A little white lie, a tall tale, a kept secret – lying is part of everyday life for many people. The Bible takes it more seriously than you might think, while also showing a way out. Here you will find 21 Bible verses about lying.
What the Bible says about lying
Lying destroys trust – in people and in God.
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You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
Exodus 20:16
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You shall not steal, nor lie, nor deal falsely one with another.
Leviticus 19:11Honesty
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Do not lie to one another; put off the old self with its deeds.
Colossians 3:9Honesty
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Therefore lay aside falsehood, and speak the truth to your neighbor, each one with his neighbor, since we are members together.
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These six things the LORD hates, and against the seventh he has indignation: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood.
Proverbs 6:16-17
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Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who act faithfully are his delight.
Proverbs 12:22Honesty
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A false witness shall not go unpunished; and he that boldly utters lies shall not escape.
Proverbs 19:5
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A false witness shall not go unpunished; and he that boldly utters lies shall perish.
Proverbs 19:9
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False men I will not have in my house; liars shall not prosper with me.
Psalm 101:7
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O LORD, deliver my soul from lying lips, from deceitful tongues.
Psalm 120:2
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You are of the father, the devil, and according to the lust of your father you will do. He is a murderer from the beginning, and is not established in the truth; for truth is not in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks it of his own, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
John 8:44Devil
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And there shall not enter into her any filthy thing, nor that which worketh iniquity and uttereth lies, but those that are written in the book of life of the Lamb.
Revelation 21:27
Back to the truth
Verses about honesty and forgiveness.
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Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips that they may not speak deceit.
Psalm 34:14Honesty
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A truthful mouth abideth forever: but a lying tongue shall not stand long.
Proverbs 12:19Truth
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But this is what you shall do: Speak the truth one with another, and judge right, and make peace in your gates.
Zechariah 8:16Truth
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If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9ConfessionForgiveness
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Therefore I confessed unto thee my sin, and hid not my iniquity. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.
Psalm 32:5ConfessionForgiveness
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Behold, thou hast pleasure in the truth which lieth in secret; thou hast made me know the hidden wisdom.
Psalm 51:8Honesty
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And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
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That we through two things which cannot be shaken (for it is impossible that God should lie), may have strong comfort, that we may have refuge, and hold fast the hope laid up for us.
Hebrews 6:18Reliability
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In hope of eternal life, which hath been promised by him that cannot lie, God, before the times of the world.
Titus 1:2Eternal Life
Bible texts: Luther Bible 1912 (public domain), carefully adapted to modern spelling.
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Why Lying is so Serious
The eighth commandment says: “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:16). Originally, it referred to false statements in court that could bring a person to ruin. The Bible expands this: Among the seven things that God hates, Proverbs calls lying twice – the “lying tongue” and the “false witness.” Jesus calls the devil the “father of lies” (John 8:44). Lying is therefore more than rudeness: It destroys trust, upon which every relationship is built.
Finding a Way Out of Lying
Many lies begin out of fear – of punishment, rejection, shame. The Bible does not answer this with threats, but with an invitation: Whoever confesses his sins, he shall be forgiven (1 John 1:9). Paul grounds honesty in a new life: “Do not lie to one another; put off the old self with its deeds” (Colossians 3:9). Becoming honest is a path to freedom. Learn more about Bible verses about truth, Bible verses about honesty, and Bible verses about confession.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the Bible say that one should not lie?
In the eighth commandment (Exodus 20:16), in Leviticus 19:11, Colossians 3:9, and Ephesians 4:25.
Are white lies allowed in the Bible?
The Bible contains individual stories in which people lie to save lives (for example, the midwives in Exodus 1), but fundamentally judges lying as a violation of God's will (Colossians 3:9).
