KJV King James Version
A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour [is] a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
VERSE STUDY • KJV
Proverbs 25:18
A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour [is] a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
Read it in 5 translations
BSB Berean Standard Bible
Like a club or sword or sharp arrow is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.
WEB World English Bible
A man who gives false testimony against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.
ASV American Standard Version
A man that beareth false witness against his neighbor Is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
YLT Young’s Literal Translation
A maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, Is the man testifying against his neighbour a false testimony.
Surrounding context — Proverbs 25
15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
16 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
17 Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and [so] hate thee.
18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour [is] a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble [is like] a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
20 [As] he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, [and as] vinegar upon nitre, so [is] he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.
21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
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Original-language word links
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Cross-references
Psalm 57:4My soul [is] among lions: [and] I lie [even among] them that are set on fire, [even] the sons of men, whose teeth [are] spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.Proverbs 12:18There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise [is] health.Jeremiah 9:8Their tongue [is as] an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit: [one] speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, but in heart he layeth his wait.James 3:6And the tongue [is] a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.Jeremiah 9:3And they bend their tongues [like] their bow [for] lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the LORD.Psalm 120:3-4What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue?Proverbs 24:28Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive [not] with thy lips.Psalm 140:3They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders’ poison [is] under their lips. Selah.Psalm 52:2Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp rasor, working deceitfully.Psalm 55:21[The words] of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war [was] in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet [were] they drawn swords.
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION
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