Deuteronomy 19:9-19

9 because you carefully follow all these laws I command you today—to love the LORD your God and to walk always in obedience to him—then you are to set aside three more cities.
10 Do this so that innocent blood will not be shed in your land, which the LORD your God is giving you as your inheritance, and so that you will not be guilty of bloodshed.
11 But if out of hate someone lies in wait, assaults and kills a neighbor, and then flees to one of these cities,
12 the killer shall be sent for by the town elders, be brought back from the city, and be handed over to the avenger of blood to die.
13 Show no pity. You must purge from Israel the guilt of shedding innocent blood, so that it may go well with you.
14 Do not move your neighbor’s boundary stone set up by your predecessors in the inheritance you receive in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess.

Witnesses

15 One witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offense they may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.
16 If a malicious witness takes the stand to accuse someone of a crime,
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.

Deuteronomy 19:9-19 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 12

  • 1. Deuteronomy 6:5; Joshua 20:7-8
  • 2. Proverbs 6:17; Jeremiah 7:6; Jeremiah 26:15
  • 3. Numbers 35:33; Deuteronomy 21:1-9
  • 4. S Exodus 21:12; 1 John 3:15; Numbers 35:16
  • 5. Deuteronomy 7:2
  • 6. Deuteronomy 21:9; 1 Kings 2:31
  • 7. Deuteronomy 27:17; Job 24:2; Psalms 16:6; Proverbs 15:25; Proverbs 22:28; Proverbs 23:10; Isaiah 1:23; Hosea 5:10
  • 8. Numbers 35:30; S Deuteronomy 17:6; S Matthew 18:16*; Matthew 26:60; John 8:17; 2 Corinthians 13:1*; 1 Timothy 5:19; Hebrews 10:28
  • 9. Exodus 23:1; Psalms 27:12; Proverbs 6:19
  • 10. S Exodus 21:6; Deuteronomy 17:9
  • 11. S Exodus 23:7
  • 12. 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.