Proverbs 19:5 - Meaning and Application

Here we have, first, the sins being warned against: bearing false witness in court and speaking lies in ordinary conversation. People do not usually reach the point of false witness, where a lie becomes perjury and also harms another person, unless they have already grown used to smaller lies. They may start by lying in jokes, in casual talk, or under the excuse of helping someone. That is why people are said to train their tongues to speak lies (Jeremiah 9:5).

Those who allow themselves small lies are on the way to greater sin when temptation comes, even if they once seemed to hate false witness. A person who can easily swallow a false word is already weakening his conscience, so a false oath will not trouble him much.

Second, the warning itself: they will not go unpunished, and they will not escape. This warns us that what encourages them in sin is the hope that they will get away with it. False witness often escapes human punishment, even though the law was strict about it (Deuteronomy 19:18, 19). But it will not escape God’s just judgment. He is a jealous God, and he will not allow his name to be dishonored. We know that all liars will receive their lasting punishment.