John Calvin Commentary Exodus 23:1

"Thou shalt not take up a false report: put not thy hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness." — Exodus 23:1 (ASV)

You shall not receive (margin) a false report. It might also be translated, You shall not raise, or stir up. And, if this is preferred, God forbids us to invent calumnies. But, if we read, You shall not receive, He will go further: that is, that no one should cherish or confirm another's lie by supporting it.

For it has been stated that such sin may be committed in two ways: either when the wicked invent false accusations, or when other overly credulous persons eagerly associate themselves with them. Thus, either meaning would be very applicable: that the original authors who raise a false report are condemned, or those who further their wickedness and, as it were, give it their endorsement.

But, since it immediately follows, do not put your hand with them, I willingly embrace the version, You shall not receive, so that the two clauses may combine better.

Indeed, Moses uses this word with great propriety, for a lie would soon come to nothing from its own emptiness and fall to the ground if it were not taken up and supported by the unrighteous consent of others.

God, therefore, recalls His people from this wicked conspiracy,¹⁶⁷ lest by their assistance they should spread false accusations abroad. He calls those false witnesses who slander their neighbors by lending their hand to the ungodly, because there is little difference between raising a calumny and perpetuating it.

If it is thought preferable to restrict the second verse to judges, it would be a supplement to the Sixth Commandment as well as the Eighth; namely, that no one should willingly give way to the unjust opinions of others, which might affect either the livelihood or the life of an innocent person. But, since the error of those who are too credulous is reproved by it, from which it arises that falsehood prevails and calumniators obscure what is clear, it finds a fit place here.¹⁶⁸

¹⁶⁷ “De s’accoupler avecques les malins et les menteurs pour diffamer le prochain;” of associating themselves with the malicious and with liars to defame their neighbor. — Fr..

¹⁶⁸ “Ceste sentence doit estre comprinse aussi bien sous les faux tesmoignages;” this declaration ought to be comprised under the head of false testimony. — Fr..