The Ninth Commandment
Hadawar hateshii הדּבר התּשׁיעי
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. (2M 20:12(16))
Question: What does the ninth commandment forbid us?
Answer: The ninth commandment forbids us to bear false witness against our neighbor, and at the same forbids us to lie.
Question: What do we consider a false testimony?
Answer:
The judicial false testimony - עדוּת שׁקר בּמּשׁפּט edut sheker bamishpat - when someone falsely testifies, accuses, indicts or sues.
The extrajudicial false testimony - malshin מלשׁין - if someone defames another person, or when someone unfairly admonishes another person.
Question: Are lies permitted, when the intention is not to harm one's neighbor?
Answer:
This type of lie is not allowed for two reasons:
1. It is not in accordance with love and the respect to our neighbor
2. It teaches us to lie, and then lying becomes a habit
Verses of Holy Scripture that support the ninth commandment:
Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not; for I will not justify the wicked. (2 M 23:7)
Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people. (3M 19:16)
Thou shalt not curse the deaf. (3M 19:14)
Therefore love ye truth and peace. (Zech 8:19)
These are the things that ye shall do: Speak ye every man the truth with his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates. (Zech 8:16)
And let none of you devise evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath; for all these are things that I hate, saith יהוה. (Zech 8:17)
Whosoever slandereth his neighbour in secret, him will I destroy. (Psalm 101: 5)
He that speaketh falsehood shall not be established before mine eyes. (Psalm 101: 7)
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. (2M 20:12(16))