Lying is a major theme throughout the Bible. God makes it clear that He detests lying and sees it as a serious offense. Here is an overview of some key Bible verses about lying:
Exodus 20:16 – “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”
This is one of the Ten Commandments. Bearing false witness means lying about someone else, especially in a court of law. This shows that God forbids lying even when it may benefit us or hurt our enemies.
Proverbs 12:22 – “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.”
This verse contrasts lying and faithfulness. It makes it clear that God hates lying lips. Speaking truth is what pleases God.
Proverbs 6:16-19 – “There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.”
This passage lists things God considers detestable. Lying is included in this list, emphasizing how much God hates deception.
Leviticus 19:11 – “You shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another.”
Along with prohibiting stealing, this verse forbids dealing falsely and lying. This shows that lying is a form of deception akin to stealing.
Colossians 3:9 – “Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices.”
As Christians, we are called to put aside our old sinful nature. Lying has no place in the new life we have in Christ.
Proverbs 19:9 – “A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish.”
This verse warns that those who insist on lying will eventually face negative consequences. No liar escapes punishment. God sees and judges deception.
1 John 2:21 – “No lie is of the truth.”
Lies and truth are completely incompatible. Those who love truth should hate every form of lying.
Revelation 21:8 – “All liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone.”
This sobering verse reveals that unrepentant liars will tragically spend eternity in hell.
Proverbs 13:5 – “The righteous hates falsehood, but the wicked brings shame and disgrace.”
Upright people detest lies. Those who embrace sin are the ones who spread lies.
Ephesians 4:25 – “Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.”
As members of the body of Christ, we are to show honor and love towards each other. That includes being honest and authentic.
Proverbs 14:5 – “A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies.”
A trustworthy person values truthfulness. But liars invent falsehoods without a second thought.
1 Peter 3:10 – “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.”
This instructs that avoiding lies and deceit is crucial to living a blessed life.
Proverbs 26:28 – “A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.”
Liars have no true love for those they deceive. Their smooth talk leads to harm.
Psalm 119:163 – “I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your law.”
The psalmist expresses his deep hatred for lies due to his passionate love for God’s truth.
John 8:44 – “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
Jesus explains that Satan is the father of all lies. Therefore, lying aligns us with the devil rather than with God.
Proverbs 12:19 – “Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.”
Unlike truth, lies have a brief shelf life. They will eventually crumble under the weight of reality.
Romans 1:25 – “They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator.”
This verse ties turning from God to embracing lies. When we stop loving truth we open ourselves to deception.
Proverbs 30:8 – “Remove far from me falsehood and lying.”
This prayer asks God to keep lies distant. Believers should beg God to preserve them from deception.
Ephesians 4:29 – “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
Instead of lies that tear down, Christians are called to speak words that build up others.
Proverbs 19:5 – “A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who pours out lies will not go free.”
Again, this reminds that God will not allow liars to avoid justice. There are always consequences for deception.
Revelation 14:5 – “No lie was found in their mouth; they are blameless.”
Speaking of the redeemed, this notes that the absence of lies is a mark of righteousness.
Proverbs 13:5 – “The righteous hate falsehood, but the wicked bring shame and disgrace.”
Upright people detest lies. Those who embrace sin are the ones who spread lies.
Psalm 52:2-4 – “Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit. You love evil more than good, and lying more than speaking what is right. You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue.”
This lament calls out people who love lies and deceit. Their tongues bring destruction rather than life.
Proverbs 17:4 – “An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.”
Wicked people gravitate to lies. They delight in hearing deceit from those like themselves.
Psalm 5:6 – “You destroy those who speak lies; the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.”
God promises to judge those who practice deception. Liars face His righteous anger.
Proverbs 14:25 – “A truthful witness saves lives, but one who breathes out lies is deceitful.”
Honest testimony rescues others, but liars lead people astray through deception.
Proverbs 17:7 – “Fine speech is not becoming to a fool; still less is false speech to a prince.”
Foolish people are prone to lying, but it is especially disgraceful for leaders to embrace deceit.
Psalm 109:2 – “For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me, speaking against me with lying tongues.”
This lament speaks of the pain caused by hateful lies told against the innocent.
Proverbs 6:17 – “Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood….”
Along with murder, arrogance and lying both represent major evils.
John 8:32 – “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Truth frees us from the bondage of lies. Deceivers aim to enslave through falsehood.
2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 – “The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.”
Those who continually reject truth make themselves vulnerable to powerful lies and deception.
Psalm 58:3 – “The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies.”
This verse depicts liars as seriously corrupt from the very beginning of their lives.
Proverbs 21:6 – “The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death.”
Ill-gotten gains from lying bring only temporary satisfaction. Eternal ruin awaits.
1 Timothy 1:10 – “Immoral, those who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine….”
Along with other sins, liars stand opposed to biblical truth.
1 Timothy 4:1-2 – “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars….”
False teachers propagate lies that lead people away from the true faith.
Proverbs 6:19 – “A false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.”
Along with starting needless fights, bearing false witness is listed as a behavior God hates.
Psalm 5:9 – “For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue.”
This depicts liars as completely disconnected from any semblance of truth.
Jeremiah 9:5 – “Everyone deceives his neighbor and no one speaks the truth. They have taught their tongue to lie; they weary themselves with sinning.”
This verse bemoans widespread dishonesty among God’s people. Lying becomes natural for the corrupt.
John 14:6 – “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'”
Jesus alone is the source of divine truth. Apart from Him there are only lies.
Exodus 23:1 – “You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness.”
Spreading falsehoods makes us partners with the wicked. Truth suffers when lies spread.
Proverbs 29:12 – “If a ruler listens to falsehood, all his officials will be wicked.”
When leaders listen to lies, corruption spreads throughout their administration.
1 Kings 22:22 – “The Lord said to him, ‘How?’ And he said, ‘I will go out, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And he said, ‘You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do so.'”
On occasion, God even permits lying spirits to test people’s hearts and discernment.
Acts 5:3 – “But Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?'”
Even Christians can fall into deception and lying. Satan looks to provoke lies.
Proverbs 26:24-26 – “Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart; when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart; though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.”
No matter how convincing or kind a liar may sound, his deception will eventually come to light.
Psalm 24:3-4 – “Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.”
Those who desire closeness with God must pursue honesty and reject deceit.
Proverbs 6:16-19 – “There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.”
This essential passage deserves repeating. Lying makes the list of seven things God detests.
Psalm 119:29 – “Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me your law!”
This should be the prayer of every believer. Asking God to steer our steps away from falsehood.
Proverbs 12:17 – “Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness utters deceit.”
Honest people speak the truth naturally. Liars instinctively twist truth.
Proverbs 24:28 – “Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips.”
Spreading false testimony against anyone is forbidden, even if we dislike them.
James 3:14 – “But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.”
Envy and pride often motivate deception. We lie to exalt self over others.
Proverbs 17:20 – “A man of crooked heart does not discover good, and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.”
The deceitful harm themselves through their refusal to embrace wisdom and truth.
Romans 3:13 – “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive. The venom of asps is under their lips.”
This verse uses graphic language to capture the deadly effects of lies.
Colossians 3:9-10 – “Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”
Our rebirth in Christ demands that we renounce old patterns of lying.
In summary, the Bible contains many verses that address the subject of lying. God sees all deception as stemming from Satan. Lying damages relationships and incurs God’s judgment. Believers must turn away from falsehood of all kinds. Only radical honesty and complete devotion to the truth reflect God’s character and brings blessing.