Moses — "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor."
You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
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Details
Exodus 20:16, one of the Ten Commandments given to Moses.
Date: c. 13th-15th century BCE (traditional dating)
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Understanding this quote
What it means
This commandment forbids lying about others, particularly in ways that damage their reputation or legal standing. At its core, it demands honesty in how we speak about and represent the people around us. Whether in formal testimony, casual gossip, or public accusation, distorting the truth about another person is prohibited. The rule protects communities from the corrosive effects of slander, perjury, and deceit, recognizing that trust between neighbors depends on truthful speech.
Relevance to Moses
As the lawgiver who received the Ten Commandments at Sinai, Moses delivered this prohibition as foundational to Israelite society. Having led a people out of Egyptian bondage where they had no legal protections, he understood the necessity of reliable testimony in building a just community. His role as judge over disputes (Exodus 18) made him acutely aware how false witness could destroy lives, making truthful speech central to the covenant.
The era
In the ancient Near East around 1300 BCE, disputes were settled through oral testimony before elders at city gates, with no forensic evidence or written contracts for common people. A false witness could condemn someone to death, slavery, or ruin. Hammurabi's Code similarly punished perjurers severely. For newly freed Hebrews forming a nation in the wilderness, establishing truthful testimony was essential to distinguishing their covenant community from the arbitrary injustice they had fled.
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