Deuteronomy 19:15-21

Laws Concerning Witnesses

15 "A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. 1Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.
16 If 2a malicious witness arises to accuse a person of wrongdoing,
17 then both parties to the dispute shall appear before the LORD, 3before the priests and the judges who are in office in those days.
18 The judges shall 4inquire diligently, and if the witness is a false witness and has accused his brother falsely,
19 5then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother. So you shall purge the evil[a] from your midst.
20 And the rest 6shall hear and fear, and shall never again commit any such evil among you.
21 7Your eye shall not pity. 8It shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

Deuteronomy 19:15-21 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 19

This chapter contains an order to separate three cities of refuge in the land of Canaan, for such that killed a man unawares to flee to, of which those who were guilty of murder purposely were to have no benefit, De 19:1-13, a law is given against removing landmarks, De 19:14, and others concerning witnesses, that they should be more than one; be two, or three, De 19:15, and that a false witness, on conviction, should be punished, De 19:16-21.

Cross References 8

  • 1. Cited Matthew 18:16; 2 Corinthians 13:1; See Numbers 35:30
  • 2. [Exodus 23:1; Psalms 35:11]
  • 3. Deuteronomy 17:8, 9; [Deuteronomy 21:5]
  • 4. Deuteronomy 13:14; Deuteronomy 17:4
  • 5. Proverbs 19:5, 9; [Daniel 6:24]
  • 6. See Deuteronomy 13:11
  • 7. [See ver. 13 above]
  • 8. See Exodus 21:23, 24

Footnotes 1

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.