Swearing falsely, or bearing false witness, is a sin that is frequently condemned in the Bible. It is an act that involves making a false statement or oath, often invoking God's name, with the intent to deceive. This behavior is particularly associated with the wicked, who are described as being addicted to such practices.

Biblical Condemnation of False Swearing

The Bible explicitly condemns false swearing in several passages. In the Ten Commandments, God commands, "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" (Exodus 20:16). This commandment underscores the importance of truthfulness and integrity in human relationships and before God.

Characteristics of the Wicked

The wicked are often depicted in Scripture as those who are habitually engaged in deceitful practices, including swearing falsely. In Psalm 10:7, the wicked are described as having mouths "full of cursing, deceit, and violence; trouble and malice are under his tongue" . This verse highlights the pervasive nature of deceit in the lives of the wicked, indicating an addiction to falsehood and treachery.

Prophetic Warnings

The prophets frequently warned against the sin of false swearing, emphasizing its destructive consequences. Jeremiah 7:9-10 questions the people of Judah, saying, "Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal, and follow other gods you have not known, and then come and stand before Me in this house, which bears My Name, and say, ‘We are delivered, so we can continue with all these abominations’?" . This passage illustrates the hypocrisy of those who swear falsely while claiming to worship God.

Divine Judgment

God's judgment against those who swear falsely is severe. Zechariah 5:3-4 describes a vision of a flying scroll, representing a curse that goes out over the whole land: "This is the curse that is going out over the face of all the earth, for according to what is written on one side, every thief will be banished, and according to what is written on the other, everyone who swears falsely will be banished. I will send it out, declares the LORD of Hosts, and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of him who swears falsely by My name. It will remain inside his house and consume it, with its timber and stones" . This imagery underscores the seriousness with which God views false swearing and the inevitable judgment that follows.

Moral and Spiritual Implications

Swearing falsely is not merely a legal or social issue but a profound moral and spiritual failing. It reflects a heart that is estranged from God and addicted to wickedness. Proverbs 6:16-19 lists "a lying tongue" and "a false witness who gives false testimony" among the seven things that are detestable to the Lord . These verses highlight the moral repugnance of deceit and the spiritual danger it poses to the individual and the community.

Call to Righteousness

In contrast to the wicked, the righteous are called to live lives of truth and integrity. Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, teaches, "But I tell you not to swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King" (Matthew 5:34-35). This teaching encourages believers to let their "Yes" be "Yes," and their "No," "No," emphasizing the importance of honesty without the need for oaths (Matthew 5:37).

In summary, swearing falsely is a sin that is deeply rooted in the character of the wicked, who are addicted to deceit and falsehood. The Bible consistently warns against this behavior, highlighting its moral and spiritual dangers and calling believers to a higher standard of truthfulness and integrity.Jeremiah 5:2
And though they say, The LORD lives; surely they swear falsely.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Hosea 10:4
They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant: thus judgment springs up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Against Rash and Vain Swearing.
... me here by God, that thou wilt not deal falsely with me ... is sometime alleged in excuse
of rash swearing: I was ... my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before ...
/.../sermons on evil-speaking by isaac barrow/against rash and vain swearing.htm

Meditations on the Hindrances which Keep Back a Sinner from the ...
... present judgment for their outrageous swearing, adultery, drunkenness ... longer: so
many wicked epicures falsely promise themselves ... No man is so wicked that he is ...
/.../bayly/the practice of piety/meditations on the hindrances which.htm

Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners Or, a Brief Relation of ...
... head, I wished with all my heart that I might be a little child again, that my father
might learn me to speak without this wicked way of swearing; for, thought ...
/.../bunyan/grace abounding to the chief of sinners/grace abounding to the chief.htm

Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners:
... my head, I wished with all my heart that I might be a little child again, that my
father might learn me to speak without this wicked way of swearing;[16] for ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/grace abounding to the chief.htm

The Life and Death of Mr. Badman,
... Besides, these wicked men, in their wicked cursing of their ... If God's Word says that
swearing and cursing are ... another, and to swear vainly and falsely, are sins ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the life and death of.htm

A Few Sighs from Hell;
... fearing nothing, being fully, yet falsely, persuaded of ... Like wicked Haman, that dreamed
of greater honour ... whole life, in whoring, swearing, playing, coveting ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a few sighs from hell.htm

A Holy Life the Beauty of Christianity: Or, an Exhortation to ...
... It accounts for the wicked wit and raillery of Hudibras, when so many ... examples, those
beastly examples to drunkenness"to whoredom"to swearing"to lying ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a holy life the beauty.htm

Memoir of John Bunyan
... says"'I wished, with all my heart, that I might be a little child again, that my
father might learn me to speak without this wicked way of swearing.'[18] In ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/memoir of john bunyan.htm

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