by Velma aka Shammah

Created on: April 19, 2008

"And the Truth shall set you free." Who on planet earth does not desire to be free? Thus it goes without saying it is indeed, "wiser to always tell the truth."

Let's analyze the question by beginning with a definition of what it means to be wise. There are a number of words from which our English is derived, but for the sake of this article, I will use the definition of the Hebrew word "sakal," a primary root word. Amongst other things it means to be circumspect and hence intelligent. That's just the beginning. We all know that as a whole people admire and have respect for people who operate and carry on both their business and personal lives in an "intelligent" manner. Chalk one up for being wise. It also means that a person who is wise considers, is an expert, instructs, prospers, deals prudently, is skillful, has good success, teaches such that another is capable of understanding, etc. Wow, who wouldn't want to be wise.

Now, let us consider the meaning of the word truth, as a verb. One of the Hebrew words is "emuwnah" and it means to [speak] faithfully, with stability. Our word truth can also be traced to the Greek word "aletheia" and its derivatives. In the Greek it means to be true in doctrine, to speak (tell) the truth; to not conceal; indeed, surely, of a surety. In our English language, when we give a "surety" for something, we are giving a guarantee, a bond if you will; a promise to do, carry out, fulfill some action or activity.

There are many, many references to Truth in Scripture; both in what is referred to as the "Old" and the "New" testaments. We are told by Yahshua himself (John 14:6) that He is the "Way, the Truth and the Life," and that the only way to the Father is through Yahshua. He thus has taken the word truth, which we use only as part of our vocabulary, and given it substance; it is a characteristic, a quality of who He is and He also says in John 4:24 that YHWH is seeking those who will worship Him in "Spirit and in Truth."

For years I wondered why, in the book of the Bible known as Revelation (21:8), we are told that amongst those who shall be cast into the lake of fire are, "all liars." I was puzzled and shook my head in amazement for years, even as I (and I am sure many can relate who have entered upon this Spiritual journey) sought to "manipulate" the Truth, the Word, to fit my particular set of circumstances at any given time; even as I blatantly would say, "Surely some man made a mistake when he translated or wrote this; surely that

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