If an unrighteous witness rises up against any man to testify against him of wrongdoing, then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before Yahweh, before the priests and the judges who shall be in those days; and the judges shall make diligent inquisition; and behold, if the witness is a false witness, and has testified falsely against his brother, then you shall do to him as he had thought to do to his brother. So you shall remove the evil from among you. Those who remain shall hear, and fear, and will never again commit any such evil among you. Your eyes shall not pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
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Deuteronomy 19:16-21 sits inside this longer paragraph.
One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin that he sins. At the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall a matter be established. If an unrighteous witness rises up against any man to testify against him of wrongdoing, then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before Yahweh, before the priests and the judges who shall be in those days; and the judges shall make diligent inquisition; and behold, if the witness is a false witness, and has testified falsely against his brother, then you shall do to him as he had thought to do to his brother. So you shall remove the evil from among you. Those who remain shall hear, and fear, and will never again commit any such evil among you. Your eyes shall not pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
Parallel Translations
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If an unrighteous witness rises up against any man to testify against him of wrongdoing,
then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before Yahweh, before the priests and the judges who shall be in those days;
and the judges shall make diligent inquisition; and behold, if the witness is a false witness, and has testified falsely against his brother,
then you shall do to him as he had thought to do to his brother. So you shall remove the evil from among you.
Those who remain shall hear, and fear, and will never again commit any such evil among you.
Your eyes shall not pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
-
If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong;
Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days;
And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother;
Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you.
And those which remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil among you.
And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
Show all 3 translations
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If an unrighteous witness rise up against any man to bear perverted witness against him;
then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges that shall be in those days.
And the judges shall inquire diligently; and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother;
then shall ye do unto him, as he had purposed to do unto his brother; so shalt thou put away the evil from the midst of thee.
And those that remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil in the midst of thee.
And thine eye shall not pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
Examined in Scripture Analysis
Commandments (1)
The laws of the Torah, each cited and shown as a primary source.
Cross-references (35)
- Matthew 5:38-39 (v21) “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you, don’t resist him who is evil; but whoever…
- Deuteronomy 17:9 (v17) You shall come to the priests who are Levites and to the judge who shall be in those days. You shall inquire, and they shall give you the…
- Deuteronomy 21:5 (v17) The priests the sons of Levi shall come near, for them Yahweh your God has chosen to minister to him, and to bless in Yahweh’s name; and…
- Exodus 21:23-25 (v21) But if any harm follows, then you must take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burning for burning,…
- Proverbs 19:5 (v19) A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free.
Show all 34 cross-references
- Deuteronomy 19:13 (v21) Your eye shall not pity him, but you shall purge the innocent blood from Israel that it may go well with you.
- Psalms 27:12 (v16) Don’t deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen up against me, such as breathe out cruelty.
- Proverbs 19:9 (v19) A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who utters lies shall perish.
- Malachi 2:7 (v17) For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of Yahweh of Armies.
- Deuteronomy 17:13 (v20) All the people shall hear and fear, and do no more presumptuously.
- Deuteronomy 21:21 (v20) All the men of his city shall stone him to death with stones. So you shall remove the evil from among you. All Israel shall hear, and fear.
- Psalms 35:11 (v16) Unrighteous witnesses rise up. They ask me about things that I don’t know about.
- Deuteronomy 17:7 (vv19–20) The hands of the witnesses shall be first on him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So you shall remove the…
- Exodus 23:1-7 (v16) “You shall not spread a false report. Don’t join your hand with the wicked to be a malicious witness. “You shall not follow a crowd to do…
- Leviticus 24:17-21 (v21) “ ‘He who strikes any man mortally shall surely be put to death. He who strikes an animal mortally shall make it good, life for life. If…
- Deuteronomy 13:11 (v20) All Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall not do any more wickedness like this among you.
- Deuteronomy 13:14 (v18) then you shall inquire, investigate, and ask diligently. Behold, if it is true, and the thing certain, that such abomination was done among…
- Deuteronomy 17:4 (v18) and you are told, and you have heard of it, then you shall inquire diligently. Behold, if it is true, and the thing certain, that such…
- Deuteronomy 22:24 (v19) then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city, and you shall stone them to death with stones; the lady, because she didn’t…
- Daniel 6:24 (v19) The king commanded, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and…
- Deuteronomy 13:5 (v19) That prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death, because he has spoken rebellion against Yahweh your God, who brought you…
- Deuteronomy 19:20 (v19) Those who remain shall hear, and fear, and will never again commit any such evil among you.
