FALSE SWEARING, WITNESS (עֵ֣ד שָׁ֑קֶר, lit. witness of deception, falsehood; שְׁבֻ֥עַת שֶׁ֖קֶר, swearing of falsehood). Refers to damaging false testimony, esp. in court. Bearing false witness is banned in the laws (Exod 20:16; 23:1; Deut 5:20). Deuteronomy 19:16-21 subjects the false witness to the penalty he intended to inflict on the accused. Twice God is said to hate false witnesses (Prov 6:19; Zech 8:17). Jeremiah 5:2 condemns those who swear falsely, even though they say, “As the Lord lives.” Note also the warning against taking the Lord’s name in vain (Exod 20:7).