Deuteronomy 19:10-20

10 Do this, so that innocent people will not die and so that you will not be guilty of putting them to death in the land that the Lord is giving you.

11 "But suppose you deliberately murder your enemy in cold blood and then escape to one of those cities for protection.

12 In that case, the leaders of your own town are to send for you and hand you over to the relative responsible for taking revenge for the murder, so that you may be put to death.

13 No mercy will be shown to you. Israel must rid itself of murderers, so that all will go well.

14 "Do not move your neighbor's property line, established long ago in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. ¹

15 "One witness is not enough to convict someone of a crime; at least two witnesses are necessary to prove that someone is guilty. ²

16 If any of you try to harm another by false accusations,

17 both of you are to go to the one place of worship and be judged by the priests and judges who are then in office.

18 The judges will investigate the case thoroughly; and if you have made a false accusation,

19 you are to receive the punishment the accused would have received. In this way your nation will get rid of this evil.

20 Then everyone else will hear what happened; they will be afraid, and no one will ever again do such an evil thing.

Deuteronomy 19:10-20 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. 19.14Deuteronomy 27.17.
• 2. 19.15Numbers 35.30;Deuteronomy 17.6;Matthew 18.16;John 8.17;2 Corinthians 13.1;1 Timothy 5.19;Hebrews 10.28.