Can God Lie According to Biblical Theology
According to biblical theology, God cannot lie. This attribute of divine truthfulness is a foundational principle, explicitly stated in Scripture and consistently affirmed across various theological traditions [3, 6, 8, 13]. The concept of lying is defined as an intentional violation of the truth [2], and the Bible emphatically condemns it, associating it with the devil rather than with God [2, 4].
One of the clearest biblical declarations on this matter is found in Numbers 23:19, which states, "God is not a man, that he should lie, nor the son of man, that he should repent. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not make it good?" [3]. This verse highlights God's distinction from humanity, emphasizing His unwavering faithfulness and the certainty of His word. John Gill, commenting on this passage, notes that while man is a created, finite, and often sinful spirit who speaks lies, God is eternal, immense, infinite, and "cannot lie" [6]. His "counsels of old are faithfulness and truth; his promises yea and amen" [6].
The Apostle Paul reinforces this truth in Romans 3:4, declaring, "Certainly not! Let God be true and every man a liar. As it is written: 'So that You may be proved right when You speak and victorious when You judge'" [1]. This passage underscores God's absolute truthfulness in contrast to the fallibility of humanity. The implication is that God's nature is inherently truthful, making it impossible for Him to deceive.
The impossibility of God lying is also linked to the immutability of His character and promises. The book of Hebrews, for instance, states that "it is impossible for God to lie" (Hebrews 6:18), further explaining that God bound himself with an oath to make it clear that "he would never change his mind" [8]. This divine oath provides believers with "great confidence" [8]. Charles Hodge, one theologian, emphasizes that it is "impossible that God should contradict himself" [10]. This means that God's external revelation will never be inconsistent with the intellectual or moral nature He has endowed humanity with [10].
The Bible consistently portrays lying as an abomination to God and a characteristic of the wicked. Proverbs 6:16-19 lists "a lying tongue" among the things God hates, and Proverbs 12:22 states that "lying lips are an abomination to the Lord" [4]. Jesus Himself identifies the devil as "the father of lies" (John 8:44) [4]. This stark contrast between God's nature and the nature of lying further solidifies the theological position that God cannot lie.
While the Bible condemns lying, it also records instances where "good men" told lies, such as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the Hebrew midwives, Michal, and David [2]. These instances are presented as human failings, not as examples of righteous conduct, and certainly not as reflections of God's character. The Bible also warns against false prophets who pretend to have dreams or visions from God, condemning them for their deceit [5].
The concept of God's truthfulness extends to the reliability of His word and promises. The Psalmist declares, "Forever, Lord, Your word stands firm in the heavens" (Psalms 119:89) [9]. Rabbinic tradition interprets this to mean that God's word, even when spoken on earth, is as firm and unchangeable as if it were in the heavens, citing God's promise to Abraham regarding Sarah's son as an example [9]. This highlights the Jewish understanding of God's unwavering commitment to His spoken word.
John Calvin, in his Institutes of the Christian Religion, asserts that it is "sufficient to believe that God is true, and cannot lie or deceive, unless you feel firmly persuaded that every word which him is sacred, inviolable truth" [13]. This perspective emphasizes that faith in God is intrinsically linked to the conviction that His every word is absolute truth.
It is important to distinguish between God's inability to lie and instances where God might withhold information or speak in a way that requires interpretation. Augustine, in On the Holy Trinity, discusses how the Lord did not lie when He said, "I have many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now" [12]. In this case, Jesus "held His peace from true things, not spoke false things," because His audience was not yet ready to bear those truths [12]. This is not an act of deception but a pedagogical choice, consistent with divine wisdom.
The theological consensus across various traditions is that God's truthfulness is an essential aspect of His divine nature. He is the God of truth, and His word is utterly reliable. Any deviation from truth is contrary to His character and is unequivocally condemned in Scripture [4, 11]. The integrity of God's character ensures that His promises are trustworthy, His judgments are just, and His revelations are infallible [1, 7, 8].
Sources
- Romans “Romans 3:4 (BSB) — Certainly not! Let God be true and every man a liar. As it is written: “So that You may be proved right when You speak and victorious when You judge.””
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Lie — An intentional violation of the truth. Lies are emphatically condemned in Scripture (John 8:44; 1 Tim. 1:9, 10; Rev. 21:27; 22:15). Mention is made of the lies told by good men, as by Abraham (Gen. 12:12, 13; 20:2), Isaac (26:7), and Jacob (27:24); also by the Hebrew midwives (Ex. 1:15-19), by Michal (1 Sam. 19:14), and by David (1 Sam. 20:6). (See [356]ANANIAS.)”
