20
Norוְלֹאshall you giveתַעֲנֶהvainשָׁוְאtestimonyעֵדagainst your neighbor.בְרֵעֲךָ
Deuteronomy 5:20
Study it in the app“Nor shall you give vain testimony against your neighbor.”
With the Hebrew beneath
Deuteronomy 5:20, word by word
- shall you giveתַעֲנֶהtaane
testify
To speak before a judge as a witness, for or against someone.
Where else “taane” appears- vainשָׁוְאshav
emptiness
Something of no value; using YHWH's name lightly.
Where else “shav” appears- testimonyעֵדed
testimony
Something that confirms and reminds, like a heap of stones.
Where else “ed” appears- against your neighborרֵעֲrea
neighbor
The person living near, anyone one deals with.
Where else “rea” appears
Translation note
“Vain” is the same word as “in vain” in verse 11: a testimony without truth. Exodus 20:16 says “false.”
The context
19Nor shall you steal.
20 · This verse (above)
21Nor shall you covet your neighbor’s wife; nor shall you desire your neighbor’s house, his field, or his male slave, or his female slave, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”