What does the Bible say about lying?
The Bible consistently presents God as the source of all truth and lying as a direct violation of His character. Scripture calls for truthfulness in all areas of life while also extending grace to those who have lied and repented.
Key Verses
9
supporting KJV passages
How to use this page
Read the full explanation, then explore each verse with its context. The FAQs at the bottom answer the most common follow-up questions.
Summary Answer
The Bible consistently presents God as the source of all truth and lying as a direct violation of His character. Scripture calls for truthfulness in all areas of life while also extending grace to those who have lied and repented.
What does the Bible say about lying?
Lying is addressed throughout the entire Bible, from the first lie in the Garden of Eden to the final warning in Revelation against all who "loveth and maketh a lie" (Revelation 22:15). This consistency reflects a deep theological reality: God is truth, and lying is therefore a fundamental departure from His nature.
The ninth commandment addresses this directly: "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour" (Exodus 20:16). While this command has specific reference to legal testimony, not lying about others in a court of law, its broader application to all truthful speech is clear throughout the Old Testament. Proverbs 12:22 states plainly: "Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight."
Jesus identifies the source of all lying with precision: "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it" (John 8:44). The first lie in history was spoken by Satan in the Garden. Lying, in its root, is a Satanic activity.
Conversely, God "cannot lie" (Titus 1:2). Jesus declares Himself "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). The Holy Spirit is "the Spirit of truth" (John 16:13). Truth is so central to God's character that lying is not merely a social offence but a theological one, it contradicts the character of the God in whose image we are made.
The New Testament calls for comprehensive truthfulness. Colossians 3:9 commands: "Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds." Ephesians 4:25 connects truthfulness to the nature of the Christian community: "Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another." Deceit fractures community; truth builds it.
The Bible does contain some complex cases, the Hebrew midwives who deceived Pharaoh to save babies (Exodus 1:19-20), Rahab who hid the spies (Joshua 2), and God responds to these acts with blessing rather than judgment. These cases involve lying to protect innocent life from an unjust oppressor, and they have generated significant discussion among theologians. Most conclude that these are extreme exceptions that do not overturn the general principle of truthfulness, but they show the Bible engaging honestly with moral complexity.
For those who have been dishonest, the path forward is clear: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). Truthfulness can be restored through repentance, restitution where possible, and the ongoing work of the Spirit renewing the heart.
Supporting Bible Verses
Key KJV passages that speak directly to what the Bible says about lying.
Proverbs 12:22
“Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.”
Context
God's emotional response to lying is stated plainly, it is an abomination; truthfulness brings delight. The contrast could not be sharper.
Exodus 20:16
“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.”
Context
The ninth commandment addresses false testimony, the foundation of a broader call to truthfulness in all speech and dealings with others.
John 8:44
“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”
Context
Jesus traces the origin of all lying to Satan, identifying deception as fundamentally anti-God and drawing a sharp spiritual line.
Ephesians 4:25
“Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.”
Context
Truthfulness is grounded in community, we are members of one another, and lying fractures that belonging just as deception fractures a body.
Proverbs 19:9
“A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.”
Context
Proverbs is clear about the ultimate consequences of a life of lying, no one who consistently deceives will escape judgment.
John 14:6
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
Context
Jesus claims to be truth itself, His very identity is the standard against which all falsehood is measured.
Colossians 3:9
“Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds.”
Context
Truthfulness is connected to the new identity in Christ, the old self lies, the new self speaks truth. It is a matter of who we now are.
Psalm 51:6
“Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.”
Context
God's desire is not merely for outward honesty but for truth at the deepest level, in the inward parts where self-deception so easily hides.
Zechariah 8:16
“These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates.”
Context
Truthfulness in speech is directly connected to justice and peace, a community built on honest words is one that can pursue true shalom.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is lying always a sin according to the Bible?
In general, yes, Proverbs 12:22 calls lying lips an abomination to the Lord. However, the Bible presents complex cases (the Hebrew midwives, Rahab) where deception was used to protect innocent life. Most theologians see these as extreme exceptions that underscore the general rule rather than overturn it.
What does the Bible say about white lies?
The Bible does not use the term "white lie" but calls for truthfulness in all speech (Ephesians 4:25; Colossians 3:9). The intention to deceive is what makes lying wrong, regardless of how small the deception seems. Proverbs 19:9 warns that a habit of speaking lies has serious consequences.
Why does God hate lying?
Because God is truth (John 14:6; Titus 1:2), and lying is fundamentally contrary to His nature. Jesus identifies the devil as "the father of lies" (John 8:44). When we lie, we act in the character of God's enemy rather than in the image of God. Lying also destroys the trust that makes community and covenant possible.
What should I do if I have lied?
1 John 1:9 promises forgiveness and cleansing to those who confess. Beyond confession, restitution, correcting the record, apologising to those harmed, is the biblical pattern (Zacchaeus in Luke 19 is a model of voluntary restitution). God's grace is sufficient for the liar who repents.
What does the Bible say about self-deception?
Psalm 51:6 says God desires truth "in the inward parts", including honesty with ourselves. Jeremiah 17:9 warns that "the heart is deceitful above all things." James 1:22 warns against being "hearers only" who deceive themselves. Honest self-examination before God is a regular biblical practice.