a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Hebrew word for "breathes out" suggests that a lying witness doesn't just tell a falsehood, but habitually expels lies as if they were the very air they breathe. This isn't just a single lie, but a dangerous, continuous emission that poisons relationships and truth itself.
a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse is part of a longer list in Proverbs 6 describing "six things that the Lord hates, and seven that are an abomination to him." It follows descriptions of destructive words and actions and immediately precedes the conclusion of the list, highlighting the gravity of sins that corrupt justice and fracture community bonds.
Some lies are small, others are devastating. This verse paints a picture of a specific, harmful kind of falsehood.
Solomon lists seven things God hates in Proverbs 6:16-19, and lying is prominent among them. Verse 19 focuses on two related but distinct actions:
Breathing Out Lies
This isn't just an occasional slip-up. The language used suggests a habitual, almost involuntary act. Think of it like breathing – constant and essential to the person's very being. A false witness doesn't just tell a lie; they 'breathe out' lies, meaning it's their natural mode of operation, especially in a setting where truth is crucial, like a courtroom.
Spreading Malice
This act of 'breathing out lies' is then directly linked to sowing discord among brothers. This isn't about accidentally causing a rift. It's about actively, intentionally creating division and conflict within close relationships or communities. It's the calculated use of falsehood to break bonds.
What makes sowing discord so particularly wicked? It attacks the very heart of community and brotherhood.
The second part of Proverbs 6:19 hits hard: 'and one who sows discord among brothers.' This isn't just any conflict; it's specifically about breaking apart those who should be united.
Targeting Brotherhood
'Brothers' here can refer to literal family members, close friends, or even members of the same community or congregation. The enemy of unity seeks to fracture these bonds. Think of how damaging it is when family feuds erupt or when friendships are shattered by rumors.
Ask a follow-up
The Devil's Work
Sowing discord is often seen as the devil's specialty. It tears down the harmony that God desires for His people. When we spread gossip, fuel misunderstandings, or take sides based on half-truths, we are actively working against the unity that Christ prayed for (John 17:20-23) and that Paul urged believers to maintain (Ephesians 4:3).
Understand the original words
'ed sheqer · Hebrew Noun phrase
A person who provides false testimony, subverting justice and damaging the reputation or life of another. It reflects a character of habitual deceit.
madon · Hebrew Noun
The act of causing division, strife, or contention, particularly within the covenant community or family. It is viewed as an active destruction of the unity that God desires among His people.
This Psalm directly addresses those who use their tongue for deceit and wickedness, condemning them just as Proverbs does, and highlighting the hypocrisy of claiming to follow God while acting this way.
Matthew 5:22Jesus expands on the gravity of harmful speech, showing how calling someone a fool, which can stem from lies or sowing discord, is a serious offense against relationships, mirroring the relational damage Proverbs warns against.
James 3:16The book of James speaks powerfully about the destructive nature of the tongue, directly connecting envy and selfish ambition to disorder and evil, which is the very essence of sowing discord.
Romans 1:29-30This passage lists various vices, including those who are 'slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful,' which captures the spirit and impact of bearing false witness and sowing division among people.
cambridgeProverbs 6:19: "A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren."
19 . See Proverbs 6:12; Proverbs 6:14 notes.
henryProverbs 6:12-19: "A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth."
6:12-19 If the slothful are to be condemned, who do nothing, much more those that do all the ill they can. Observe how such a man is described. He says and does every thing artfully, and with design. His ruin shall come without warning, and without relief. Here is a list of things hateful to God. Those sins are in a special manner provoking to God, which are hurtful to the comfort of human life. These things which…
The Hebrew word for "breathes out" suggests that a lying witness doesn't just tell a falsehood, but habitually expels lies as if they were the very air they breathe. This isn't just a single lie, but a dangerous, continuous emission that poisons relationships and truth itself.
This verse is part of a longer list in Proverbs 6 describing "six things that the Lord hates, and seven that are an abomination to him." It follows descriptions of destructive words and actions and immediately precedes the conclusion of the list, highlighting the gravity of sins that corrupt justice and fracture community bonds.
This verse is part of a longer list in Proverbs 6 describing "six things that the Lord hates, and seven that are an abomination to him." It follows descriptions of destructive words and actions and immediately precedes the conclusion of the list, highlighting the gravity of sins that corrupt justice and fracture community bonds.
"a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers." — The Hebrew word for "breathes out" suggests that a lying witness doesn't just tell a falsehood, but habitually expels lies as if they were the very air they breathe. This isn't just a single lie, but…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026