Shorter Catechism Q. 78. What is forbidden in the ninth commandment? A. The ninth commandment forbiddeth whatsoever is prejudicial to truth, or injurious to our own or our neighbor’s good name.
Commentary: This commandment forbids doing anything that is prejudicial to the truth, which primarily includes lying. A lie, however, is not simply an untrue statement. If I tell you that Pittsburgh is the capital of Pennsylvania because that is what I sincerely believe then I’m guilty of being ignorant but not of lying. A mistake is not a lie. Fictional stories and parables are untrue but not lies. Hyperbolic statements such as “I’m freezing to death” are not lies because they are not meant to be taken literally. A lie is an “utterance, in word or deed, of what is known to be untrue, with an intention to deceive and in violation of some right (A.A. Hodge/Aspinwall Hodge).”
There are many ways we can lie or give a false report. We can lie by non-verbal communication; by concealing a part of the truth; by mixing the truth with error; by manufacturing evidence; by exaggerating; by distorting or purposely misreading the facts.
This commandment also forbids doing anything that is “injurious to our own or our neighbor’s good name.” Slander and speaking evil are examples of this. A suggestion, an accusation, or a bad word of some kind can taint a person’s reputation for life, even if it isn’t true.
WLC provides a detailed list of what this commandment forbids: “…giving false evidence, suborning false witnesses, wittingly appearing and pleading for an evil cause, out-facing and overbearing the truth; passing unjust sentence, calling evil good, and good evil; rewarding the wicked according to the work of the righteous, and the righteous according to the work of the wicked; forgery, concealing the truth, undue silence in a just cause, and holding our peace when iniquity calleth for either a reproof from ourselves, or complaint to others; speaking the truth unseasonably, or maliciously to a wrong end, or perverting it to a wrong meaning, or in doubtful and equivocal expressions, to the prejudice of truth or justice; speaking untruth, lying, slandering, backbiting, detracting, tale-bearing, whispering, scoffing, reviling, rash, harsh, and partial censuring; misconstructing intentions, words, and actions; flattering, vain-glorious boasting, thinking or speaking too highly or too meanly of ourselves or others; denying the gifts and graces of God; aggravating smaller faults; hiding, excusing, or extenuating of sins, when called to a free confession; unnecessary discovering of infirmities; raising false rumours, receiving and countenancing evil reports, and stopping our ears against just defence; evil suspicion; envying or grieving at the deserved credit of any, endeavouring or desiring to impair it, rejoicing in their disgrace and infamy; scornful contempt, fond admiration; breach of lawful promises; neglecting such things as are of good report, and practising, or not avoiding ourselves, or not hindering what we can in others, such things as procure an ill name.”