Deuteronomy 19:17

17 then both the men involved in the controversy are to stand before ADONAI, before the cohanim and the judges in office at the 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.

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FOOTNOTES:

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

Deuteronomy 19:17 In-Context

15 "One witness alone will not be sufficient to convict a person of any offense or sin of any kind; the matter will be established only if there are two or three witnesses testifying against him.

16 "If a malicious witness comes forward and gives false testimony against someone,

17 then both the men involved in the controversy are to stand before ADONAI, before the cohanim and the judges in office at the time.

18 The judges are to investigate carefully. If they find that the witness is lying and has given false testimony against his brother,

19 you are to do to him what he intended to do to his brother. In this way, you will put an end to such wickedness among you.