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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)“You must not pass along false rumors. You must not cooperate with evil people by lying on the witness stand.

Context of Exodus 23:1

“Do not spread false reports. Do not help a guilty person by being a malicious witness. 2“Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd, 3and do not show favoritism to a poor person in a lawsuit.

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 23:7Have nothing to do with a false charge and do not put an innocent or honest person to death, for I will not acquit the guilty.
• Exodus 20:16“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
• Leviticus 19:16“ ‘Do not go about spreading slander among your people. “ ‘Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the Lord.
• 2 Samuel 16:3The king then asked, “Where is your master’s grandson?” Ziba said to him, “He is staying in Jerusalem, because he thinks, ‘Today the Israelites will restore to me my grandfather’s kingdom.’ ”
• 2 Samuel 19:27And he has slandered your servant to my lord the king. My lord the king is like an angel of God; so do whatever you wish.
• Psalms 15:3whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others;
• Psalms 101:5Whoever slanders their neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not tolerate.
• Psalms 120:3What will he do to you, and what more besides, you deceitful tongue?
• Proverbs 10:18Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool.
• Proverbs 17:4A wicked person listens to deceitful lips; a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.
• Proverbs 25:23Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain is a sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look.
• Jeremiah 20:10I hear many whispering, “Terror on every side! Denounce him! Let’s denounce him!” All my friends are waiting for me to slip, saying, “Perhaps he will be deceived; then we will prevail over him and take our revenge on him.”
• Matthew 28:14If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.”
• Romans 3:8Why not say—as some slanderously claim that we say—“Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is just!
• Deuteronomy 5:20“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
• Deuteronomy 19:16If a malicious witness takes the stand to accuse someone 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