Exodus 20:15–16

sn This law protected the property of the Israelite citizen. See D. Little, “Exodus 20, 15: ‘Thou Shalt Not Steal’,” Int 34 (1980): 399–405.

tn Heb “answer” as in a court of law.

tn The expression עֵד שָׁקֶר (’ed shaqer) means “a lying witness” (B. S. Childs, Exodus [OTL], 388). In this verse the noun is an adverbial accusative, “you will not answer as a lying witness.” The prohibition is against perjury. While the precise reference would be to legal proceedings, the law probably had a broader application to lying about other people in general (see Lev 5:1; Hos 4:2).