Proverbs 19:28A corrupt witness mocks justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down iniquity.
The setting
Jerusalem, ~950 BC. King Solomon's court where corrupt witnesses were undermining justice...
The emotion here: righteous anger at injustice destroying society
The original word
beliya'al (בְלִיַּעַל) — worthlessness, destruction, the opposite of God's order
Why it matters
In ancient courts, witnesses were required to cast the first stone in executions
Read with care
What most readers miss in Proverbs 19:28
The Hebrew shows corrupt witnesses don't just lie - they 'drink down' evil like water
Common misconceptionPeople think this is just about courtroom lying, but Solomon wrote this watching his own officials become corrupt. It's about any authority figure who perverts their position.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Proverbs 19:28
Bible Genome reading
Proverbs 19:28 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Proverbs 19:28 comes from the book of Proverbs, written during the Divided Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Solomon. The dominant emotion in this verse is angry, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the wisdom genre of biblical literature. Key themes include justice, corruption. Notable phrases: corrupt witness; mocks justice.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same angry
“Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, 'I am strong.'”
— Joel 3:10
“You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel!”
— Matthew 23:24
“Listen to this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who tell their husba…”
— Amos 4:1
“I hate, I despise your feasts, and I can't stand your solemn assemblies.”
— Amos 5:21
“Your eyes shall not pity; life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”
— Deuteronomy 19:21
Your reflection
What does Proverbs 19:28 mean to you, today?
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