FALSE WITNESS. - Black's Law Dictionary, 3rd edition
One who is intentionally rather than merely mistakenly false. State v. Weston, 109 Or. 19, 219 P. 180, 189.
WITNESS, n. - Black's Law Dictionary, 3rd edition
In the primary sense of the word, a person who has direct knowledge of an event. As the most direct mode of acquiring knowledge of an event is by seeing it, "witness" has acquired the sense of a person who is present at and observes a transaction. (Cites omitted.)
* * *
witness. - Webster's Unified Dictionary and Encyclopedia (1960)
1. Attestation of anything, testimony. 2. One who has seen. 3. One who gives evidence, as, he had a reliable witness. 4. * * *
"Broadly speaking, a witness is an individual who has knowledge of a fact or occurance sufficient to testify in respect to it." (35 Fla Jur, Witnesses § 2 ref. Ballentine's Law Dictionary.)
"In the early history of our judicial decisions, we find this very meaningful statement" "He who affirms either what he does not know to be true, or knows to be false, to another's prejudice and his own gain, is, both in morality and law, guilty of falsehood, and must answer in damages." Munroe v. Pritchett, 16 Ala. 785, 50 Am.Dec. 203." Benefield v. Dailey et al., 34 So.2d 26, 27.
Question: While one who deliberately deceives (see Ex 20:16) is, clearly, bearing false witness, can the same be said of one who speaks as if he had knowledge but doesn't, perhaps ignorantly repeating what is told him?
It appears to me that while speaking vainly (see De 5:20) (talking as if one knew when one really doesn't) is a type of false witness, the penalties for false witness (included below) apply only to those who deliberately deceive.
Ex 20:16* Thou shalt not bear false<08267> witness against thy neighbour.
De 5:20 Neither shalt thou bear false<07732> witness against thy neighbour.
De 19:16* If a false<02555> witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong; 17* Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days; 18* And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false<08267> witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother; 19* Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you. 20* And those which remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil among you.
Pr 6:19 A false<08267> witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
Pr 12:17* He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false<08267> witness deceit.
Pr 14:5 A faithful witness will not lie: but a false<08267> witness will utter lies.
Pr 19:5 A false<08267> witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.
Pr 19:9 A false<08267> witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.
Pr 21:28 A false<03577> witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.
Pr 25:18* A man that beareth false<08267> witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
Ps 27:12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false<08267> witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.
Ps 35:11 False<02555> witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.
Mt 15:19* For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness<5577>, blasphemies:
Mt 19:18* He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness<5576>,
Mt 26:59* Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness<5577> against Jesus, to put him to death;
Mt 26:60* But found none: yea, though many false witnesses<5575> came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,
Mr 10:19* Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness<5576>, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
Mr 14:56 For many bare false witness<5576> against him, but their witness agreed not together.
Mr 14:57 And there arose certain, and bare false witness<5576> against him, saying, 58 We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands. 59 But neither so did their witness agree together.
Lu 18:20* Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness<5576>, Honour thy father and thy mother.
