Proverbs 19:28

“Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause, etc.] Unless forced unto it, except there is some urgent reason for it; not upon any trivial account, or in any frivolous matter; never appear forward and eager to bear witness against him, and, whenever obliged to it, be not a false witness, but speak truth, whether thy neighbour be a friend or a foe; and deceive [not] with thy lips; by bearing a false testimony, the judge, thy neighbour and thyself; for though men may be deceived, God cannot: or, shouldest thou do so, “thou wouldest break” and cut him to pieces “with thy lips”f672; which is the sense of the words according to R. Judah, as Ben Melech relates.”

“ungodly witness--(Compare Margin), one false by bad principles (compare Pro 6:12). scorneth judgment--sets at naught the dictates of justice. devoureth--literally, "swalloweth," as something delightful.”

“Ungodly witness - literally, “Witness of Belial,” “worthless,” “untruthful.” Devoureth iniquity - Seizes on it eagerly, as a dainty, lives on it. return to 'Top of Page' Footnotes: Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Bibliographical Information Barnes, Albert. "Commentary on Proverbs 19". "Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/bnb/proverbs-19.html. 1870. StudyLight.org © 2001-2026 Powered by Lightspeed Technology”

“Scorneth - Hath no reverence to the place of justice, nor to the presence of God there. Devoureth - Utters it with greediness and delight. Proverbs 19:29”

“An ungodly witness: Heb. a witness of Belial, Kg1 21:10, Kg1 21:13; Act 6:11-13 scorneth: Psa 10:5, Psa 10:11; Isa 28:14-18; Luk 18:2-4 the: Pro 15:14; Job 15:16, Job 20:12, Job 20:13, Job 34:7; Hos 4:8 Proverbs 19:29”

“28 A worthless witness scoffeth at right; And the mouth of the godless swalloweth up mischief. The Mosaic law does not know the oath of witnesses; but the adjuring of witnesses to speak the truth, Lev 4:1, places a false statement almost in the rank of perjury. The משׁפּט, which legally and morally binds witnesses, is just their duty to state the matter in accordance with truth, and without deceitful and malicious reservation; but a worthless witness (vid., regarding בּליּעל, Pro 6:12) despiseth what is right (יליץ with accus.-obj. like Pro 14:9), i.e., scornfully disregards this duty. Under 28b Hitzig remarks that בלע only in Kal means to devour, but in Piel, on the contrary, to absorb =…”