God is the essence of truth and this quality should be reflected in the character of his children. Falsehood is condemned in Scripture, particularly in legal contexts, but truth is praised and advocated. God takes pleasure in truth and honesty, which are marks of an upright person.
Truth originates with God
Psalm 43:3 See also Psalm 25:5, Psalm 26:3, Psalm 86:11; Isaiah 65:16; Daniel 9:13
Send out Your light and Your truth; let them lead me. Let them bring me to Your holy mountain and to the place where You dwell.
Truth is an aspect of God's character
It is demonstrated in his faithfulness and reliability
Numbers 23:19; Psalm 33:4 See also 1 Samuel 15:29; Psalm 31:5, Psalm 40:10–11, Psalm 119:160; Isaiah 45:19; Jeremiah 10:10, Jeremiah 42:5; Daniel 10:21; Micah 7:20
God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?
For the word of the LORD is upright, and all His work is trustworthy.
It is demonstrated in his justice and mercy
Psalm 96:13 The Hebraic concept of truth embraces the ideas of faithfulness, reliability and justice. See also Psalm 119:30, Psalm 119:43–44, Psalm 119:142, Psalm 119:151
before the LORD, for He is coming— He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in His faithfulness.
Truth should be reflected in the character of God's people
Zechariah 8:16 See also 1 Kings 17:22–24; Psalm 15:1–5, Psalm 51:6, Psalm 145:18; Proverbs 23:23; Jeremiah 4:2, Jeremiah 5:1; Zechariah 7:9, Zechariah 8:3, Zechariah 8:19; Malachi 2:6
These are the things you must do: Speak truth to one another, render true and sound judgments in your gates,
Absence of truth in the human character displeases God
Isaiah 59:14–15 See also Isaiah 48:1; Jeremiah 5:3, Jeremiah 7:28, Jeremiah 9:3
So justice is turned away, and righteousness stands at a distance. For truth has stumbled in the public square, and honesty cannot enter. Truth is missing, and whoever turns from evil becomes prey. The LORD looked and was displeased that there was no justice.
Truth as an abstract quality
Psalm 45:4 See also Proverbs 23:23; Daniel 8:12
In your splendor ride forth in victory on behalf of truth and humility and justice; may your right hand show your awesome deeds.
Truth is the opposite of falsehood
Proverbs 16:13 See also 1 Kings 17:24, 1 Kings 22:16 parallel 2 Chronicles 18:15; Nehemiah 6:6; Proverbs 8:7, Proverbs 12:17; Isaiah 45:19; Zechariah 8:16
Righteous lips are a king’s delight, and he who speaks honestly is beloved.
Truth is subject to proof
Genesis 42:14–16 See also Deuteronomy 13:12–15, Deuteronomy 17:2–5, Deuteronomy 19:16–19, Deuteronomy 22:20–21; 1 Kings 10:6–7 parallel 2 Chronicles 9:5–6; Job 5:27
Then Joseph declared, “Just as I said, you are spies! And this is how you will be tested: As surely as Pharaoh lives, you shall not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here. Send one of your number to get your brother; the rest of you will be confined so that the truth of your words may be tested. If they are untrue, then as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!”
Truth is commended in Scripture
Proverbs 12:22 See also Exodus 20:16 parallel Deuteronomy 5:20; Exodus 23:1, Exodus 23:7; Proverbs 12:19, Proverbs 13:5, Proverbs 14:25, Proverbs 19:5, Proverbs 19:9; Ephesians 4:25; Revelation 22:14–15
Lying lips are detestable to the LORD, but those who deal faithfully are His delight.
Lack of truth is a characteristic of apostasy
Jeremiah 7:28 See also Psalm 52:1–4; Isaiah 59:12–15; Jeremiah 9:5–6; Amos 5:10
Therefore you must say to them, ‘This is the nation that would not listen to the voice of the LORD their God and would not receive correction. Truth has perished; it has disappeared from their lips.
Truth as an expression of affirmation
Daniel 11:2 See also Joshua 7:20; Ruth 3:12; 2 Kings 19:17; Jeremiah 26:15; Matthew 5:18, Matthew 8:10, Matthew 21:21; Mark 8:12, Mark 14:30; Luke 4:24, Luke 21:32; John 3:3, John 8:51, John 21:18
Now then, I will tell you the truth: Three more kings will arise in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. By the power of his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece.
Amen as a liturgical affirmation of truth
Of oaths and curses
Numbers 5:22 The word “amen” is closely related to the word for “truth” in Hebrew. It constitutes an affirmation of the truth of what has been said and an acceptance of its consequences. See also Deuteronomy 27:15–26; Nehemiah 5:13; Jeremiah 11:5
May this water that brings a curse enter your stomach and cause your belly to swell and your thigh to shrivel.’ Then the woman is to say, ‘Amen, Amen.’
Of benedictions and doxologies
1 Chronicles 16:36 See also Nehemiah 8:6; Psalm 41:13, Psalm 72:19, Psalm 89:52, Psalm 106:48
Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.” Then all the people said, “Amen!” and “Praise the LORD!”
In general use
Jeremiah 28:6 See also 1 Kings 1:32–37
“Amen!” Jeremiah said. “May the LORD do so! May the LORD fulfill the words you have prophesied, and may He restore the articles of His house and all the exiles back to this place from Babylon.
In the NT
Romans 1:25 By NT times, the word “Amen” had become a common liturgical phrase of affirmation, used after prayers, benedictions and doxologies. See also Matthew 6:13; Romans 9:5, Romans 11:36; 1 Corinthians 14:16; 2 Corinthians 1:20; Galatians 6:18; Philippians 4:20; 1 Timothy 1:17; Hebrews 13:20–21; 2 Peter 3:18; Jude 1:25; Revelation 1:6–7, Revelation 7:12, Revelation 22:20
They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise! Amen.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.