Proverbs 12:22 — “Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.”
The Nature of Lying in Scripture
From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture presents lying not merely as a moral failure but as a direct assault on the nature of God, who is Himself “the God of truth” (Isaiah 65:16). Lying is more than deceptive speech—it is a rebellion against the character of the One who cannot lie (Titus 1:2).
In the KJV, lying is consistently tied to wickedness, corruption, and darkness. Jesus identified the ultimate source of all lies when He declared of Satan: “He is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8:44). To lie is to operate in the character of the adversary rather than in the truth that defines the people of God.
Lying appears early in Scripture through the serpent’s deception (Genesis 3:1–5), revealing that falsehood is the root by which sin first entered the world. Thus, every lie—whether subtle, deliberate, or self-serving—aligns with the destroyer rather than the Creator.
Lying as Destructive: Corrupting Souls, Relationships, and Societies
1. Lying Destroys the Soul
The Word of God shows that lying corrupts the inner man. Proverbs 6:16–19 lists lying twice among the seven abominations the LORD hates—“a lying tongue,” and “a false witness that speaketh lies.” This duplication underscores the depth of God’s hatred for deceit.
Revelation 21:8 places “all liars” among those who will have their part in the lake of fire, showing the eternal danger of living in falsehood. Lying is not harmless; it erodes conscience, hardens the heart, and severs fellowship with God. When one repeatedly lies, the conscience becomes “seared” (1 Timothy 4:2), unable to discern truth from deception.
2. Lying Destroys Relationships
Truth is the foundation of trust, and without trust, no relationship—marriage, family, friendship, or fellowship—can survive. A single lie fractures credibility. Proverbs 19:5 warns: “A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.”
Lying breeds suspicion, bitterness, and brokenness. It sows division within the body of Christ, for where truth is compromised, unity collapses. Ephesians 4:25 commands: “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.” The church cannot function properly when deception is present.
3. Lying Destroys Communities and Nations
When deception becomes common in society, justice collapses and righteousness is silenced. Isaiah lamented: “Judgment is turned away… for truth is fallen in the street” (Isaiah 59:14). This picture mirrors societies where lies dominate political, economic, and social systems.
False balances, dishonest business dealings, corrupted courts, and deceptive leadership all flow from a spirit of falsehood. Proverbs 11:1 states: “A false balance is abomination to the LORD.” Nations collapse morally long before they fall militarily, and lying is often the engine of that collapse.
The Consequences of Lying
1. Divine Judgment
God does not overlook lies. From Ananias and Sapphira, who lied to the Holy Ghost and were struck dead (Acts 5:1–11), to the eternal judgment promised in Revelation, Scripture declares that lying provokes divine wrath.
Proverbs 19:9 states plainly: “He that speaketh lies shall perish.”
Lies invite judgment because they violate the holy nature of God.
2. Broken Fellowship with God
Psalm 101:7 says: “He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.”
This is not only a statement of God’s holiness but a warning: habitual lying forfeits intimacy with the Lord.
Jesus taught that true worshipers must worship “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). One cannot walk with the God of truth while embracing the spirit of falsehood.
3. Self-Destruction and Snare
Proverbs 21:6 declares, “The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.” Lies promise gain but deliver destruction.
A liar eventually becomes ensnared in his own web. His words become unreliable even when he finally speaks truth. His reputation decays, and his influence dissolves.
The Call to Truth: Restoring Integrity Before God
Scripture does not merely condemn lying—it calls believers to a lifestyle of truth.
1. Truth Defines the People of God
Psalm 15:1–2 describes the one who may abide in God’s presence:
“He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.”
Truth must not merely be spoken; it must dwell within.
2. Sanctified by the Truth
Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17).
Truth is not optional; it is the instrument of our spiritual growth.
3. Putting on the Armor of Truth
In the armor of God, the first piece Paul identifies is “the girdle of truth” (Ephesians 6:14).
Truth is what stabilizes the believer against the schemes of Satan—the father of lies.
A church without truth is disarmed and vulnerable.
4. Repentance and Restoration
Even liars can be forgiven when repentance is genuine. Confession restores the soul:
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13).
The blood of Christ cleanses the repentant heart and restores integrity.
Conclusion
Lying is not a small sin—it is a foundational rebellion that aligns the soul with Satan, destroys relationships, corrupts communities, and invites the judgment of God. The KJV makes clear that lying lips are an abomination, but truth brings delight to the Lord and strength to His people.
In these last days, when deception increases and truth is often despised, the call of God to His church is unmistakable: return to truth, walk in truth, speak truth, and live in truth.
For only a people grounded in truth can stand firm amid a world drowning in lies—and only those who love truth will be prepared for the coming of the Lord.