A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Proverbs 25:18
What does Proverbs 25:18 mean?
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Proverbs 25:18
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This verse isn't just saying false testimony is bad; it highlights how it progresses. It starts like a heavy club bruising someone's reputation, then escalates to a sword that wounds deeply, and finally becomes a sharp arrow, piercing and destroying from afar, often unexpectedly.
A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse continues the collection of Solomon's proverbs, following an earlier section about the dangers of boasting and the value of discreet speech. It focuses on the destructive impact of lies, comparing a false witness to brutal weapons. This direct warning about deceit directly precedes proverbs that advocate for truthful and gentle communication.
Why does the Bible compare a liar to a collection of deadly weapons? This verse packs a punch!
Proverbs 25:18 doesn't just say a false witness is 'bad' – it paints a picture of utter devastation. The verse lists "a maul, or a sword, or a sharp arrow." Think about these.
Together, these weapons show that a false witness is not just careless with words, but actively destructive, using their testimony as a tool to inflict severe harm.
Who is the primary victim of a false witness? The Bible is clear: it's your 'neighbor.'
The phrase 'against his neighbor' is crucial here. This isn't just about abstract lies; it's about betraying someone you know, someone within your community. This kind of deception is particularly insidious because:
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This emphasizes that gossip, slander, and outright lies are not victimless crimes. They wound the people closest to us, breaking bonds of community and fellowship.
Understand the original words
anah / ed sheqer · Hebrew Phrase/Verb+Noun
To testify falsely or deceitfully; in a legal or social context, it represents a grave violation of truth and integrity that harms others and violates God's commands.
This verse directly echoes the commandment 'You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor,' highlighting the moral severity of the act described in Proverbs.
Psalm 101:7This Psalm speaks of a king who will not tolerate liars or deceivers in his household, mirroring the sentiment that false witnesses are profoundly untrustworthy and destructive.
Matthew 26:59-60This passage shows the accusation of false witness being brought against Jesus during his trial, illustrating a real-life application of how such testimony can lead to devastating consequences.
Acts 6:11-13Here, false witnesses are stirred up against Stephen, demonstrating how malicious lies, like the weapons in Proverbs, can be used to persecute and destroy someone's reputation and life.
gillProverbs 25:18: "A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow."
A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour,.... In whose house he has often been, and whom he has frequently visited; and, observing what was done there, not only discovers and tells abroad the secrets of his family, but even things which are false; yea, in a court of judicature, appears a witness against him, and swears falsely to his hurt and prejudice. Such a man is…
bensonProverbs 25:18: "A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow."
Proverbs 25:18 . A man that beareth false witness, &c., is a maul — Or, club, by which a man’s fame and character are beaten down to the ground. And a sword, and a sharp arrow — By his tongue he is as cruel and pernicious to his neighbour as any instrument of death: he destroys him, not only when he is near, as with a sword, but when he is afar off, as with a sharp arrow shot at h…
This verse isn't just saying false testimony is bad; it highlights how it progresses. It starts like a heavy club bruising someone's reputation, then escalates to a sword that wounds deeply, and finally becomes a sharp arrow, piercing and destroying from afar, often unexpectedly.
This verse continues the collection of Solomon's proverbs, following an earlier section about the dangers of boasting and the value of discreet speech. It focuses on the destructive impact of lies, comparing a false witness to brutal weapons. This direct warning about deceit directly precedes proverbs that advocate for truthful and gentle communication.
This verse continues the collection of Solomon's proverbs, following an earlier section about the dangers of boasting and the value of discreet speech. It focuses on the destructive impact of lies, comparing a false witness to brutal weapons. This direct warning about deceit directly precedes proverbs that advocate for truthful and gentle communication.
"A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow." — This verse isn't just saying false testimony is bad; it highlights how it progresses. It starts like a heavy club bruising someone's reputation, then escalates to a sword that wounds deeply, and fina…
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Last reviewed October 2026