ψευδής G5571
false, lying, untrue; characterized by falsehood or deception
This adjective describes what is false or characterized by lying, opposed to what is true (alēthēs). In Acts 6:13, false witnesses testify against Stephen with fabricated charges. Revelation 2:2 commends the Ephesian church for testing those who claim to be apostles 'and are not, and have found them liars.' In Revelation 21:8, 'all liars' are listed among those excluded from the new Jerusalem. The word carries moral weight—falsehood is not merely error but intentional deception. Classical Greek used it in logic for fallacies and in ethics for false accusations and untrue testimony.
Senses
1. sense 1 — The cross-linguistic evidence shows strong moral condemnation: English 'false, liars,' Spanish 'falsos, mentirosos,' French 'menteur' (liar), German 'falsch, luegnerisch' (false, mendacious). Acts 6:13 describes witnesses who deliberately testified falsely against Stephen. Revelation 2:2 praises discernment that exposes false apostles. Revelation 21:8 places liars alongside murderers and sorcerers in the lake of fire, showing that falsehood is not a minor vice but a fundamental opposition to the God of truth. 3×
AR["الكاذِبينَ", "كَاذِبينَ", "كَذَبَةً"]·ben["মিথ্যা", "মিথ্যাবাদীদের"]·DE["falsch", "luegnerisch"]·EN["false", "liars"]·FR["menteur"]·heb["הַ-שַּׁקְרָנִים", "שֶׁקֶר", "שַׁקָּרִים"]·HI["झूठे", "झूठे;", "झूठों"]·ID["palsu,", "pendusta", "pendusta;"]·IT["falso", "pseudeis", "pseudesin"]·jav["goroh", "palsu,", "tiyang-dora"]·KO["거짓", "거짓된-자들-로", "거짓말하는-자들은"]·PT["mentirosos"]·RU["лжецам", "лживыми;", "ложных"]·ES["falsos", "mentirosos,"]·SW["wa-uongo", "waongo,", "waongo;"]·TR["yalancı", "yalancıların"]·urd["جھوٹوں-کے-لیے", "جھوٹے"]
Related Senses
H0559 1. say, speak, tell (5297×)G3004 1. say, tell, speak (2226×)H1696 1. speak, say, tell (Piel) (1105×)H7121 1. call, summon, name (575×)H6680 1. command, order, charge (483×)H6030b 1. answer, respond, reply (289×)G2980 1. speak, talk (277×)H5046 1. Hifil: to tell, report (237×)G0611 1. answer or respond verbally (232×)H1288 1. Piel: bless, invoke blessing (227×)H7650 1. swear, take an oath (Niphal) (154×)H3789 1. Qal passive participle: written, recorded (112×)H1984b 1. praise, laud (Piel) (111×)H7592 1. ask, inquire, question (96×)H3034 1. give thanks, praise (Hifil) (94×)G1321 1. teach, instruct actively (92×)H3789 2. Qal active: write, compose (89×)G1125 1. to write, compose (a letter or document) (84×)H5046 2. Hifil: to declare, proclaim (79×)H7892a 1. song, musical composition (78×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ψευδής, ές (the neuter singular ψευδές is not found in early writers, ψεῦδος being used instead, compare ψεῦδος 111; it is found in later Gr., Refs 1st c.AD+; old Attic dialect accusative plural ψευδᾶς Refs: (ψεύδομαι):— lying, false, untrue, of things, opposed to ἀληθής, ψ. λόγοι Refs 8th c.BC+; τρέπεσθαι ἐπὶ ψευδέα ὁδόν to betake oneself to falsehood, Refs 5th c.BC+; ψ. κατηγορία, αἰτίαι, false…