Duties Required in the Ninth Commandment
The Ninth Commandment, "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor," primarily concerns the duties of truthfulness and the protection of one's neighbor's reputation [2]. This commandment is one of several that Jesus summarized with the principle, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" [1].
The duties required by the Ninth Commandment extend beyond merely refraining from outright lies in a legal setting. Matthew Henry, in his commentary on Deuteronomy, notes that this commandment is part of a larger section of laws emphasizing righteousness between people [2]. John Gill, in his commentary on Luke 18:20, lists "do not bear false witness" as one of the commandments that Jesus referenced when speaking to the rich young ruler, indicating its fundamental importance in ethical conduct [3].
The scope of "false witness" can be understood broadly to include any speech that unjustly harms another person. This encompasses not only perjury in a court of law but also slander, gossip, and any form of misrepresentation that damages a neighbor's good name or standing [2]. The emphasis is on the impact of one's words on others, reflecting the broader biblical principle of loving one's neighbor [1].
While the immediate context of "false witness" often brings to mind legal proceedings, the spirit of the commandment applies to all interpersonal communication. It calls for integrity in speech and a commitment to upholding the truth, especially when speaking about or to others. The negative phrasing ("You shall not...") implies a positive duty to speak truthfully and to defend the reputation of others when it is unjustly attacked [2].
The Decalogue, of which the Ninth Commandment is a part, is understood by various traditions as a foundational set of moral laws. John Gill, for instance, emphasizes that keeping God's commandments is for one's own good [4]. The commandments, including the ninth, are not merely prohibitions but also guide individuals toward a life that honors God and respects others [4]. The broader context of biblical law, as seen in passages like Deuteronomy 19, further elaborates on the practical implications of these commands, including the establishment of fair legal processes and the protection of individuals from false accusations [2].
Sources
- Romans “Romans 13:9 (LEB) — For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, you shall not commit murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are summed up in this statement: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.””
- Deuteronomy (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 19 (introduction): The laws which Moses had hitherto been repeating and urging mostly concerned the acts of religion and devotion towards God; but here he comes more fully to press the duties of righteousness between man and man. This chapter relates, I. To the sixth commandment, "Thou shalt not kill" (Deu 19:1-13). II. To the eighth commandment, "Thou shalt not steal" (Deu 19:14). III. To the ninth commandment, "Thou shalt not bear false witness," (Deu 19:15, etc.).”
- Luke (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Luke 18:20: Thou knowest the commandments,.... The ten commandments given to Moses, and delivered to people; and which they were careful to teach their children; though five are only here mentioned, and not in the order in which they stand: suggesting hereby that these must be kept, or the law must he fulfilled, and satisfaction made for the violation of it, or there can be no inheriting eternal life. The five commandments mentioned are, the seventh, sixth, eighth, ninth, and fifth: do not commit adultery; do not kill; do not steal; do not bear false witness; honour father and t”
- Deuteronomy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Deuteronomy 10:13: To keep the commandments of the Lord, and his statutes,.... Both the ten commands and all others: which I command thee this day for thy good; promises of temporal good things, introduction into the land of Canaan, possession of it, and continuance in it, being made to obedience to them.”