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 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

“You shall not circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. 2You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice. 3You shall not show partiality to a poor man in his dispute.

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 23:7Keep yourself far from a false matter; do not kill the innocent and righteous. For I will not justify the wicked.
• Exodus 20:16“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
• Leviticus 19:16You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people; nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord.
• 2 Samuel 16:3Then the king said, “And where is your master’s son?” And Ziba said to the king, “Indeed he is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore the kingdom of my father to me.’ ”
• 2 Samuel 19:27And he has slandered your servant to my lord the king, but my lord the king is like the angel of God. Therefore do what is good in your eyes.
• Psalms 15:3He who does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend;
• Psalms 101:5Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, Him I will destroy; The one who has a haughty look and a proud heart, Him I will not endure.
• Psalms 120:3What shall be given to you, Or what shall be done to you, You false tongue?
• Proverbs 10:18Whoever hides hatred has lying lips, And whoever spreads slander is a fool.
• Proverbs 17:4An evildoer gives heed to false lips; A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue.
• Proverbs 25:23The north wind brings forth rain, And a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.
• Jeremiah 20:10For I heard many mocking: “Fear on every side!” “Report,” they say, “and we will report it!” All my acquaintances watched for my stumbling, saying, “Perhaps he can be induced; Then we will prevail against him, And we will take our revenge on him.”
• Matthew 28:14And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure.”
• Romans 3:8And why not say, “Let us do evil that good may come”?—as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just.
• Deuteronomy 5:20‘You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
• Deuteronomy 19:16If a false witness rises against any man to testify against him of wrongdoing,

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