בס”ד
This blog post is a summary of a powerful lesson on the significance of words, as explored in the parshat Matot-Masei. It’s definitely worth watching the full lesson on YouTube for a deeper insight. Here, we share some key ideas and practical lessons on how we can use our speech in daily life to build rather than break.
The Foundation of Civilization: Why Truth Comes First
When tasked with designing a civilization from scratch, what should we prioritize? Some argue for laws and courts, others emphasize defense, education, technology, or infrastructure. Yet, the Torah teaches us that at the core of any lasting civilization is not power or policy—but trust.
If we cannot trust the courts, laws become meaningless. If speech is not trustworthy, relationships crumble. Without trust in leadership, nations falter. Truth is not a luxury; it is the infrastructure of human life.
Truth at the Heart of the Torah
In Parashat Nasso, the Torah puts this idea front and center. The verse says:
“When a man makes a vow to Hashem, or swears an oath to bind his soul with some kind of bond, he must not violate his word; anything that comes out of his mouth he has to do.”
— Numbers 30:3 (Nasso)
This law is not only about religious vows, although a complex legal system concerning vows and oaths (Nedarim) develops from it in the Mishnah and Gemara. For Noahides, the exact halachic details do not always apply, but the principle is universal: the moral weight of speech is fundamental.
The Divine Attribute of Truth
Truth is so central to the Torah that it is described as an attribute of G-d Himself. Jeremiah states:
“The L-rd is the true G-d; He is the living G-d and the everlasting King.”
— Jeremiah 10:10 (יִהְיֶה יְהוָה הָאֱלֹהִים הָאֱמֶת הוּא הָאֵל הַחַי וְהַמָּלֵךְ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד)
Similarly, Deuteronomy 32:4 describes G-d as:
“The Rock, His work is perfect, for all His ways are justice; a G-d of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is He.”
— Deuteronomy 32:4 (צוּר פָּעָלְךָ תָמִים כִּי כָל-דְּרָכָיו מִשְׁפָּט אֵל אֱמוּנָה וְלֹא עָוֶל צַדִּיק ויָשָׁר הוּא)
In the Talmud, we learn:
“The seal of the Holy One, blessed be He, is truth.”
— Shabbat 55a (סימן של קדוש ברוך הוא אמת)
A seal signifies authenticity, a mark of guarantee and trustworthiness. In ancient times, kings sealed documents to verify their origin. The Talmud teaches that truth is the divine seal, the mark of G-d’s presence.
The Stability of Truth vs. the Fragility of Falsehood
There is a fascinating linguistic insight regarding the Hebrew words for truth (אמת, emet) and falsehood (שקר, sheker). The word sheker (falsehood) consists of three letters: shin (ש), kof (ק), and resh (ר). Its middle letter, kof, has a single leg, making it unstable—like something that cannot stand steadily.
In contrast, the word emet (truth) has three letters: aleph (א), mem (מ), and tav (ת). Each letter has two “legs” or bases, symbolizing stability and strength. This metaphor underscores how truth provides a firm foundation, while falsehood is inherently unstable.
Truth in Our Modern Era
In today’s world of social media, deepfakes, AI-generated misinformation, and clickbait, verifying truth has become more urgent than ever. Consider the case of Jim Rohn, a motivational speaker who passed away in 2009—yet recently, AI-generated speeches using his voice have circulated online. This phenomenon shows that even photographs and voices can no longer be fully trusted as evidence of truth.
In this environment, the only reliable truth may be the face-to-face interaction with another human being—and the teachings of the Torah.
The Consequences of Lost Trust
When people stop trusting the media, conspiracy theories flourish. When businesses lie, markets collapse. When personal relationships are marked by betrayal, they die. Without truth, society becomes a theater of manipulation.
The Torah goes beyond simply forbidding lying; it commands:
“Distance yourself from falsehood.”
— Exodus 23:7 (רחק תרחיק מעשה שקר)
The Torah instructs us not just to avoid lying but to actively detest falsehood. Truth is a vital, non-negotiable value.
Truth, Peace, and Life: Balancing Values
At times, peace (shalom) may override strict truth. For example, when angels tell Abraham that Sarah will have a child, Abraham laughs. Sarah doubts this. G-d says to Abraham:
“Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ Was it not as if she had said it about herself?”
— Genesis 18:13-15 (implying G-d altered the truth to maintain peace)
Preserving peace is so vital that G-d Himself modulated truth to prevent hurt feelings.
Similarly, preserving life supersedes truth. Jewish law requires sacrificing life rather than committing certain sins, but Noahides must preserve life at all costs. In situations where telling the whole truth endangers life (e.g., under tyrannical regimes), preservation of life takes precedence.
Truth Saturates the Seven Noahide Laws
While the prohibition against falsehood is not explicitly one of the seven Noahide laws, truth is embedded within them:
- Prohibition of murder: Requires truthful identification of guilt.
- Prohibition of theft: Demands honest commerce and contracts.
- Prohibition of idolatry: Involves turning to the One True God, opposing falsehood.
- Prohibition of sexual immorality: Relies on truthful commitments within family life.
- Prohibition of cruelty (e.g., eating the limb of a live animal): Requires sincere compassion.
Truth permeates all ethical and legal commandments.
Living Truthfully as Service to G-d
Rabbi Dessler (in Michtav Me’Eliyahu) teaches that truth means acting in alignment with the Creator’s will. Falsehood arises from personal ego and desire, distorting reality.
To live truthfully means:
- Speaking honestly, even when difficult.
- Conducting business fairly, without deception.
- Standing for moral clarity, even when unpopular.
- Rejecting cultural distortions.
- Living with integrity, where one’s private and public selves align (tocho k’baro).
Rabbeinu Yonah writes in Sha’ar HaTeshuvah that truth is one of the great foundations of divine service and moral life.
Truth: The Axis of Civilization
The Mishnah teaches:
“The world stands on three things: justice, truth, and peace.”
— Pirkei Avot 1:18 (עולם עומד על שלושה דברים: על הדין ועל האמת ועל השלום)
Without truth, justice and peace collapse. This is why the Torah calls truth “the seal of the Holy One, blessed be He” (Shabbat 55a).
Conclusion: Choose Truth, Always
In our fractured world—where fake news, cancel culture, and manipulative language abound—truth remains our most precious and essential value. Without it, nothing else can stand.
May we all be blessed to walk in the path of truth, embodying honesty, integrity, and trustworthiness.
By Rabbi Tani Burton
More shiurim of Rabbi Tani Burton
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