Thou shalt not bear false witness

[notyoueither]

What does this mean?

Is it a general prohibition against dishonesty, or is it more specific? Do you have to lie about a neighbour in court, or is it a sin to be dishonest in general in your daily interactions?

Is it OK to lie about groups of people? Is it OK to lie about things? Is it a sin to misrepresent any and everything?

I am curious. Shine your wisdom on this topic, O Polyzens.

[SlowwHand]

In the last several years, I've taken it literally. It has it's uncomfortable moments, at first; but then it's really just a lot easier. It may mean as little as...not bearing false witness. Saying you saw something that you didn't see.

[notyoueither]

Would that include things in books? Like if you are teaching children, is it OK to twist meanings or misrepresent what you know the authors wrote?

[-Jrabbit]

No libel or slander. Anything else is fine.

[ShaneWalter]

I've always wondered this.

[SlowwHand]

Would that include things in books? Like if you are teaching children, is it OK to twist meanings or misrepresent what you know the authors wrote?

I suppose you think that you're quite the trickly little fellow, don't you?
News Flash, buddy. I didn't just fall off the turnip truck, I'm driving the truck. Don't even try it.

[Jon Miller]

I try to always tell the truth unless it is obvious that I am joking.

JM

[Heraclitus]

I understood it as "don't lie" as a kid since lying was a sin.

[Felch]

The way it was explained to me in a history class I took on ancient Israel:

During a trial, both sides could say whatever they wanted. The judge would then select one of them to swear an oath that his testimony was true. The person who swore the oath would win the case, so it was up to the judge to figure out which of them was telling the truth. If you swore an oath that your testimony was true, and it wasn't, then you were bearing false witness. However, you could decline to take the oath after your testimony, if you were religious and worried that some bolt of lightning would strike you down. Declining the oath carried no penalty besides losing the case.

Of course, if you were worried about divine vengeance why lie in the first place? I'm sure the professor answered that question, but I was probably high and forgot.

[Ben Kenobi]

False witness simply means that you cannot lie under oath to condemn someone else. The penalty used to be if you were caught to bear the penalty of the man you condemned.

[Asher]

It's interesting that you only consider it to apply under oath. It also explains a lot.

[Ben Kenobi]

You want NYE's thread to be closed for personal attacks? You just can't help yourself, can you?

[Asher]

I'm not attacking anyone. Just making casual observations.

[Berzerker]

yeah, I doubt this is a prohibition on telling the wife she doesn't look fat. And people lie all the time for good reason, so this is a prohibition on lying about someone to get them in trouble, in court or I'd say the court of public opinion - the principle's the same.

[Berzerker]

False witness simply means that you cannot lie under oath to condemn someone else. The penalty used to be if you were caught to bear the penalty of the man you condemned.

so bearing false witness in a murder trial could/would get the liar the same punishment awaiting the murderer? That'll keep bearing false witness to a minimum