Ro 13:9* For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness<5576>, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Ac 6:13* And set up false<5571> witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
1Co 15:15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses<5575> of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
Hebrew Strong's definitions:
08267 sheqer {sheh'-ker}
from 08266; TWOT - 2461a; n m
AV - lie 28, lying 21, false 20, falsehood 13, falsely 13, vain 5, wrongfully 4, deceitful 2, deceit 1, liar 1, misc 5; 113
1) lie, deception, disappointment, falsehood
1a) deception (what deceives or disappoints or betrays one)
1b) deceit, fraud, wrong
1b1) fraudulently, wrongfully (as adverb)
1c) falsehood (injurious in testimony)
1c1) testify falsehood, false oath, swear falsely
1d) falsity (of false or self-deceived prophets)
1e) lie, falsehood (in general)
1e1) false tongue
1f) in vain
08266 shaqar {shaw-kar'}
a primitive root; TWOT - 2461; v
AV - lie 3, deal falsely 2, fail 1; 6
1) to do or deal falsely, be false, trick, cheat
1a) (Piel) to deal falsely
1b) (Qal) to deal falsely
07723 shav' {shawv} or shav {shav}
from the same as 07722 in the sense of desolating; TWOT - 2338a; n m
AV - vain 22, vanity 22, false 5, lying 2, falsely 1, lies 1; 53
1) emptiness, vanity, falsehood
1a) emptiness, nothingness, vanity
1b) emptiness of speech, lying
1c) worthlessness (of conduct)
07722 show' {sho} or (fem.) show'ah {sho-aw'} or sho'ah {sho-aw'}
from an unused root meaning to rush over; TWOT - 2339,2339a
AV - desolation 5, destruction 3, desolate 2, destroy 1, storm 1,wasteness 1; 13
n m
1) ravage n f
2) devastation, ruin, waste
2a) devastation, ruin
2b) ruin, waste (of land)
02555 chamac {khaw-mawce'}
from 02554; TWOT- 678a; n m
AV - violence 39, violent 7, cruelty 4, wrong 3, false 2, cruel 1, damage 1, injustice 1, oppressor + 0376 1, unrighteous 1; 60
1) violence, wrong, cruelty, injustice
02554 chamac {khaw-mas'}
a primitive root; TWOT- 678; v
AV - ..violence 2, violated 1, shake off 1, wrongfully imagine 1, violently taken away 1, wronged 1, made bare 1; 8
1) to wrong, do violence to, treat violently, do wrongly
1a) (Qal) to treat violently, do wrong
1a1) of physical wrong
1a2) of ethical wrong
1a3) of physical and ethical wrong
1b) (Niphal) to be treated violently
03577 kazab {kaw-zawb'}
from 03576; TWOT - 970a; n m
AV - lie 23, lying 2, leasing 2, deceitful 1, false 1, liar 1, lies + 01697 1; 31
1) a lie, untruth, falsehood, deceptive thing
03576 kazab {kaw-zab'}
a primitive root; TWOT - 970; v
AV - lie 11, liar 3, vain 1, fail 1; 16
1) to lie, tell a lie, be a liar, be found a liar, be in vain, fail
1a) (Qal) liar (participle)
1b) (Niphal) to be proven to be lying
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to lie, tell a lie, tell a lie with, deceive
1c2) to disappoint, fail
1d) (Hiphil) to make a liar, prove to be a liar
Greek Strong's definitions:
5577 pseudomarturia {psyoo-dom-ar-too-ree'-ah}
from 5575; TDNT - 4:513,564; n f
AV - false witness 2; 2
1) false witness, false testimony
5575 pseudomartur {psyoo-dom-ar'-toor}
from 5571 and a kindred form of 3144; TDNT - 4:513,*; n m
AV - false witness 3; 3
1) a false witness
5571 pseudes {psyoo-dace'}
from 5574; TDNT - 9:594,1339; adj
AV - liar 2, false 1; 3
1) lying, deceitful, false
3144 martus {mar'-toos}
of uncertain affinity; TDNT - 4:474,564; n m
AV - witness 29, martyr 3, record 2; 34
1) a witness
1a) in a legal sense
1b) an historical sense
1b1) one who is a spectator of anything, e.g. of a contest
1c) in an ethical sense
1c1) those who after his example have proved the strength and
genuineness of their faith in Christ by undergoing a
violent death
5574 pseudomai {psyoo'-dom-ahee}
middle voice of an apparently primary verb; TDNT - 9:594,1339; v
AV - lie 11, falsely 1; 12
1) to lie, to speak deliberate falsehoods
2) to deceive one by a lie, to lie to
5576 pseudomartureo {psyoo-dom-ar-too-reh'-o}
from 5575; TDNT - 4:513,564; v
AV - bear false witness 6; 6
1) to utter falsehoods in giving testimony, to testify falsely,
to bear false witness
Ex 20:7* Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain <07723>; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain <07723>.
Ex 23:1 Thou shalt not raise a false <07723> report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.
De 5:11 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain <07723>: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain <07723>.
De 5:20 Neither shalt thou bear false <07723> witness against thy neighbour.
Job 7:3 So am I made to possess months of vanity <07723>, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.
Job 11:11 For he knoweth vain <07723> men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it?
Job 15:31 Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity <07723>: for vanity <07723> shall be his recompence.
Job 31:5 If I have walked with vanity <07723>, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit;
Job 35:13 Surely God will not hear vanity <07723>, neither will the Almighty regard it.
Ps 12:2 They speak vanity <07723> every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.
