ninth commandment
LowFormal, Religious, Legal, Literary
Definition
Meaning
The biblical prohibition against giving false testimony, traditionally stated as "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour."
A principle advocating honesty, truthfulness, and integrity in speech and testimony, often invoked in discussions about lying, perjury, deception, and ethical communication.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Refers specifically to one of the Ten Commandments in the Judeo-Christian tradition. It is often cited as a foundational ethical rule against lying, especially in contexts involving legal testimony or serious accusations.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. The wording 'bear false witness' is standard in both. Cultural and religious familiarity may vary slightly with demographics.
Connotations
Primarily religious/moral connotation. Can carry legal connotations when referring to perjury.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both variants, used almost exclusively in religious, ethical, or illustrative contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to break/violate [the ninth commandment]to adhere to/keep [the ninth commandment]to reference/cite [the ninth commandment]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He's breaking the ninth commandment (meaning: He is lying).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rarely used directly. Might be referenced metaphorically in ethics training about truthful reporting.
Academic
Used in religious studies, theology, ethics, and philosophy when discussing deontological ethics or biblical law.
Everyday
Very rare in casual conversation. Might be used for emphasis: "Remember the ninth commandment!" when accusing someone of lying.
Technical
Used in legal or theological discourse concerning the ethics of testimony and evidence.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He essentially ninth-commandmented his way through the inquiry by evading every direct question.
- Politicians are often accused of ninth-commandmenting when making dubious claims.
American English
- She totally ninth-commandmented her way out of trouble with a fabricated alibi.
- The witness appeared to be ninth-commandmenting on the stand.
adverb
British English
- He spoke ninth-commandmently, weaving a tale that was hard to believe.
- The report was written ninth-commandmently to obscure the failures.
American English
- She answered ninth-commandmently, avoiding any admission of guilt.
- The contract was phrased ninth-commandmently to mislead investors.
adjective
British English
- His testimony had a ninth-commandment quality that made the jury suspicious.
- It was a ninth-commandment statement, full of half-truths and omissions.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The ninth commandment is about telling the truth.
- It is wrong to break the ninth commandment.
- In many religions, the ninth commandment forbids lying about other people.
- The lawyer reminded the witness about the ninth commandment before he testified.
- The scandal was a clear violation of the ninth commandment's principle of honest testimony.
- Ethicists often cite the ninth commandment when discussing the societal harm caused by pervasive dishonesty.
- While the ninth commandment specifically addresses false witness in a legal sense, its broader interpretation condemns all forms of malicious deceit.
- The politician's evasion was seen not just as spin but as a fundamental breach of the ninth commandment's ethos.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: "Nine rhymes with 'lie'—the Ninth Commandment says don't lie (bear false witness)."
Conceptual Metaphor
HONESTY IS A FOUNDATIONAL PILLAR OF SOCIETY (the commandment supports the social structure).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'bear false witness' word-for-word as 'нести ложное свидетельство' in a non-biblical context; use 'лгать' (to lie) or 'давать ложные показания' (to give false testimony) for clarity in modern speech.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'ninth commandment' to refer generally to any rule about stealing or adultery (confusing it with other commandments).
- Incorrectly stating it as 'Thou shalt not lie' instead of the traditional 'bear false witness'.
- Capitalising every word ('Ninth Commandment') – only 'Ninth' and 'Commandment' are typically capitalised when referring to the specific biblical item.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary focus of the ninth commandment?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The traditional wording from the King James Bible is: "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour."
While its original context involves legal testimony, it is widely interpreted as a broader injunction against lying, slander, and deceitful speech that harms others.
Different Christian denominations (e.g., Catholic, Lutheran, Reformed) combine and divide the commandments differently. The 'ninth' as the prohibition against false witness is standard in Protestant and Hebrew traditions.
It remains a foundational ethical concept in discussions about media integrity, 'fake news', honest business practices, and the importance of truthfulness for social trust and justice.