Deuteronomy 19:17

17 then both parties involved in the quarrel must stand in the Presence of God before the priests and judges who are in office at that time.

Deuteronomy 19:17 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 19:17

Then both the men between whom the controversy is
The man that bears the false witness, and the man against whom it is borne:

shall stand before the Lord;
as in the presence of him, the omniscient God, and as represented by judges and civil magistrates, whose vicegerents they are; so it seems to be explained in the next words, which are exegetical of these:

before the priests and the judges which shall be in those days;
which shall compose the sanhedrim, or court of judicature; and this seems to confirm it, that by priest and judge, in ( Deuteronomy 17:9 Deuteronomy 17:12 ) are meant priests and judges; Jarchi says, this Scripture speaks of witnesses, that is, of the false witness that testifies wrong against a man, and another that contradicts his testimony, and teaches that there is no witness by women; and so it is elsewhere said F1, an oath of witness is made by men, and not by women; on which it is observed F2 that a woman is not fit to bear witness, as it is written,

then both the men
men and not women; and the above writer remarks further, that it teaches that they ought to bear testimony standing.


FOOTNOTES:

F1 Misn. Shebuot, c. 4. sect. 1.
F2 Bartenora in ib.

Deuteronomy 19:17 In-Context

15 You cannot convict anyone of a crime or sin on the word of one witness. You need two or three witnesses to make a case.
16 If a hostile witness stands to accuse someone of a wrong,
17 then both parties involved in the quarrel must stand in the Presence of God before the priests and judges who are in office at that time.
18 The judges must conduct a careful investigation; if the witness turns out to be a false witness and has lied against his fellow Israelite,
19 give him the same medicine he intended for the other party. Clean the polluting evil from your company.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.