Deuteronomy 19:15-21

Rules for testimony

15 A solitary witness against someone in any crime, wrongdoing, or in any sort of misdeed that might be done is not sufficient. The decision must stand by two or three witnesses.

16 Now if a spiteful witness comes forward against someone, so as to testify against them falsely,

17 the two persons who have a legal suit must stand before the LORD, before the priests, and before the judges that are in office at that time.

18 The judges will look into the situation very carefully. If it turns out that the witness is a liar—that the witness has given false testimony against his fellow Israelite—

19 then you must do to him what he had planned to do to his fellow Israelite. Remove such evil from your community!

20 The rest of the people will hear about this and be afraid. They won't do that sort of evil thing among you again.

21 Show no mercy on this point: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or burn