Proverbs 24:28

Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, ¹  and do not deceive with your words. ² 

Ex 20:16; Ex 23:1; 1Sa 22:9,10; 1Ki 21:9-13; Job 2:3; Ps 35:7,11; Ps 52:1; Pr 14:5; Pr 19:5,9; Pr 21:28; Mt 26:59,60; Mt 27:23; Joh 15:25; Eph 4:25; Col 3:9; Re 21:8; Re 22:15

¹ sn The legal setting of these sayings continues with this warning against being a false accuser. The “witness” in this line is one who has no basis for his testimony. “Without cause” is the adverb from חָנָן (khanan), which means “to be gracious.” The adverb means “without a cause; gratis; free.” It is also cognate to the word חֵן (“grace” or “unmerited [or, undeserved] favor.” The connotation is that the opposite is due. So the adverb would mean that there was no cause, no justification for the witness, but that the evidence seemed to lie on the other side.

² tn Heb “lips.” The term “lips” is a metonymy of cause; it means “what is said.” Here it refers to what is said in court as a false witness.