What Does the Bible Say About Lying?
The Bible is consistently and strongly against lying. The Ninth Commandment forbids bearing "false testimony against your neighbor" (Exodus 20:16), Proverbs says "lying lips are an abomination to Yahweh" (Proverbs 12:22), and Paul instructs believers to "put away falsehood" and speak truth to one another (Ephesians 4:25). Truthfulness reflects God's own character — He "cannot lie" — while deception is associated with the devil, called "the father of lies."
This high value on truth is rooted in love and trust: honesty protects relationships and community, while lying corrodes them. Scripture calls believers not merely to avoid falsehood but to be people of their word, whose "yes" means yes and "no" means no.
Key Bible Verses
“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.”
Exodus 20:16 (WEB)
“Lying lips are an abomination to Yahweh, but those who do the truth are his delight.”
Proverbs 12:22 (WEB)
“Don't lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings,”
Colossians 3:9 (WEB)
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible (public domain).
Related Faith News
- Heartbroken fathers find divine hope in secret notes left by girls killed in Camp Mystic floodFox News•about 8 hours ago
- Muslims Kill 30 Nigerian Christians in Latest Village AttackThe Western Journal•about 14 hours ago
- Persecution of Egyptian Christians Continues in Series of Recent IncidentsThe Western Journal•about 15 hours ago
- Senate Confirms Todd Blanche as Attorney General, He Plans to End Mail-Order AbortionsLifeNews•about 15 hours ago
- Former Miss North Carolina USA says conservative Christian values played role in losing crownFox News•about 19 hours ago
- What a Heart Failure Survivor Reveals about Turning Suffering into ServiceChristian Headlines•about 21 hours ago
- Violence is driving Palestinian Christians out of their Holy LandAl Jazeera•about 22 hours ago
- Armenia puts Church leader on trial for allegedly being a Russian spyAl Jazeera•about 23 hours ago
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is lying always a sin in the Bible?
- Scripture consistently condemns lying and deception (Exodus 20:16; Proverbs 12:22; Colossians 3:9), calling believers to truthfulness that reflects God's own character. The Bible treats honesty as essential to love and trust between people.