- Numbers “God is not a man, that he should lie, nor the son of man, that he should repent. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not make it good? -- Numbers 23:19”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Lying — Forbidden -- Le 19:11; Col 3:9. Hateful to God -- Pr 6:16-19. An abomination to God -- Pr 12:22. A hindrance to prayer -- Isa 59:2,3. The devil, the father of -- Joh 8:44. The devil excites men to -- 1Ki 22:22; Ac 5:3. Saints Hate. -- Ps 119:163; Pr 13:5. Avoid. -- Isa 63:8; Zep 3:13. Respect not those who practise. -- Ps 40:4. Reject those who practise. -- Ps 101:7. Pray to be preserved from. -- Ps 119:29; Pr 30:8. Unbecoming in rulers -- Pr 17:7. The evil of rulers hearkening to -- Pr 29:12. False prophets addicted to -- Jer 23:14; Eze 22:28. False witnesse”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Dreams — Visions in sleep -- Job 33:15; Da 2:28. Often by imaginary -- Job 20:8; Isa 29:8. Excess of business frequently leads to -- Ec 5:3. God's will often revealed in -- Nu 12:6; Job 33:15. False prophets Pretended to. -- Jer 23:25-28; 29:8. Not to be regarded in. -- De 13:1-3; Jer 27:9. Condemned for pretending to. -- Jer 23:32. Vanity of trusting to natural -- Ec 5:7. The ancients Put great faith in. -- Jdj 7:15. Often perplexed by. -- Ge 40:6; 41:8; Job 7:14; Da 2:1; 4:5. Anxious to have, explained. -- Ge 40:8; Da 2:3. Consulting magicians on. -- Ge 41:8; Da 2:”
- Numbers (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Numbers 23:19: God is not a man, that he should lie,.... Man is a creature consisting of a body of flesh and blood, and of a soul, a created and finite spirit; but God, though he has the parts of an human body ascribed to him in a figurative sense, yet is not to be conceived of in a corporeal manner; and though he is a Spirit, yet eternal, immense, and infinite; and much less is as a sinful man, who goes astray from the womb speaking lies; no, let God be true, and every man a liar: he is God, that cannot lie; his counsels of old are faithfulness and truth; his promises yea and ame”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, section 30: anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him.” These passages teach what all evangelical Christians admit. First, that true knowledge, or spiritual discernment of divine things, is due to the inward teaching of the Holy Spirit; and secondly, that true faith, or the infallible assurance of the truths revealed, is due in like manner to the “demonstration of tine Spirit.” ( 1 Cor. ii. 4 .) The Apostle John also says: “He that believeth on the Son of God, hath the wit”
- Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 6:17: 6:17-18 God also bound himself with an oath: See 7:20-22. God’s oath makes it clear that he would never change his mind . . . because it is impossible for God to lie (see Ps 110:4). • We have fled to him for refuge, like those in the Old Testament era who killed someone accidentally (Num 35:9-34; Deut 4:41-43); Christ is like a city of refuge, where believers escape God’s wrath. Christ’s followers, therefore, have great confidence.”
- Midrash Rabbah (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Midrash Rabbah, Bereishit Rabbah 53:4: “Forever, Lord, Your word stands firm in the heavens” (Psalms 119:89) – is this to imply that it is not so on earth? It means, rather, that what You said to Abraham in the heavens [stands firm]: “At the prescribed time, I will return to you; at this very time next year, [Sarah will have a son]” (Genesis 18:14). Rabbi Naḥman of Yafo in the name of Rabbi Yaakov of Caesarea began: “God of hosts, please return. Look from heaven and see, and remember this vine” (Psalms 80:15) – return and perform what You said to Abraham: “Look now toward the heavens, and coun”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, section 20: from heaven, who should call upon us to receive as a revelation from God anything absurd, or wicked, or inconsistent with the intellectual or moral nature with which He has endowed us. The subjection of the human intelligence to God is indeed absolute; but it is a subjection to infinite wisdom and goodness. As it is impossible that God should contradict himself, so it is impossible that He should, by an external revelation, declare that to be true which by the laws of our nature He has rendered it impossible we should believe. 2. This pre”
- Leviticus (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Leviticus 19:11: We are taught here, I. To be honest and true in all our dealings, Lev 19:11. God, who has appointed every man's property by his providence, forbids by his law the invading of that appointment, either by downright theft, You shall not steal, or by fraudulent dealing, "You shall not cheat, or deal falsely." Whatever we have in the world, we must see to it that it be honestly come by, for we cannot be truly rich, nor long rich, with that which is not. The God of truth, who requires truth in the heart (Psa 51:6), requires it also in the tongue: Neither lie one to ”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 3: Augustine — On the Holy Trinity — TO CONSENTIUS: AGAINST LYING. (part 24): by holding our peace. For the Lord lied not when He said, "I have many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now."1 He held His peace from true things, not spoke false things; for the hearing of which truths He judged them to be less fit. But if He had not indicated this same to them, that is, that they were not able to bear the things which He was unwilling to speak, He would indeed hide nevertheless somewhat of truth but that this may be rightly done we should peradventure not know, or not have ”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 57: sufficient to believe that God is true, and cannot lie or deceive, unless you feel firmly persuaded that every word which him is sacred, inviolable truth. 7. But since the heart of man is not brought to faith by every word of God, we must still consider what it is that faith properly has respect to in the word. The declaration of God to Adam was, “Thou shalt surely die,” ( Gen. 2:17 ); and to Cain, “The voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground,” ( Gen. 4:10 ); but these, so far from being fitted to establish fait”