Deuteronomy 19:19

19 then do to the false witness as that witness intended to do to the other party. You must purge the evil from among you.

Deuteronomy 19:19 in Other Translations

KJV
19 Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you.
ESV
19 then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.
NLT
19 you must impose on the accuser the sentence he intended for the other person. In this way, you will purge such evil from among you.
MSG
19 give him the same medicine he intended for the other party. Clean the polluting evil from your company.
CSB
19 you must do to him as he intended to do to his brother. You must purge the evil from you.

Deuteronomy 19:19 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 19:19

Then shall ye do unto him as he had thought to have done unto
his brother
Inflict the same fine or punishment on him he thought to have brought his brother under by his false testimony of him; whether any pecuniary fine, or whipping and scourging, or the loss of a member, or the value of it, or death itself; whether stoning, strangling, burning, or killing with the sword: though, in the case of accusing a priest's daughter of adultery, as Jarchi observes, such were not to be burnt, as would have been her case if proved, but strangled:

so shalt thou put the evil away from among you;
the evil man that bears a false testimony of his brother, or the guilt of sin which would be incurred by conniving at him.

Deuteronomy 19:19 In-Context

17 the two people involved in the dispute must stand in the presence of the LORD before the priests and the judges who are in office at the time.
18 The judges must make a thorough investigation, and if the witness proves to be a liar, giving false testimony against a fellow Israelite,
19 then do to the false witness as that witness intended to do to the other party. You must purge the evil from among you.
20 The rest of the people will hear of this and be afraid, and never again will such an evil thing be done among you.
21 Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

Cross References 1

  • 1. Proverbs 19:5,9; 1 Corinthians 5:13*
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.