Deuteronomy 17:7

7 The hands of the witnesses must be the first in putting that person to death, and then the hands of all the people. You must purge the evil from among you.

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Deuteronomy 17:7 in Other Translations

KJV

7 The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put the evil away from among you.

ESV

7 The hand of the witnesses shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.

NLT

7 The witnesses must throw the first stones, and then all the people may join in. In this way, you will purge the evil from among you.

MSG

7 The witnesses must throw the first stones in the execution, then the rest of the community joins in. You have to purge the evil from your community.

CSB

7 The witnesses' hands are to be the first in putting him to death, and after that, the hands of all the people. You must purge the evil from you.

Deuteronomy 17:7 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 17:7

The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him
to death
Of everyone of them, as Aben Ezra; they were to cast the first stone at him, which would be a further trial and confirmation of their testimony; for if they readily and without reluctance first began the stoning of the idolater, it would not only show their zeal for the honour of the divine Being, but an unconsciousness of guilt in their testimony, and be an encouragement to others to proceed with safety:

and afterwards the hands of all the people;
should be employed in taking up stones, and casting at him until he was dead:

so thou shall put the evil away from among you;
both the evil man and the evil committed by him, which by this means would be prevented from spreading, seeing by his death others would be deterred from following his example; as well as the evil of punishment, which otherwise would have come upon the nation, had they connived at so gross an iniquity.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Deuteronomy 17:7 In-Context

5 take the man or woman who has done this evil deed to your city gate and stone that person to death.

6 On the testimony of two or three witnesses a person is to be put to death, but no one is to be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.

7 The hands of the witnesses must be the first in putting that person to death, and then the hands of all the people. You must purge the evil from among you.

8 If cases come before your courts that are too difficult for you to judge—whether bloodshed, lawsuits or assaults—take them to the place the LORD your God will choose.

9 Go to the Levitical priests and to the judge who is in office at that time. Inquire of them and they will give you the verdict.

Cross References 3

1. John 8:7
2. S Leviticus 24:14; Acts 7:58
3. S Deuteronomy 13:5; 1 Corinthians 5:13*; Deuteronomy 13:5,9