Proverbs 6:19a false witness who utters lies, and he who sows discord among brothers.
The setting
Ancient Israel, ~950 BC. Jerusalem's court system where Solomon witnessed how false testimony destroyed families and communities...
The emotion here: anguish over seeing families destroyed by lies and division
The original word
šeqer (שֶׁקֶר) — deliberate deception, not just mistake but intentional lies under oath
Why it matters
Ancient Near Eastern law codes prescribed severe punishment for false witnesses - often the same penalty the accused would have received
Read with care
What most readers miss in Proverbs 6:19
This isn't about casual lying - it's specifically about formal testimony that destroys innocent people, especially family relationships
Common misconceptionMost people think this is about general dishonesty, but Solomon is specifically addressing two crimes: perjury in court (false witness) and deliberately causing family breakdown (discord among brothers) - both capital offenses in his time.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Proverbs 6:19
Bible Genome reading
Proverbs 6:19 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Proverbs 6:19 comes from the book of Proverbs, written during the United 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 false testimony, family discord. Notable phrases: false witness; sows discord among brothers.
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 6:19 mean to you, today?
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