Exodus 23:1 - “You shall not spread a false report. Don’t join your hand with the wicked to be a malicious witness.

Generated Verse: Exodus 23:1

What does "Exodus 23:1" mean?


This verse from Exodus 23:1 lays down two related but distinct prohibitions:

"You shall not spread a false report." This means you must not originate or circulate untrue information. It's a prohibition against gossip, slander, and disinformation. Spreading false information can harm reputations, incite violence, and damage trust within a community. The emphasis is on the speaker or writer being responsible for the veracity of what they share.

"Don't join your hand with the wicked to be a malicious witness." This builds upon the first part. It warns against colluding with evil people to give false testimony. This is more specifically about the context of a trial or legal proceeding. It prohibits participating in a conspiracy to lie or mislead the court, thereby perverting justice. "Joining your hand" suggests active involvement and support for a wicked agenda.

In essence, the verse condemns both spreading lies generally and actively participating in malicious falsehoods to harm others in a legal or judicial context. It emphasizes the importance of truthfulness, integrity, and justice in all interactions, but particularly within the legal system. It is about not contributing to a situation that harms another person unjustly based on false or misleading information.

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