A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.
Parallel translations
- WEB A false witness will perish, and a man who listens speaks to eternity.
- BSB A lying witness will perish, but the man who listens to truth will speak forever.
- NKJV A false witness shall perish, But the man who hears him will speak endlessly.
- NASB A false witness will perish, But a person who listens will speak forever.
- NLT A false witness will be cut off, but a credible witness will be allowed to speak.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
A false witness perishes, but a careful listener's testimony endures. It matters because truthfulness lasts while lies are condemned.
Overview
The liar's testimony — and the liar himself — will perish, while the one who speaks from careful, honest hearing speaks words that stand (Proverbs 19:5,9; 12:19). The verse upholds truthful witness as enduring. God, the God of truth, vindicates honesty and judges falsehood.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- 2 Cor 4:13We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
- Prov 19:5A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.
- Prov 19:9A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.
- Deut 19:16–19If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong;
- Prov 25:18A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
- Exod 23:1Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.
- Titus 3:8This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
- Prov 6:19A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
- Prov 12:19The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
- Acts 12:15And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.
- 2 Cor 1:17–20When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 21:28 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.