Deuteronomy 19:13-21

13 Don't feel sorry for him. Clean out the pollution of wrongful murder from Israel so that you'll be able to live well and breathe clean air.

14 Don't move your neighbor's boundary markers, the longstanding landmarks set up by your pioneer ancestors defining their property.

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.

20 People will hear of what you've done and be impressed; that will put a stop to this kind of evil among you.

21 Don't feel sorry for the person: It's life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

Deuteronomy 19:13-21 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.