What does Deuteronomy 5:20 Mean?

Verse Meaning

God worded this commandment differently from what we might expect. He might have said, "Thou shalt not lie." The wording indicates the emphasis, which was specifically bearing false witness, namely, character assassination, another form of killing and stealing. The word "witness" (Heb. ed) refers to testimony given in legal cases. "Neighbor" (Heb. rea") focuses on a fellow member of the covenant community but is broad enough to include all other human beings (cf. Exodus 11:2; Leviticus 19:18; Leviticus 19:34). Integrity, honesty, and faithfulness in speech are in view, especially situations in which testimony determines a person"s fate. The more general prohibition against lying appears elsewhere ( Leviticus 19:11-12). The ninth commandment deals with our speech, as does the third (cf. James 3). [source][source]

[source]

This command covers all kinds of slander (cf. Psalm 101:5). Perjury in court is in view primarily. Nevertheless whenever we distort the truth when we speak we have the potential of ruining a life (cf. the fates of Naboth and Jesus Christ). Satan is the source and father of lies ( John 8:44; cf. Acts 5:3). The Fall resulted from a lie ( Genesis 3:4). God hates lying ( Proverbs 6:16-19) and is the infallible lie detector. Flattery can be a form of lying. A question can slander ( Job 1:8-9) as can silence if by keeping silent we give tacit approval to a lie. However we do not always need to tell all we know. Withholding information does not always constitute lying. Lying, and bearing false witness in particular, should never characterize the Christian ( Colossians 3:9-17). [source][source]

[source]

Context Summary

The Law of God is for "all Israel." None are exempt. "Not with our fathers" means not with them only; Moses also uses the expression because many of the references of the Decalogue were to the settled life of Canaan. "Face to face," not in dark visions, but clearly and lucidly, Job 4:12-13. Our "face-to-face" vision is yet to come, 1 Corinthians 13:12; Revelation 22:4. Notice in Deuteronomy 5:5 the ideal mediator, Galatians 3:19; 1 Timothy 2:5.

Every soul has two givings of the Law. First, we stand under Sinai to be judged, condemned, and shut up to Christ as our only hope; then we come to it a second time, asking that the Holy Spirit should write it in our hearts, and make us to walk in obedience to its precepts, Galatians 3:23; Romans 8:4.

Adolphe Monod, on his death-bed, said: "Sin has two divisions; the evil that we have done and the good that we have left undone. As to the first, there is not a single command that I have not transgressed in letter or spirit; as to the second, it weighs on me even more than the first." [source]

Chapter Summary: Deuteronomy 5

¹  The covenant in Horeb
⁶  The ten commandments
²³  At the people's request Moses receives the law from God