Overview
The Bible addresses perjury across 17 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Leviticus, Jeremiah and Zechariah. Closely related themes include Swearing Falsely, Falsehood, Oath and Dishonesty.
Key Bible verses about perjury
Old Testament
Leviticus
If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the LORD, and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour; in fellowship: or, in dealing fellowship: Heb. putting of the hand
Or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein:
Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found,
Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering. in the day: or, in the day of his being found guilty: Heb. in the day of his trespass
And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD, a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest:
And the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD: and it shall be forgiven him for any thing of all that he hath done in trespassing therein.
And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.
Jeremiah
Zechariah
I will bring it forth, saith the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof.
And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.
New Testament
1 Timothy
Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
In the Bible dictionary
Studying perjury for yourself
- Begin with Leviticus 6:2, then read the passages below in canonical order.
- Compare how Leviticus, Jeremiah and Zechariah each treat the theme.
- Widen the study to related themes: Swearing Falsely, Falsehood, Oath and Dishonesty.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about perjury?
The Bible addresses perjury across 17 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Leviticus, Jeremiah and Zechariah. Closely related themes include Swearing Falsely, Falsehood, Oath and Dishonesty.
How many Bible verses are about perjury?
The Bible references perjury in 17 verses (King James Version).
Where does the Bible first mention perjury?
In canonical order, the first of these passages is Leviticus 6:2: “If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the LORD, and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour; in fellowship: or, in dealing fellowship: Heb. putting of the hand”
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