English Standard Version
Proverbs 25:18
18A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.
Proverbs 25:18 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
- New International Version (NIV)Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor.
- New King James Version (NKJV)A man who bears false witness against his neighbor Is like a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Telling lies about others is as harmful as hitting them with an ax, wounding them with a sword, or shooting them with a sharp arrow.
Context of Proverbs 25:18
16If you have found honey, eat only enough for you, lest you have your fill of it and vomit it. 17Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor's house, lest he have his fill of you and hate you. A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow. 19Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips. 20Whoever sings songs to a heavy heart is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, and like vinegar on soda.
Read all of Proverbs 25Proverbs 25:18 word by word
מֵפִ֣יץ וְ֭חֶרֶב וְחֵ֣ץ שָׁנ֑וּן אִ֥ישׁ עֹנֶ֥ה בְ֝רֵעֵ֗הוּ עֵ֣ד שָֽׁקֶר׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- A manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
- that bearethעָנָה‛ânâh · to answerH6030
- falseשֶׁ֫קֶרsheqer · deceptionH8267
- witnessעֵד‛êd · witnessH5707
- against his neighbourרֵעַrêa‛ rêya‛ · neighborH7453
- a maulמֵפִיץmêphîyts · war-clubH4650
- and a swordחֶ֫רֶבchereb · swordH2719
- and a sharpשָׁנַןshânan · to sharpenH8150
- arrowחֵץchêts · arrowH2671
Cross-references for Proverbs 25:18
- Proverbs 12:18There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
- Psalms 52:2Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit.
- Psalms 55:21His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.
- Psalms 57:4My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery beasts— the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.
- Psalms 120:3What shall be given to you, and what more shall be done to you, you deceitful tongue?
- Psalms 140:3They make their tongue sharp as a serpent's, and under their lips is the venom of asps. Selah
- Jeremiah 9:3They bend their tongue like a bow; falsehood and not truth has grown strong in the land; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not know me, declares the Lord.
- James 3:6And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.
Commentaries on Proverbs 25:18
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18Maul - A heavy sledge hammer. The word is connected with “malleus:” its diminutive “mallet” is still in use.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18Verse 18 A false testimony is dangerous in every thing.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18Lying can lead to serious consequences (see Proverbs 6:16–19; 14:5, 25).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. A false witness is as destructive to reputation, as such weapons to the body (Pr 24:28). beareth ... witness--literally, "answereth questions," as before a judge, against his neighbor.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 25:18
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 25
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries