There are various interpretations of John 8:32, but I prefer the translation by David Griffiths: ‘And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free’ (The New Testament of Jesus Christ, London, 1855).
In versions translated from Greek (The British and Foreign Bible Society, 1951; Norwegian Bible Society, 1951), it reads: ‘And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free from slavery’ (John 8:32). However, the original Greek text does not explicitly use the word ‘slave,’ but rather leans closer to the concept of ‘setting free.’
Therefore, the most accurate interpretation is: ‘And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free (from error).’ Or, even more simply: ‘And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.’
Our ancestors used to say: ‘Better to meet a sorcerer than a liar.’ They also noted that ‘a lie is the root of sorcery.’ Many Malagasy proverbs criticize lying, such as: ‘A lie may seem plump when hidden, but it is thin when confronted,’ or ‘A lie is like gathering water in a basket; if it is full, it spills.’
On the other hand, ‘the truth is flat’ (meaning it is plain and stable). Truth becomes harder to find when obscured by false accusations and lies. When witnesses lie and slander, they face punishment. For instance, Article 148 of the Penal Code issued on March 29, 1881, stated: ‘If anyone writes or publishes in a newspaper defamatory remarks about someone regarding things they did not do, they shall be fined 10 oxen and 10 ariary.’
As the saying goes, ‘The rope is thrown to the horns of the ox, and words are kept in the hearts of those who know.’
Captured & Published at: 2026-07-25 06:24:18 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/07/ny-marina-haha-afaka.html