We are in chapter twenty of Exodus with our word for today which is actually a phrase used for the first time in the Bible in our chapter. עֵ֥ד שָֽׁקֶר false witness. It is used 9 times in the Old Testament. Let’s look at the uses. Exodus 20:16 You shall not bear עֵ֥ד שָֽׁקֶר false witness against your neighbor. The next time our word is used helps us understand why God would make such a command. He identifies it as evil that needs to be purged from His people. Deuteronomy 19:15-21 One עֵ֨ד witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offense they may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three עֵדִ֖ים witnesses. If a עֵד־חָמָ֖ס malicious witness takes the stand to accuse someone of a crime, the two people involved in the dispute must stand in the presence of the Lord before the priests and the judges who are in office at the time. The judges must make a thorough investigation, and if the עֵֽד־שֶׁ֙קֶר֙ witness proves to be a liar, giving הָעֵ֔ד שֶׁ֖קֶר false testimony against a fellow Israelite, then do to the false witness as that witness intended to do to the other party. You must purge the evil from among you. The rest of the people will hear of this and be afraid, and never again will such an evil thing be done among you. Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. Notice the context of the eye for an eye and so on that has been quoted as an acusation that God is brutal and unloving. But this is not the case. The context shows that he is talking to the Judges that they need to be fair and just so that people don’t take the law into their own hands especially allowing people to twist it to cover up their evil. Which is what a false witness is doing. They are using the law to sin against their neighbor which is why God requires their plans to be carried out against them. Most of the uses are found in the book of Proverbs. Proverbs 12:17 An honest עֵ֣ד witness tells the truth, but a וְעֵ֖ד שְׁקָרִ֣ים false witness tells lies. Proverbs 14:5 An honest עֵ֣ד witness does not deceive, but a עֵ֣ד שָֽׁקֶר false witness pours out lies. Proverbs 19:5 A עֵ֣ד שְׁ֭קָרִים false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will not go free. Proverbs 19:9 A עֵ֣ד שְׁ֭קָרִים false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will perish. Proverb 25:18 Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is one who gives עֵ֣ד שָֽׁקֶר false testimony against a neighbor. We find our word on the list as one of the things the LORD hates. Proverbs 6:19 A עֵ֣ד שָׁ֑קֶר false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community. I’ll close with David’s prayer to God for protection against his enemies, who are described with our word. Psalm 27:11-12 Teach me your way, Lord; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for עֵֽדֵי־שֶׁ֝֗קֶר false witnesses rise up against me, spouting malicious accusations.
