Bible verses about lying serve as guidelines and reminders for believers, highlighting the significance of truthfulness. Image: Aaron Burden | Unsplash
Is honesty truly the best policy? This moral dilemma has challenged individuals, societies, and even religious communities throughout the ages. With Bible verses about lying, we find inspirational words illuminating the consequences, warnings, and principles related to dishonesty.
These biblical scriptures offer the eternal wisdom at the heart of ethical living and guide individuals through the challenging landscape of truthfulness.
Lying is considered a violation of God’s commandments and is often associated with deception, hypocrisy, and the distortion of truth.
Why do people lie?
Lying can be complex and multifaceted. We may lie to avoid undesirable consequences. We may lie out of fear of punishment, judgment, or harm.
Lying can help you avoid confrontation. We may lie to maintain harmony, keep the peace, or avoid hurting someone’s feelings.
Some people lie to avoid taking responsibility for their acts or face the repercussions of their choices. Lying can help avoid blame. Those with poor self-esteem or confidence may also use lies to improve their image or earn approval.
While lying is unfortunately quite common among us, this does not make it acceptable or desirable. Honesty and truthfulness are highly regarded qualities that foster relationships based on mutual trust and respect.
Bible verses about lying will help you become honest in all ways
Image: Sixteen Miles Out | Unsplash
“The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.” – Proverbs 12:22
This verse highlights God’s aversion to lies and His favor toward those who embody truthfulness. It emphasizes that honesty is a characteristic that brings joy to God.
“Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.” – Ephesians 4:25
Here, believers are encouraged to renounce deceitful behavior and instead embrace truthfulness in their interactions with others. The verse emphasizes the unity of believers and the importance of maintaining honesty within the community.
“A false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will perish.” – Proverbs 19:9
This verse serves as a stern warning about the consequences of lying. It highlights that falsehoods will ultimately lead to punishment and destruction, emphasizing the importance of honesty in our words and actions.
“Do not lie to each other since you have taken off your old self with its practices.” – Colossians 3:9
In this verse, believers are urged to abandon their former sinful ways, including lying, and instead embrace a lifestyle characterized by truthfulness. It emphasizes that following Christ requires a commitment to honesty and integrity.
“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.” – Proverbs 6:16-19
This passage lists lying as one of the seven detestable things in God’s eyes. It is a powerful reminder of God’s disapproval of falsehood and the importance of avoiding deceitful behavior.
Other Bible verses about lying
Bible verses about lying emphasize truthfulness and the grave consequences of lying. They urge believers to be honest, ethical, and transparent in their words and deeds, following God’s commands and building healthy communities.
Here are the 30 Bible verses that will make you always speak the truth:
1. “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” – Exodus 20:16
2. A fortune made by people who tell lies amounts to nothing and leads to death. …But the conduct of those who are not guilty is honest. – Proverbs 21:6 & 8
3. “A false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will not go free.” – Proverbs 19:5
4. “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” – John 8:44
John 8:44. (Photo taken from Bible Portal)
5. “No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence.” – Psalm 101:7
6. “To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him.” – Daniel 9:9
7. “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” – 1 Corinthians 10:13
8. “Do not steal. Do not lie. Do not deceive one another.” – Leviticus 19:11
9. “There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.” – Proverbs 6:16-19
10. “A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.” – Proverbs 21:6
11. “These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts;” – Zechariah 8:16
Zechariah 8:16. (Photo taken from Bible Portal)
12. “Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.” – Psalm 34:13
13. “The righteous hate what is false, but the wicked make themselves a stench and bring shame on themselves.” – Proverbs 13:5
14. “An honest witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies.” – Proverbs 14:5
15. “Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool—how much worse lying lips to a ruler!” – Proverbs 17:7
16. “A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.” – Proverbs 26:28
17. “Save me, Lord, from lying lips and from deceitful tongues. What will he do to you, and what more besides, you deceitful tongue?” – Psalm 120:2-3
18. “I hate and detest falsehood but I love your law.” – Psalm 119:163
19. “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” – Revelation 21:8
Revelation 21:8. (Photo taken from Bible Portal)
20. “Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool.” – Proverbs 10:18
21. “The commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not covet,’ and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'” – Romans 13:9
22. “Ephraim has surrounded me with lies, Israel with deceit. And Judah is unruly against God, even against the faithful Holy One.” – Hosea 11:12
23. “You destroy those who tell lies. The bloodthirsty and deceitful you, Lord, detest.” – Psalm 5:6
Psalms 5:6. (Photo taken from Bible Portal)
24. “What a person desires is unfailing love; better to be poor than a liar.” – Proverbs 19:22
25. “If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials become wicked.” – Proverbs 29:12
26. “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” – Ephesians 4:29
27. “I call on the Lord in my distress, and he answers me.” – Psalm 120:1
28.”We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine.” – 1 Timothy 1:9-10
1 Timothy 1:9-10. (Photo taken from Bible Portal)
29. “I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth.” – 1 John 2:21
30. “Keep me from deceitful ways; be gracious to me and teach me your law.” – Psalm 119:29
The Bible emphasizes the significance of telling the truth. Bible verses about lying emphasize honesty. They stress truth’s living nature, the importance of truthfulness in relationships, its role in justice, and its alignment with righteousness and integrity.
Ultimately, honesty connects us with God’s character and promotes trust, harmony, and righteousness in our relationships.
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Republished with permission from Blogs.crossmap.com, featuring inspiring Bible verses about lying to help you stop the habit.
