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

“You must not pass along false rumors. You must not cooperate with evil people by lying on the witness stand. 2“You must not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you are called to testify in a dispute, do not be swayed by the crowd to twist justice. 3And do not slant your testimony in favor of a person just because that person is poor.

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 23:7“Be sure never to charge anyone falsely with evil. Never sentence an innocent or blameless person to death, for I never declare a guilty person to be innocent.
• Exodus 20:16“You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.
• Leviticus 19:16“Do not spread slanderous gossip among your people. “Do not stand idly by when your neighbor’s life is threatened. I am the Lord.
• 2 Samuel 16:3“And where is Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson?” the king asked him. “He stayed in Jerusalem,” Ziba replied. “He said, ‘Today I will get back the kingdom of my grandfather Saul.’”
• 2 Samuel 19:27Ziba has slandered me by saying that I refused to come. But I know that my lord the king is like an angel of God, so do what you think is best.
• Psalms 15:3Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends.
• Psalms 101:5I will not tolerate people who slander their neighbors. I will not endure conceit and pride.
• Psalms 120:3O deceptive tongue, what will God do to you? How will he increase your punishment?
• Proverbs 10:18Hiding hatred makes you a liar; slandering others makes you a fool.
• Proverbs 17:4Wrongdoers eagerly listen to gossip; liars pay close attention to slander.
• Proverbs 25:23As surely as a north wind brings rain, so a gossiping tongue causes anger!
• Jeremiah 20:10I have heard the many rumors about me. They call me “The Man Who Lives in Terror.” They threaten, “If you say anything, we will report it.” Even my old friends are watching me, waiting for a fatal slip. “He will trap himself,” they say, “and then we will get our revenge on him.”
• Matthew 28:14If the governor hears about it, we’ll stand up for you so you won’t get in trouble.”
• Romans 3:8And some people even slander us by claiming that we say, “The more we sin, the better it is!” Those who say such things deserve to be condemned.
• Deuteronomy 5:20“You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.
• Deuteronomy 19:16“If a malicious witness comes forward and accuses 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