Exodus 23:1

Exodus 23:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.
• New International Version (NIV)“Do not spread false reports. Do not help a guilty person by being a malicious witness.
• English Standard Version (ESV)"You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness.
• New King James Version (NKJV)“You shall not circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.

Context of Exodus 23:1

⌞The Lord continued,⌟ “Never spread false rumors. Don’t join forces with wicked people by giving false testimony. 2Never follow a crowd in doing wrong. When you testify in court, don’t side with the majority to pervert justice. 3Never give special favors to poor people in court.

Exodus 23:1 word by word

לֹ֥א תִשָּׂ֖א שֵׁ֣מַע שָׁ֑וְא אַל־תָּ֤שֶׁת יָֽדְךָ֙ עִם־רָשָׁ֔ע לִהְיֹ֖ת עֵ֥ד חָמָֽס׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Thou shalt not raiseנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: loudH5375
• a falseשָׁוְאshâv' shav · vanity: falseH7723
• reportשֵׁ֫מַעshêma‛ · reportH8088
• putשִׁיתshîyth · to set: putH7896
• not thine handיָדyâd · handH3027
• with the wickedרָשָׁעrâshâ‛ · wickedH7563
• to be an unrighteousחָמָסchâmâs · violenceH2555
• witnessעֵד‛êd · witnessH5707

Cross-references for Exodus 23:1

• Exodus 23:7Avoid telling lies. Don’t kill innocent or honest people, because I will never declare guilty people innocent.
• Exodus 20:16“Never lie when you testify about your neighbor.
• Leviticus 19:16Never gossip. Never endanger your neighbor’s life. I am the Lord.
• 2 Samuel 16:3“Where is your master Saul’s grandson?” the king asked. “He’s staying in Jerusalem,” Ziba answered the king. “He said, ‘Today the house of Israel will give me back my grandfather’s kingdom.’ ”
• 2 Samuel 19:27He told you lies about me, Your Majesty. However, you are like God’s Messenger. Do what you think is right.
• Psalms 15:3The one who does not slander with his tongue, do evil to a friend, or bring disgrace on his neighbor.
• Psalms 101:5I will destroy anyone who secretly slanders his neighbor. I will not tolerate anyone with a conceited look or arrogant heart.
• Psalms 120:3You deceitful tongue, what can the Lord give you? What more can he do for you?
• Proverbs 10:18Whoever conceals hatred has lying lips. Whoever spreads slander is a fool.
• Proverbs 17:4An evildoer pays attention to wicked lips. A liar opens his ears to a slanderous tongue.
• Proverbs 25:23⌞As⌟ the north wind brings rain, so a whispering tongue brings angry looks.
• Jeremiah 20:10I have heard many ⌞people⌟ whispering, “Terror is everywhere! Report him! Let’s report him!” All my closest friends are waiting to see me stumble. They say, “Maybe he will be tricked. Then we can overpower him and take revenge on him.”
• Matthew 28:14⌞They added,⌟ “If the governor hears about it, we’ll take care of it, and you’ll have nothing to worry about.”
• Romans 3:8Or can we say, “Let’s do evil so that good will come from it”? Some slander us and claim that this is what we say. They are condemned, and that’s what they deserve.
• Deuteronomy 5:20“Never avoid the truth when you testify about your neighbor.
• Deuteronomy 19:16This is what you must do whenever a witness takes the stand to accuse a person falsely of a crime.

Commentaries on Exodus 23:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Thou shalt not raise a false report - Acting contrary to this precept is a sin against the ninth commandment. And the inventor and receiver of false and slanderous reports, are almost equally criminal. The word seems to refer to either, and our translators have very properly retained both senses, putting raise in the text, and receive in the margin. The original תשא לא lo tissa has been translated, thou shalt not publish. Were there no publishers of…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-3Verses 1-3 These four commands, addressed to the conscience, are illustrations of the ninth commandment, mainly in reference to the giving of evidence in legal causes. Compare 1 Kings 21:10; Acts 6:11. Exodus 23:2 This verse might be more strictly rendered, “Thou shalt not follow the many to evil; neither shalt thou bear witness in a cause so as to incline after the many to pervert justice.” Exodus 23:3 Countenance - Rather, show partiality to a man‘s…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Laws against falsehood and injustice. (1-9) The year of rest, The sabbath, The three festivals. (10-19) God promises to conduct the Israelites to Canaan. (20-33) Verses 1-9 In the law of Moses are very plain marks of sound moral feeling, and of true political wisdom. Every thing in it is suited to the desired and avowed object, the worship of one only God, and the separation of Israel from the pagan world. Neither parties, friends, witnesses, nor common…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-3It is important to speak the truth, even when facing evil people, a crowd, or misguided motives (23:1, 2, 3, 7–8).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-331. put not thine hand--join not hands.Read the comment

Topics related to Exodus 23:1

• Accusation, False
• Conspiracy
• Evidence
• False Teachers
• Falsehood
• Injustice
• Justice
• Oath
• Slander

In the dictionaries

• Beware
• Book
• Countenance
• Ingathering
• Refresh
• Seethe
• Turn
• Wrest
• Bible, the
• Blindness, Judicial

Commentaries on Exodus 23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• 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
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings