Deuteronomy 19:15-21

The Testimony of Two or Three Witnesses

15 A lone witness is not sufficient to establish any wrongdoing or sin against a man, regardless of what offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. ^{[a] 1}

16 If a false witness testifies against someone, accusing him of a crime,

17 both parties to the dispute must stand in the presence of the LORD, before the priests and judges who are in office at that time.

18 The judges shall investigate thoroughly, and if the witness is proven to be a liar who has falsely accused his brother,

19 you must do to him as he intended to do to his brother. So you must purge the evil from among you. ^[b]

20 Then the rest of the people will hear and be afraid, and they will never again do anything so evil among you.

21 You must show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, ^[c] hand for hand, and 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

• 1. (Matthew 18:15–20)

Footnotes

• [a] Cited in Matthew 18:16 and 2 Corinthians 13:1
• [b] Cited in 1 Corinthians 5:13
• [c] Cited in Matthew 5:38