Bible Verses About Deceit

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"

"Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight."

"Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."

"He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight."

"He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation."

"For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple."

"Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another."

"Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile."

"A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies."

"But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived."

What does the Bible say about deceit?

Deceit is one of the sins Scripture most strongly condemns. From the serpent's deception in Eden to the warnings of Jesus about false teachers, the Bible reveals that dishonesty corrupts relationships, destroys trust, and opposes God's nature. Key King James Version passages include Jeremiah 17:9, Proverbs 12:22, Colossians 3:9-10. This page collects 10 KJV verses about deceit, each quoted in full.

Why does God hate deceit?

God is truth (John 14:6), and deceit is fundamentally opposed to His nature. Lying destroys trust, harms others, and reflects the character of Satan, whom Jesus called 'the father of lies' (John 8:44).

What is the difference between deceit and lying?

Lying is stating something false. Deceit is broader — it includes any intentional misleading, whether through words, actions, omissions, or half-truths designed to create a false impression.