Ps 24:4* He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity <07723>, nor sworn deceitfully.
Ps 26:4 I have not sat with vain <07723> persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.
Ps 31:6* I have hated them that regard lying <07723> vanities: but I trust in the LORD.
Ps 41:6 And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity <07723>: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it.
Ps 60:11 Give us help from trouble: for vain <07723> is the help of man.
Ps 89:47 Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain <07723>?
Ps 108:12 Give us help from trouble: for vain <07723> is the help of man.
Ps 119:37* Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity <07723>; and quicken thou me in thy way.
Ps 127:1 <<A Song of degrees for Solomon.>> Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain <07723> that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain <07723>.
Ps 127:2* It is vain <07723> for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
Ps 139:20 For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain <07723>.
Ps 144:8 Whose mouth speaketh vanity <07723>, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
Ps 144:11 Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity <07723>, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood:
Pr 30:8 Remove far from me vanity <07723> and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:
Isa 1:13* Bring no more vain <07723> oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.
Isa 5:18* Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity <07723>, and sin as it were with a cart rope:
Isa 30:28* And his breath, as an overflowing stream, shall reach to the midst of the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity <07723>: and there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people, causing them to err.
Isa 59:4 None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies <07723>; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.
Jer 2:30* In vain <07723> have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.
Jer 4:30* And when thou art spoiled, what wilt thou do? Though thou clothest thyself with crimson, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, though thou rentest thy face with painting, in vain <07723> shalt thou make thyself fair; thy lovers will despise thee, they will seek thy life.
Jer 6:29* The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed of the fire; the founder melteth in vain <07723>: for the wicked are not plucked away.
Jer 18:15 Because my people hath forgotten me, they have burned incense to vanity <07723>, and they have caused them to stumble in their ways from the ancient paths, to walk in paths, in a way not cast up;
Jer 46:11* Go up into Gilead, and take balm, O virgin, the daughter of Egypt: in vain <07723> shalt thou use many medicines; for thou shalt not be cured.
La 2:14 Thy prophets have seen vain <07723> and foolish things for thee: and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee false <07723> burdens and causes of banishment.
Eze 12:24 For there shall be no more any vain <07723> vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel.
Eze 13:6 They have seen vanity <07723> and lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word.
Eze 13:7 Have ye not seen a vain <07723> vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The LORD saith it; albeit I have not spoken?
Eze 13:8 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have spoken vanity <07723>, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord GOD.
Eze 13:9 And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity <07723>, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD.
Eze 13:23 Therefore ye shall see no more vanity <07723>, nor divine divinations: for I will deliver my people out of your hand: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
Eze 21:23 And it shall be unto them as a false <07723> divination in their sight, to them that have sworn oaths: but he will call to remembrance the iniquity, that they may be taken.
Eze 21:29 Whiles they see vanity <07723> unto thee, whiles they divine a lie unto thee, to bring thee upon the necks of them that are slain, of the wicked, whose day is come, when their iniquity shall have an end.
Eze 22:28 And her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, seeing vanity <07723>, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken.
Ho 10:4* They have spoken words, swearing falsely <07723> in making a covenant: thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.
Ho 12:11* Is there iniquity in Gilead? surely they are vanity <07723>: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the fields.
Jon 2:8* They that observe lying <07723> vanities forsake their own mercy.
Zec 10:2* For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false <07723> dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd.
Mal 3:14 Ye have said, It is vain <07723> to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?
Job 30:3 For want and famine they were solitary; fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate <07722> and waste.
Job 30:14 They came upon me as a wide breaking in of waters: in the desolation <07722> they rolled themselves upon me.
Job 38:27 To satisfy the desolate <07722> and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?
Ps 35:8 Let destruction <07722> come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction <07722> let him fall.
Ps 35:17* Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions <07722>, my darling from the lions.
Ps 63:9 But those that seek my soul, to destroy <07722> it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth.
Pr 1:27 When your fear cometh as desolation <07722>, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
Pr 3:25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation <07722> of the wicked, when it cometh.
Isa 10:3* And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation <07722> which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory?
Isa 47:11 Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation <07722> shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know.
Eze 38:9 Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm <07722>, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee.
Zep 1:15* That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness <07722> and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,