Deuteronomy 5:20 Meaning: When Words Become Weapons
“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour.
Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbor.
`Thou dost not answer against thy neighbour--a false testimony.
Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour.
Meaning in one sentence
Does the ninth commandment forbid only perjury in court, or all slander? Discover the fuller meaning of 'false witness' in its original language.
Context
This verse is part of the Ten Commandments, repeated here in Deuteronomy as Moses prepares Israel to enter the Promised Land. The setting is solemn: God spoke these words directly from the fire on Mount Sinai. The surrounding verses list duties to God and to neighbours, and this one sits between prohibitions against stealing and coveting. It protects something invisible but precious, a person's reputation and the truth itself.
Key Words
Two Hebrew words carry the weight here. 'Ed (עֵד) means a witness, someone who speaks what they have seen or heard. It's a neutral word, used for testimony that can be true or false. What makes this command powerful is the word shav (שָׁוְא) behind 'false.' In Exodus 20:16, the word is sheker, a deliberate lie. But here in Deuteronomy, God uses the same word He used in the third commandment: shav, meaning empty, vain, groundless. A witness who answers with shav is not necessarily inventing a story; they might repeat a rumour without foundation, or exaggerate when they should be precise. The command reaches beyond courtroom perjury to every careless word that makes a neighbour look worse than the truth allows.
How Christians Read This Verse
Most Christian traditions agree this command forbids perjury in legal settings. But many go further. The Reformed tradition, through Matthew Henry and others, reads it as a broad prohibition against slander, evil-speaking, and even needlessly repeating a real fault. Catholic moral teaching similarly extends it to all forms of defamation, rash judgment, and detraction. Some evangelical commentators emphasise the positive flip side, a duty to defend our neighbour's good name when it is unjustly attacked. All traditions agree that the command protects something at the heart of community: trust between people.
A common misunderstanding
A common misreading is that this only applies when you are under oath in court. In fact, the Hebrew word shav (vain, empty) is the same word used for taking God's name 'in vain' in the third commandment. The command covers any groundless or needless speech that harms a neighbour's reputation, whether in a courtroom, a workplace, a text message, or a quiet word over coffee.
Living This Out
This week, notice what you say about someone when they are not in the room. Before you share a piece of news about a neighbour, co-worker, or family member, ask yourself: is this grounded in truth? Do I really know it’s true? And even if it is true, does this need to be said? The command does not forbid all discussion of another person, but it does forbid words that are empty, hurtful, or unnecessary. One concrete practice: if you catch yourself about to repeat a story that could damage someone's reputation, stop. Let silence be the safer choice.
Main takeaway: Your words about others matter to God as much as your words to Him do; speak truth, and nothing less, of your neighbour.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
This command says: don't tell a lie about someone else. Even a small lie can hurt like a pinch. Always tell the truth about your friends.
For ages 9, 12
This command goes deeper than just not lying in court. It means you shouldn't spread a story about someone unless you know for sure it's true, and even then, ask if it needs to be said. Rumours and gossip are like throwing a rock into a pond; you can't take back the ripples. God calls us to use our words to protect others' reputations, not to damage them.
Questions People Ask
Does the ninth commandment forbid gossip and slander, or only perjury?
The original Hebrew word for 'false' here is shav, meaning empty or groundless, the same word used in the command not to take God's name in vain. So it covers any speech that is vain, reckless, or damaging to a neighbour's reputation, not just testimony given under oath in court.
Why does Deuteronomy 5:20 use a different word for 'false' than Exodus 20:16?
Exodus 20:16 uses the Hebrew word sheker, which means a deliberate lie. In Deuteronomy, the word is shav, which means vain, empty, or groundless. The shift broadens the command: a false witness can be someone who spreads something that isn't deliberately invented but still lacks a solid foundation.
Does 'neighbor' in this verse mean only someone who lives nearby?
In Hebrew, the word re'a can mean a friend, a fellow citizen, or simply another person. It covers anyone you interact with. The command protects every person's reputation, not just your next-door neighbour.
Is it a sin to repeat a true but harmful story about someone?
Many Christian teachers, including Matthew Henry and Wesley, say yes, if the story is not necessary for a good purpose. Even a true report can be evil-speaking if it is shared needlessly. The command calls us to weigh whether what we say actually helps or merely harms.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study