
a primitive root; properly, to wander away, i.e. lose
oneself; by implication to perish (causative,
destroy):--break, destroy(- uction), + not escape, fail,
lose, (cause to, make) perish, spend, X and surely, take, be
undone, X utterly, be void of, have no way to flee.
אָבַד (a.vad) — to perish.
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)
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVqi3ms
