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Proverbs 24:28 — Word Study

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WLCאַל־ תְּהִ֣י עֵד־ חִנָּ֣ם בְּרֵעֶ֑ךָ וַ֝הֲפִתִּ֗יתָ בִּשְׂפָתֶֽיךָ׃

BSADo notʼal [without reason or cause] testifyhâyâh [be a witness, give false testimony] against your neighborrêaʻ [close friend, companion] without causechinnâm [for nothing, in vain] and do not deceivepâthâh [refuse to, entice, mislead] with your lipssâphâh [words, language, the edge of your mouth]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 24
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 28 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 (bis.fa.Tei.kha) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 24:28quick helps
In a sentenceThe verse warns against giving false testimony and deceiving others.
Who is speakingThe writer of Proverbs addresses the reader directly.
Where we areThis instruction is part of a series of moral teachings.
The hard wordחִנָּם
Take awayFalse testimony harms relationships and integrity.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbהָיָה 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 24:28

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 — Moral Teachings in Proverbsgenerated

27Complete your outdoor work and prepare your field; after that, you may build your house.
28Do not testify against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips.
29Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will repay the man according to his work.”
30I went past the field of a slacker and by the vineyard of a man lacking judgment.

Proverbs 24:28 is part of a collection of wisdom sayings that provide guidance on ethical behavior and interpersonal relationships. The writer emphasizes the importance of honesty and integrity in dealings with others, particularly in legal and personal matters. This verse serves as a reminder to avoid unjust accusations and deceitful speech, which can lead to significant harm.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 14:5An honest witness does not deceive, but a dishonest witness pours forth lies.
2Proverbs 19:5–9A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape.
3Proverbs 21:28A lying witness will perish, but the man who listens to truth will speak forever.
4Exodus 20:16You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
5Exodus 23:1“You shall not spread a false report. Do not join the wicked by being a malicious witness.

The Key Word חִנָּם, chi.Namgenerated

The word חִנָּם (chinnam) means 'for nothing' or 'without cause.' It indicates actions taken without justification or reason, often implying that they are done in vain or without purpose. This adverbial form emphasizes the lack of a valid reason for the action.

In this context, it highlights the seriousness of providing testimony against someone without a legitimate cause, warning against the moral implications of such actions.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against. The BSB uses without cause, which is also reflected in the KJV, ASV, and several other versions.

Where others part company with the BSB they part company over the rendering of חִנָּם. The LSV opts for for nothing, which retains the sense of lack of reason but varies in phrasing.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The structure of the verse is governed by two main verbs: תְּהִ֣י, you be, and וַ֝הֲפִתִּ֗יתָ, and you deceive. Each verb introduces a clause that presents a moral directive.

The first clause focuses on the act of testimony, while the second clause addresses the act of deception, creating a parallel structure that emphasizes the importance of honesty.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the Hebrew word חִנָּם is rendered as ψευδὴς, meaning 'false.' This choice narrows the focus to the nature of the testimony, suggesting that it is not only without cause but also inherently deceptive.

This translation highlights the moral implications of giving false testimony, aligning with the overall theme of integrity found in the Proverbs.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 24:28 advises against giving false testimony about your neighbor and warns not to deceive with your words. This teaching emphasizes the importance of honesty and integrity in our interactions with others.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to testify against your neighbor without cause?

It means to make accusations or claims about someone that are not justified or based on truth.

Why is it important not to deceive with your lips?

Deception can damage trust and relationships, leading to harm for both the deceiver and the deceived.

How does this verse relate to other teachings in Proverbs?

It aligns with the broader themes of wisdom literature that emphasize moral integrity and the consequences of dishonesty.

What are some practical ways to apply this verse in daily life?

We can strive to speak truthfully about others, avoid gossip, and ensure our words reflect our true intentions.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what situations might I be tempted to speak against someone without cause?
  2. How can I ensure that my words reflect honesty and integrity?
  3. What impact does my speech have on my relationships with others?
  4. How can I encourage others to speak truthfully and avoid deception?

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

Bede comments on this verse, emphasizing the moral implications of false testimony against a neighbor.

BedeCommentary on Proverbs c. 673–735
Do not be a witness without cause against your neighbor, etc. This also pertains to the cultivation of our field, that is, to the pursuit of good action, namely, not to harm an innocent neighbor with false testimony,
Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 24 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 24:28 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause,.... Unless forced unto it, except there is some urgent reason for it; not upon any trivial account, or in any frivolous matter; never appear

Read John Gill on Proverbs 24 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips. Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause - falsely, or even frivolously, without sure ground for thy accusation.

Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 24 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Be not a witness against thy neighbour, either in judgment or in private conversation, without cause; rashly or falsely, without just and sufficient cause. Deceive not neither thy neighbour, to whom thou hast made a show of friendship, nor the judge, nor any other bearers, with false information. Or this clause forbids flattering him to his face, as the former forbids slandering him behind his back.

Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 24 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Proverbs 24:28 Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive [not] with thy lips.Ver. 28. Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause.] That is, Without calling, being not thereunto required; for this would speak thee spiteful, rash, and revengeful, as in the next verse. And deceive not with thy lips.] When called to be a witness, speak thy mind simply and plainly, without preface or passion, without varnish of fine words, whereby to mislead the judge, or deceive the jurors, to bolster out a bad cause, or outface a good. ανευπροοιμιωνκαιπαθων.

Read John Trapp on Proverbs 24 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(28) Without cause—i.e., do not mention thy neighbour’s faults unless for some good reason, not for malice or love of gossip.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 24 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 28. Be not a witness] Do not be forward to offer thyself to bear testimony against a neighbour, in a matter which may prejudice him, where the essential claims of justice do not require such interference; and especially do not do this in a spirit of revenge, because he has injured thee before.

Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 24 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

28. deceive not] Lit. and perhaps more forcibly, And wouldest thou deceive with thy lips?

Read Cambridge on Proverbs 24 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Deceive not with thy lips - Better, wilt thou deceive with thy lips?

Read Albert Barnes on Proverbs 24 →

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

Do not testify against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Don’t be a witness against your neighbor without cause. Don’t deceive with your lips.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Do not testify against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your words.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Be not a witness against thy neighbor without cause; And deceive not with thy lips.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Be not a witness against thy neighbor without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Be not a witnes against thy neighbour without cause: for wilt thou deceiue with thy lippes?

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and wouldest thou deceive with thy lips?

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

Be not a witness for nought against thy neighbour, Or thou hast enticed with thy lips.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Do not be a witness against your neighbor for nothing, || Or you have enticed with your lips.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Be not without cause a witness against thy neighbor; for wouldst thou beguile with thy lips?

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Do not bear witness against your neighbor without cause and do not deceive with your lips.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Be not witness without cause against thy neighbour: and deceive not any man with thy lips.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Don't testify against your neighbors without having a good reason, and don't tell lies.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Do not be a violent witness against your neighbour, or let your lips say what is false.

Word by word, the decisions they made

חִנָּ֣םchi.Nam without cause H2600 2 different renderings
without causeASV BSB DBY DRA GNV ILT KJV MSB NETB NWB RVA ULB WEB
for nothingLSV

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.

clauseadverbialאַלdo.notverbתְּהִ֣יbeobjectעֵדa.witnessadverbialחִנָּ֣םwithout.causeprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְּinnoun phraseרֵעֶ֑neighborךָyourוַ֝andclauseהֲwillclauseverbפִתִּ֗יתָyou.deceive?prepositional phrase · prepositionalבִּwithnoun phraseשְׂפָתֶֽיlipsךָyour

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


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

The Masoretic Text reads: אַל־ תְּהִ֣י עֵד־ חִנָּ֣ם בְּרֵעֶ֑ךָ וַ֝הֲפִתִּ֗יתָ בִּשְׂפָתֶֽיךָ׃. The Septuagint closely matches this text, differing only in word order and specific translations of terms, maintaining the core message of the verse.

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

אַל־ תְּהִ֣י עֵד־ חִנָּ֣ם בְּרֵעֶ֑ךָ וַ֝הֲפִתִּ֗יתָ בִּשְׂפָתֶֽיךָ׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
אַל־μὴתְּהִ֣יἴσθιחִנָּ֣םψευδὴςבְּרֵעֶ֑ךָπολίτηνוַ֝הֲפִתִּ֗יתָπλατύνουבִּשְׂפָתֶֽיךָ׃ξείλεσιν

6 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.

Proverbs 24:28אַלmay notmay notאַלהָיָהyou beyou beהָיָהעֵדa witnessa witnessעֵדחִנָּםwithout cauwithout causeחִנָּםרֵעַin neighborin neighbor youרֵעַפָּתָהand ¿ will and ¿ will you פָּתָהשָׂפָהwith lips ywith lips yourשָׂפָהעוּדto upholdto upholdעוּדחֵןfavorfavorחֵןסָפָהto snatchto snatchסָפָהלֹאnotnotלֹאהָוָאto fallto fallהָוָאבֵּית־עֵ֫קֶדHouse of SHouse of Shepheבֵּית־עֵ֫קֶדחָתַתto to be dto to be dismayחָתַתיָרֵאto fearto fearיָרֵאשֶׁ֫קֶרdeceptiondeceptionשֶׁ֫קֶרפֶּ֫צַעwoundwoundפֶּ֫צַערֶ֫שֶׁתnetnetרֶ֫שֶׁתנָאַףto commit to commit adultנָאַףאִישׁmanmanאִישׁאַחְאָבAhabAhabאַחְאָביְרִיעָהcurtaincurtainיְרִיעָהלָשׁוֹןtonguetongueלָשׁוֹן
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 24:28

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.

may not you be a witness without cause in neighbor your and ¿ will you deceive with lips your
אַל־'al- may not H408 Particle
724× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Means not or nothing, used to express negation, as in the phrase do not or let not be.
Amplified meaning
without reason or cause
Tyndale gloss
not
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אַל (al) is a negative particle meaning 'not' or 'no,' often used to express a wish or prohibition rather than an objective fact. It can also function as a noun meaning 'nothing.' The lexicons highlight its use in various contexts, including deprecative forms, but do not show significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H408 אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

408 'al al

a negative particle (akin to 3808); not (the qualified

negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun,

nothing:--nay, neither, + never, no ,nor, not, nothing

(worth), rather than.

see HEBREW for 03808

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַל (al) — not.

1) not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference)

1a) do not, let not (with a verb)

1b) let there not be (with a verb understood)

1c) not, no (with substantive)

1d) nothing (as substantive)

Aramaic equivalent: al (אַל "not" H0409)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Part — Particle
HTn
may not you be a witness without cause in neighbor your and ¿ will you deceive with lips your
תְּהִ֣יte.Hi you be H1961 Verb · Qal · jussive second person masculine singular
3,562× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Amplified meaning
be a witness, give false testimony
Tyndale gloss
to be
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word הָיָה (hayah) is a primitive root meaning to exist or become, and it encompasses a range of meanings including to happen, occur, and come to pass. It is often used in narrative contexts, particularly in phrases like "and it came to pass." The word can also denote a state of being or existence, and it appears frequently in various forms throughout the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הָיָה 3570 vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be

Qal

Fall out, happen

occur, take place, come about, come to pass

esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass

וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)

rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)

Come into being, become

abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come

sq. prep.

become

sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)

sq. pred. adj.

become like

sq. pred. לְ pers.

sq. לְ pred.

oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.

with עַל and לְ

sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of

Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)

exist, be in existence

abide, remain, continue

with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie

as copula, joining subj. & pred.

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1961 הָיָה fall out, come to pass, become, be .. . . Fall out, happen

. occur, take place, come about, come to pass

. esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass . . וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)

. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה

. less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)

. Come into being, become . . abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come

. sq. prep.

. become . sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)

. sq. pred. adj.

. become like

. sq. pred. + לְ pers.

. sq. לְ pred.

. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.

. with עַל and לְ

. sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of

. Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming) . exist, be in existence

. abide, remain, continue

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1961 hayah haw-yaw

a primitive root (compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become,

come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or

auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished,

committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint,

fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit

(one-)self, require, X use.

see HEBREW for 01933

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.

1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out

1a) (Qal)

1a1) ---

1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass

1a1b) to come about, come to pass

1a2) to come into being, become

1a2a) to arise, appear, come

1a2b) to become

1a2b1) to become

1a2b2) to become like

1a2b3) to be instituted, be established

1a3) to be

1a3a) to exist, be in existence

1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time)

1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality)

1a3d) to accompany, be with

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about

1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Juss-2ms — Verb · Qal · jussive second person masculine singular
HVqj2ms
may not you be a witness without cause in neighbor your and ¿ will you deceive with lips your
עֵד־'ed- a witness H5707 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
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.
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
HNcmsa — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

wit'-nes (nouns `edh, and `edhah, and verb `anah; martus, with all derivative words and their compounds): The word "witness" is used of inanimate things, e.g. the heap of stones testifying to the covenant between Jacob and Laban (Ge 31:44-54), and the So of Moses. (De 31:19,21). The main use of the word is forensic, and from this use all other applications are naturally derived. Important legal agreements required the attestation of witnesses, as in the case of the purchase of property, or a betrothal (Ru 4:1-11, where we are told that the ancient form of attestation was by a man drawing off his shoe and giving it to his neighbor).

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Witness

More than one witness was required in criminal cases (Deut. 17:6; 19:15). They were the first to execute the sentence on the condemned (Deut. 13:9; 17:7; 1 Kings 21:13; Matt. 27:1; Acts 7:57, 58). False witnesses were liable to punishment (Deut. 19:16-21). It was also an offence to refuse to bear witness (Lev. 5:1).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Among people with whom writing is not common the evidence of a transaction is given by some tangible memorial or significant ceremony: Abraham gave seven ewe-lambs to Abimelech as an evidence of his property in the well of Beersheba. Jacob raised a heap of stones, "the heap of witness." as a boundary-mark between himself and Laban. (Genesis 21:30; 31:47,52) The tribes of Reuben and Gad raised an "altar" as a witness to the covenant between themselves and the rest of the nation. Joshua set up a stone as an evidence of the allegiance promised by Israel to God. (Joshua 22:10,26,34; 24:26,27) But written evidence was by no means unknown to the Jews. Divorce was to be proved by a written document. (24:1,3) In civil contracts, at least in later times documentary evidence was required…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

One who testifies to any fact from his own personal knowledge. Under the Mosaic law, two witnesses under oath were necessary to convict a person charged with a capital crime, Nu 35:30; and if the criminal was stoned, the witnesses were bound to cast the first stones, De 17:6-7 Ac 7:58. The Greek word for witness is MARTYR, which see.

The apostles were witnesses, in proclaiming to the world the facts of the gospel, Ac 1:8,22 2:32 2Pe 1:12,16-18; and Christ is a "faithful witness," in testifying to men of heavenly things, Joh 3:12

may not you be a witness without cause in neighbor your and ¿ will you deceive with lips your
חִנָּ֣םchi.Nam without cause H2600 Adverb
32× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
For nothing means something is done without a reason or cost. It can also mean something is done in vain or without purpose. This concept is seen in various Bible stories and teachings.
Amplified meaning
for nothing, in vain
Tyndale gloss
for nothing
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חִנָּם (chinnam) means 'for nothing' or 'gratis,' indicating something given without cost or reason. It conveys ideas of being free, undeserved, or in vain. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to be devoid of advantage.' Various lexicons emphasize its use in contexts that highlight lack of purpose or cause.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חִנָּם subst., used chiefly in the accus. as adv.—lit. out of favour; i.e.

gratis, gratuitously, for nothing

for no purpose, in vain

gratuitously, without cause, undeservedly

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2600 חִנָּם lit. out of favour; i.e. . gratis, gratuitously, for nothing

. for no purpose, in vain

. gratuitously, without cause, undeservedly

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2600 chinnam khin-nawm'

from 2580; gratis, i.e. devoid of cost, reason or

advantage:--without a cause (cost, wages), causeless, to cost

nothing, free(-ly), innocent, for nothing (nought, in vain.

see HEBREW for 02580

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חִנָּם (chin.nam) — for nothing.

1) freely, for nothing, without cause

1a) gratis, gratuitously, for nothing

1b) for no purpose, in vain

1c) gratuitously, without cause, undeservedly

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adv — Adverb
HD
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

kos: In both the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American) "for this cause" (the King James Version "cause") occurs in Ex 9:16 as the rendering of ba`abhur zo'th = "in order that"; "to the end that"; so also in Da 2:12 for kol-qebhel denah, and in 2Ch 32:20 the King James Version for `al-zo'th, where RVS read "because of." In the New Testament the word is used adverbially in the translation of several Greek phrases: heneka toutou (Mt 19:5; Mr 10:7); dia touto, Joh 12:27; Ro 1:26; 13:6; 15:9…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ See ACTIONS AT LAW

may not you be a witness without cause in neighbor your and ¿ will you deceive with lips your
בְּרֵעֶ֑ךָbe.re.'E.kha in neighbor your H7453 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
188× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A neighbor or friend is what this word means, describing someone close to you. It can also refer to a companion, fellow citizen, or another person, and is often translated as brother or friend.
Amplified meaning
close friend, companion
Tyndale gloss
neighbor
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רֵעַ (rea`) refers to a friend, companion, or fellow, emphasizing close associations such as brotherhood or intimacy. It can also denote a neighbor or another person in a broader sense. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to associate.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רֵעַ 187 n.m. friend, companion, fellow

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7453 רֵעַ friend, companion, fellow

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7453 rea` ray'-ah

or reya2 {ray'-ah}; from 7462; an associate (more or less

close):--brother, companion, fellow, friend, husband, lover,

neighbour, X (an-)other.

see HEBREW for 0reya2

see HEBREW for 07462

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רֵעַ (re.a) — neighbor.

