The term "false witness' could be construed to mean many things depending on your point of view. I feel it means telling any lie for any reason.
Let's consider the actual ninth commandment as presented in Deuteronomy 5:20 (KJV)
"Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour"
How would telling your wife you liked her dress be any kind of witness
against your wife? I think it is pretty clear that the literal meaning of the commandment is not about general lying.
False witnessing might include non-judicial settings, but I don't see the commandment applying to general lying if taken literally. Not that lying is a good thing just because there is not a commandment against it. None of the 10 commandments address aggravated assault, spewing ethnic slurs, or not paying child support.
Here are a few other translations, some of which I think make my point.
New International Version
"You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
New Living Translation
"You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.
English Standard Version
And you shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
New American Standard Bible
'You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
GOD'S WORD Translation (1995)
"Never avoid the truth when you testify about your neighbor.
American King James Version
Neither shall you bear false witness against your neighbor.
American Standard Version
Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbor.
Bible in Basic English
Do not give false witness against your neighbour;
Douay-Rheims Bible
Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour.
Darby Bible Translation
Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour.
English Revised Version
Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour.
Webster's Bible Translation
Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbor.
World English Bible
"Neither shall you give false testimony against your neighbor.
Young's Literal Translation
'Thou dost not answer against thy neighbour -- a false testimony.
Geneva Study Bible
Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbor.
I think the key thing is that the lie must hurt your neighbor. The commandment surely did not require telling the German's that the Frank family is hiding in your house even if they asked.
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AdminPD
Edited by AdminPD, : Warning