6:19a
a false witness who gives false testimony: The phrase false witness refers to someone who testifies what they know is untrue. Their testimony may be given either in court or in an informal setting. So it may be better not to specify “those who tell lies in court” as the Contemporary English Version has done. The phrase translated as gives false testimony is literally “breathes/blows lies.” This poetic expression may imply that they lie repeatedly or that it is easy for them to lie. For example:
who lies with every breath (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
who tells one lie after another (Good News Translation)
Proverbs 6:19a is almost identical to 14:5b. (For other verses in regard to being a truthful or false witness, see 12:17, 14:25, 19:5, 19:9, 21:28, 24:28, and 25:18.)
6:19b
and one who stirs up discord: Notice that stirs up discord was also the last item in the description of the scoundrel in 6:12–14. For discord see the note on 6:14b.
among brothers: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as brothers is not limited to one’s siblings or close relatives. It may also refer here to friends, associates, townmates, or fellow countrymen. Some other ways to translate this expression are:
among families (New Century Version)
-or-
among friends (Good News Translation)
-or-
in the community
Section 6:20–35
Ninth lesson: If you commit adultery, you will be severely punished
This lesson may be summarized as follows: The son should heed his parents’ teaching, because it will keep him from the dangers of adultery (6:20–24). He should strictly avoid being tempted by another man’s wife. An affair with such a woman will have inevitable and disastrous consequences (6:25–33), resulting from the jealous fury of the husband (6:34–35).
Some other headings for this section are:
Warning Against Adultery (New International Version)
-or-
Avoid adultery
-or-
More Advice About Avoiding Adultery (God’s Word)
-or-
The terrible consequences of committing adultery
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