1) friend, companion, fellow, another person

1a) friend, intimate

1b) fellow, fellow-citizen, another person (weaker sense)

1c) other, another (reciprocal phrase)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HR/Ncmsc/Sp2ms
may not you be a witness without cause in neighbor your and ¿ will you deceive with lips your
וַ֝הֲפִתִּ֗יתָva.ha.fi.Ti.ta and ¿ will you deceive H6601 Conjunction · particle · verb piel perfect second person masculine singular
28× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To patah means to entice or deceive someone, often by making something seem simple or appealing.
Amplified meaning
refuse to, entice, mislead
Tyndale gloss
to open wide
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פָּתָה (pathah) is a Hebrew verb that means to be spacious or open, and it can also imply simplicity or gullibility. It encompasses a range of meanings from enticing and deceiving to persuading and being persuaded. The lexicons suggest that it can refer to both physical openness and moral or mental simplicity, with some entries indicating a sinister aspect of deception.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[פָּתָה] vb. be spacious, wide, open

Qal poss. one open as to lips

Hiph. may God make wide for Japhet (give him an extensive inheritance)

base

[פָּתָה] vb. denom. be simple

Qal

be open-minded (?), simple

be enticed, deceived

Niph. be deceived

Pielpersuade, woman, seduce, virgin; entice, husband; a man to sin

deceive

Pual

be persuaded

be deceived

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6601a פָּתָה be spacious, wide, open H6601b [פָּתָה] vb. denom. be simple

.

. be open-minded (?), simple

. be enticed, deceived

. be deceived

.

. persuade, woman, seduce, virgin; entice, husband; a man to sin

. deceive

.

. be persuaded

. be deceived

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6601 pathah paw-thaw'

a primitive root; to open, i.e. be (causatively, make) roomy;

usually figuratively (in a mental or moral sense) to be

(causatively, make) simple or (in a sinister way)

delude:--allure, deceive, enlarge, entice, flatter, persuade,

silly (one).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פָּתָה (pa.tah) — to open wide.

1) to be spacious, be open, be wide

1a) (Qal) to be spacious or open or wide

1b) (Hiphil) to make spacious, make open

פָּתָה (pa.tah) — to entice.

1) to be simple, entice, deceive, persuade

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be open-minded, be simple, be naive

1a2) to be enticed, be deceived

1b) (Niphal) to be deceived, be gullible

1c) (Piel)

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to persuade, seduce

1c2) to deceive

1d) (Pual)

1d1) to be persuaded

1d2) to be deceived

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Part | V-Piel-Perf-2ms — Conjunction · particle · verb piel perfect second person masculine singular
HC/Ti/Vpp2ms
may not you be a witness without cause in neighbor your and ¿ will you deceive with lips your
בִּשְׂפָתֶֽיךָ׃bis.fa.Tei.kha with lips your H8193 Preposition · noun common feminine dual construct · suffix
176× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to lips or language, and can also mean the edge or border of something. It is used in the Bible to describe the shore of a sea or the edge of a cup.
Amplified meaning
words, language, the edge of your mouth
Tyndale gloss
lips
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word שָׂפָה (*saphah*) encompasses meanings related to 'lip,' 'speech,' and 'edge.' It is derived from concepts of termination, suggesting boundaries like the edge of a vessel or the bank of a river. The word can refer to physical lips, language, or the edges of various objects, including shores.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שָׂפָה 176 n.f. lip, speech, edge

lip

language

edge: shore of sea; bank of river

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8193 שָׂפָה lip, speech, edge . lip

. language

. edge: shore of sea; bank of river

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8193 saphah saw-faw'

or (in dual and plural) sepheth {sef-eth'}; probably from

5595 or 8192 through the idea of termination (compare 5490);

the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by

analogy, a margin (of a vessel, water, cloth, etc.):--band,

bank, binding, border, brim, brink, edge, language, lip,

prating, ((sea-))shore, side, speech, talk, (vain) words.

see HEBREW for 05595

see HEBREW for 08192

see HEBREW for 05490

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lips.

: lips/mouth

1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding

1a) lip (as body part)

1b) language

1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)

שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lip: words.

: words/language

1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding

1a) lip (as body part)

1b) language

1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)

שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lip: edge.

: edge/border/opening

1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding

1a) lip (as body part)

1b) language

1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)

שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lip: shore.

: shore/bank(of_sea/river)

1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding

1a) lip (as body part)

1b) language

1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-fd | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine dual construct · suffix
HR/Ncfdc/Sp2ms
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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