What does the Bible say about deceit?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible condemns deceit as a sinful corruption of the heart that God hates, warning that it destroys trust, harms neighbors, and brings judgment unless it is forsaken through repentance and faith. Proverbs 6:16-19 names a lying tongue and false witness among the things abominable to the Lord, while Proverbs 26:24-26 exposes concealed hatred behind flattering speech. Psalm 101:7 teaches that habitual deceit has no place before God, and Psalm 120:2 asks the Lord for deliverance from lying lips. Jeremiah 17:9 shows why deception is deeply rooted in fallen human hearts. Yet Christ calls His people to truth, guarding them from smooth-talking deceivers (Romans 16:18; Colossians 2:8) and shaping honest speech by His grace.
Top passages, ranked by readers
Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- Psalms 101:7
He who practices deceit won't dwell within my house. He who speaks falsehood won't be established before my eyes.
- Proverbs 6:16-19
[16] There are six things which Yahweh hates; Yes, seven which are an abomination to him: [17] Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood; [18] A heart that devises wicked schemes, Feet that are swift in running to mischief, [19] A false witness who utters lies, And he who sows discord among brothers.
- Proverbs 20:17
Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, But afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
- Proverbs 26:24-26
[24] A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, But he harbors evil in his heart. [25] When his speech is charming, don't believe him; For there are seven abominations in his heart: [26] His malice may be concealed by deception, But his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
- Psalms 120:2
Deliver my soul, Yahweh, from lying lips, From a deceitful tongue.
- Romans 16:18
For those who are such don't serve our Lord, Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by their smooth and flattering speech, they deceive the hearts of the innocent.
- Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly corrupt: who can know it?
- Psalms 36:3
The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit. He has ceased to be wise and to do good.
- Colossians 2:8
Be careful that you don't let anyone rob you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the elements of the world, and not after Christ.
- Proverbs 19:9
A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who utters lies shall perish.
Study outline
Curated topical outlines from classic public-domain study works.
Nave's Topical Bible
- Is falsehood Psalms 119:118
- The tongue is an instrument of Romans 3:13
- Comes from the heart Mark 7:22
- Characteristic of the heart Jeremiah 17:9
- God abhors Psalms 5:6
- Forbidden Proverbs 24:28; 1 Peter 3:10
- Christ was perfectly free from Isaiah 53:9; 1 Peter 2:22
- Saints
- Free from Psalms 24:4; Zephaniah 3:13; Revelation 14:5
- Purpose against Job 27:4
- Avoid Job 31:5
- Shun those addicted to Psalms 101:7
- Pray for deliverance from those who use Psalms 43:1; Psalms 120:2
- Delivered from those who use Psalms 72:14
- Should beware of those who teach Ephesians 5:6; Colossians 2:8
- Should lay aside, in seeking truth 1 Peter 2:1
- Ministers should lay aside 2 Corinthians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 2:3
- The wicked are full of Romans 1:29
- Devise Psalms 35:20; Psalms 38:12; Proverbs 12:5
- Utter Psalms 10:7; Psalms 36:3
- Work Proverbs 11:18
- Increase in 2 Timothy 3:13
- Use, to each other Jeremiah 9:5
- Use, to themselves Jeremiah 37:9; Obadiah 1:3-7
- Delight in Proverbs 20:17
- False teachers are workers of 2 Corinthians 11:13
- Preach Jeremiah 14:14; Jeremiah 23:26
- Impose on others by Romans 16:18; Ephesians 4:14
- Sport themselves with 2 Peter 2:13
- Hypocrites devise Job 15:35
- Hypocrites practice Hosea 11:12
- False witnesses use Proverbs 12:17
- A characteristic of antichrist 2 John 1:7
- Characteristic of the apostasy 2 Thessalonians 2:10
- Evil of
- Hinders knowledge of God Jeremiah 9:6
- Keeps from turning to God Jeremiah 8:5
- Leads
- To pride and oppression Jeremiah 5:27; Jeremiah 5:28
- To lying Proverbs 14:25
Showing the first 40 headings of this outline.
Torrey's New Topical Textbook
- Is falsehood Psalms 119:118
- The tongue, the instrument of Romans 3:13
- Comes from the heart Mark 7:22
- Characteristic of the heart Jeremiah 17:9
- God abhors Psalms 5:6
- Forbidden Proverbs 24:28; 1 Peter 3:10
- Christ was perfectly free from Isaiah 53:9; 1 Peter 2:22
- Saints
- Free from Psalms 24:4; Zephaniah 3:13; Revelation 14:5
- Purposed against Job 27:4
- Avoid Job 31:5
- Shun those addicted to Psalms 101:7
- Pray for deliverance from those who use Psalms 43:1; Psalms 120:2
- Delivered from those who use Psalms 72:14
- Should beware of those who teach Ephesians 5:6; Colossians 2:8
- Should lay aside, in seeking truth 1 Peter 2:1
- Ministers should lay aside 2 Corinthians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 2:3
- The wicked
- Are full of Romans 1:29
- Devise Psalms 35:20; Psalms 38:12; Proverbs 12:5
- Utter Psalms 10:7; Psalms 36:3
- Work Proverbs 11:18
- Increase in 2 Timothy 3:13
- Use, to each other Jeremiah 9:5
- Use, to themselves Jeremiah 37:9; Obadiah 1:7
- Delight in Proverbs 20:17
- False teachers
- Are workers of 2 Corinthians 11:13
- Preach Jeremiah 14:14; Jeremiah 23:26
- Impose on others by Romans 16:18; Ephesians 4:14
- Sport themselves with 2 Peter 2:13
- Hypocrites devise Job 15:35
- Hypocrites practise Hosea 11:12
- False witnesses use Proverbs 12:17; Proverbs 14:5
- A characteristic of Antichrist 2 John 1:7
- A characteristic of the Apostasy 2 Thessalonians 2:10
- Evil of
- Keeps from knowledge of God Jeremiah 9:6
- Keeps from turning to God Jeremiah 8:5
- Leads to pride and oppression Jeremiah 5:27; Jeremiah 5:28
Showing the first 40 headings of this outline.
Go deeper
Ask Explain Bible AI about deceit and get a fuller answer from a Reformed theological perspective.
Ask what the Bible says about deceit