Proverbs 25:18

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

A man that beareth false witness against his neighbor Is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

מֵפִ֣יץ וְ֭חֶרֶב וְחֵ֣ץ שָׁנ֑וּן אִ֥ישׁ עֹנֶ֥ה בְ֝רֵעֵ֗הוּ עֵ֣ד שָֽׁקֶר׃

Transliteration

mēpîṣ and-ḥereb and-ḥēṣ šānûn ʾîš ʿōneh against-rēʿēhû ʿēd šāqer

Grammar Details

*mēpîṣ*: noun, masculine singular - club/mace
*wĕ*: conjunction - and
*ḥereb*: noun, feminine singular - sword
*ḥēṣ*: noun, masculine singular - arrow
*šānûn*: qal passive participle, masculine singular - sharpened
*ʾîš*: noun, masculine singular - man
*ʿōneh*: qal participle, masculine singular - testifying
*bĕ*: preposition - against
*rēʿēhû*: noun, masculine singular + 3rd person masculine singular suffix - his neighbor
*ʿēd*: noun, masculine singular construct - witness of
*šāqer*: noun, masculine singular - falsehood

Word Meanings

*mēpîṣ*: club/mace/hammer/maul
*ḥereb*: sword/knife
*ḥēṣ*: arrow/shaft
*šānûn*: sharpened/pointed
*ʿōneh*: testifying/answering/responding
*rēʿēhû*: his neighbor/his friend/his companion
*ʿēd*: witness/testimony
*šāqer*: falsehood/lie/deception

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

🔄 Compare with

ESVNIVCSBNLTNASBNET

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Ps 57:4 : 4 My soul is among lions; I lie among them that are set on fire, Even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword.
Prov 12:18 : 18 There is that speaketh rashly like the piercings of a sword; But the tongue of the wise is health.
Jer 9:8 : 8 Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaketh deceit: one speaketh peaceably to his neighbor with his mouth, but in his heart he layeth wait for him.
Jas 3:6 : 6 And the tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members {G3779} is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell.
Prov 24:28 : 28 Be not a witness against thy neighbor without cause; And deceive not with thy lips.
Jer 9:3 : 3 And they bend their tongue, [as it were] their bow, for falsehood; and they are grown strong in the land, but not for truth: for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith Jehovah.
Ps 120:3-4 : 3 What shall be given unto thee, and what shall be done more unto thee, Thou deceitful tongue? 4 Sharp arrows of the mighty, With coals of juniper.
Ps 140:3 : 3 They have sharpened their tongue like a serpent; Adders' poison is under their lips. {H5542}
Ps 52:2 : 2 Thy tongue deviseth very wickedness, Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
Ps 55:21 : 21 His mouth was smooth as butter, But his heart was war: His words were softer than oil, Yet were they drawn swords.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Prov 6:19
77%
19A false witness that uttereth lies, And he that soweth discord among brethren.
Prov 19:5
77%
5A false witness shall not be unpunished; And he that uttereth lies shall not escape.
Prov 12:17-18
2 verses
77%
17He that uttereth truth showeth forth righteousness; But a false witness, deceit.
18There is that speaketh rashly like the piercings of a sword; But the tongue of the wise is health.
Exod 20:16
76%
16Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
Prov 26:18-19
2 verses
76%
18As a madman who casteth firebrands, Arrows, and death,
19So is the man that deceiveth his neighbor, And saith, Am not I in sport?
Deut 19:16
75%
16If an unrighteous witness rise up against any man to testify against him of wrong-doing,
Prov 24:28
75%
28Be not a witness against thy neighbor without cause; And deceive not with thy lips.
Jer 9:8
75%
8Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaketh deceit: one speaketh peaceably to his neighbor with his mouth, but in his heart he layeth wait for him.
Prov 19:9
75%
9A false witness shall not be unpunished; And he that uttereth lies shall perish.
Prov 25:19
75%
19Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble Is [like] a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
Prov 14:5
75%
5A faithful witness will not lie; But a false witness uttereth lies.
Deut 5:20
74%
20Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbor.
Prov 21:28
74%
28A false witness shall perish; But the man that heareth shall speak so as to endure.
Prov 29:5
74%
5A man that flattereth his neighbor Spreadeth a net for his steps.
Prov 16:27-29
3 verses
73%
27A worthless man deviseth mischief; And in his lips there is as a scorching fire.
28A perverse man scattereth abroad strife; And a whisperer separateth chief friends.
29A man of violence enticeth his neighbor, And leadeth him in a way that is not good.
Prov 14:25
73%
25A true witness delivereth souls; But he that uttereth lies [causeth] deceit.
Prov 25:17
73%
17Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbor's house, Lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee.
Deut 19:18
73%
18and the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and have testified falsely against his brother;
Ps 15:3
73%
3He that slandereth not with his tongue, Nor doeth evil to his friend, Nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor;
Exod 23:1
72%
1Thou shalt not take up a false report: put not thy hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.
Prov 10:18
72%
18He that hideth hatred is of lying lips; And he that uttereth a slander is a fool.
Prov 26:27-28
2 verses
72%
27Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; And he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.
28A lying tongue hateth those whom it hath wounded; And a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
Jer 9:4-5
2 verses
72%
4Take ye heed every one of his neighbor, and trust ye not in any brother; for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbor will go about with slanders.
5And they will deceive every one his neighbor, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies; they weary themselves to commit iniquity.
Prov 17:4
72%
4An evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; [And] a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.
Prov 19:28
71%
28A worthless witness mocketh at justice; And the mouth of the wicked swalloweth iniquity.
Ps 64:3
71%
3Who have whet their tongue like a sword, And have aimed their arrows, even bitter words,
Ps 52:2
71%
2Thy tongue deviseth very wickedness, Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
Prov 18:8
71%
8The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts.
Ps 120:3
70%
3What shall be given unto thee, and what shall be done more unto thee, Thou deceitful tongue?
Prov 26:22
70%
22The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts.
Ps 37:14
70%
14The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, To cast down the poor and needy, To slay such as are upright in the way.
Deut 19:11
70%
11But if any man hate his neighbor, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him mortally so that he dieth, and he flee into one of these cities;
Deut 27:24
70%
24Cursed be he that smiteth his neighbor in secret. And all the people shall say, Amen.
Lev 19:16
70%
16Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbor: I am Jehovah.
Ps 5:6
70%
6Thou wilt destroy them that speak lies: Jehovah abhorreth the blood-thirsty and deceitful man.
Prov 17:18
70%
18A man void of understanding striketh hands, And becometh surety in the presence of his neighbor.
Eccl 10:9
69%
9Whoso heweth out stones shall be hurt therewith; [and] he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.
Isa 29:21
69%
21that make a man an offender in [his] cause, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just with a thing of nought.
Lev 24:19
69%
19And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbor; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him:
Prov 17:20
69%
20He that hath a wayward heart findeth no good; And he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
Ps 50:19
69%
19Thou givest thy mouth to evil, And thy tongue frameth deceit.
Prov 6:12
69%
12A worthless person, a man of iniquity, Is he that walketh with a perverse mouth;
Ps 62:3
69%
3How long will ye set upon a man, That ye may slay [him], all of you, Like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence?
Ps 10:7
69%
7His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression: Under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.