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

Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. 2Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment: 3Neither shalt thou countenance a poor man in his cause.

Exodus 23:1 word by word

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

• 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 thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.
• Exodus 20:16Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
• Leviticus 19:16Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am Yhwh.
• 2 Samuel 16:3And the king said, And where is thy master’s son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.
• 2 Samuel 19:27And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in thine eyes.
• Psalms 15:3He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
• Psalms 101:5Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.
• Psalms 120:3What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue?
• Proverbs 10:18He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.
• Proverbs 17:4A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
• Proverbs 25:23The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
• Jeremiah 20:10For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.
• Matthew 28:14And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.
• Romans 3:8And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.
• Deuteronomy 5:20Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour.
• Deuteronomy 19:16If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong;

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