- Deuteronomy 21:20-21 (v19) They shall tell the elders of his city, “This our son is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey our voice. He is a glutton and a…
- Deuteronomy 22:21 (v19) then they shall bring out the young lady to the door of her father’s house, and the men of her city shall stone her to death with stones,…
- Deuteronomy 24:7 (v19) If a man is found stealing any of his brothers of the children of Israel, and he deals with him as a slave, or sells him, then that thief…
- 1 Kings 21:10-13 (v16) Set two men, wicked fellows, before him, and let them testify against him, saying, ‘You cursed God and the king!’ Then carry him out, and…
- 2 Chronicles 19:6-7 (v18) and said to the judges, “Consider what you do, for you don’t judge for man, but for Yahweh; and he is with you in the judgment. Now…
- Job 19:16 (v18) I call to my servant, and he gives me no answer. I beg him with my mouth.
- Proverbs 21:11 (v20) When the mocker is punished, the simple gains wisdom. When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
- Jeremiah 14:15 (v19) Therefore Yahweh says concerning the prophets who prophesy in my name, but I didn’t send them, yet they say, ‘Sword and famine will not be…
- Mark 14:55-59 (v16) Now the chief priests and the whole council sought witnesses against Jesus to put him to death, and found none. For many gave false…
- Acts 6:13 (v16) and set up false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the law.
- Romans 13:3-4 (v20) For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Do you desire to have no fear of the authority? Do that which is good, and…
- 1 Timothy 5:20 (v20) Those who sin, reprove in the sight of all, that the rest also may be in fear.
34 distinct cross-references across this passage (35 total citations).
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (15 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
Private notes
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On v17 God’s presence is where his true ministers are assembled.
God’s presence is where his true ministers are assembled.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv20–21 Deu 19:20 And those which remain shall hear, and…
Deu 19:20 And those which remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil among you.
Ver. 20. Shall hear and fear.] Others’ woes should be our warnings, others’ sufferings our sermons, yea, standing sermons. {1Co 10:5-12} God’s house of correction is the school of instruction.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv16, 17, 20, 21 A single witness, though he speak truth, is not…
A single witness, though he speak truth, is not to be accepted for the condemnation of another man; but if he be convicted of false witness, this is sufficient for his own condemnation.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv16–19 Then both the men between whom the controversy is,....…
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:
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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 Deu 17:9 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 (a), an oath of witness is made by men, and not by women; on which it is observed (b) 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.
(a) Misn. Shebuot, c. 4. sect. 1. (b) Bartenora in ib.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv16, 21 A safe witness - A single witness, though he…
A safe witness - A single witness, though he speak truth, is not to be accepted for the condemnation of another man, but if he be convicted of false witness, this is sufficient for his own condemnation.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv19, 21 Verse 19. Then shall ye do unto him as…
Verse 19. Then shall ye do unto him as he had thought to have done unto his brother] Nothing can be more equitable or proper than this, that if a man endeavour to do any injury to or take away the life of another, on detection he shall be caused to undergo the same evil which he intended for his innocent neighbour.
Some of our excellent English laws have been made on this very ground. In the 37th of Edw. III., chap. 18, it is ordained that all those who make suggestion shall incur the same pain which the other should have had, if he were attainted, in case his suggestions be found evil. A similar law was made in the 38th of the same reign, chap. 9. By a law of the twelve Tables, a false witness was thrown down the Tarpeian rock. In short, false witnesses have been execrated by all nations.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On v21 Deu 19:21. An eye for an eye — What…
Deu 19:21. An eye for an eye — What punishment the law allotted to the accused, if he had been convicted, the same was the false accuser to bear.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv16, 17, 19 Testify against him that which is wrong - Margin,…
Testify against him that which is wrong - Margin, more literally, “a falling away.” The word is used Deu 13:5 to signify apostasy or revolt; here it is no doubt to be understood in the wider sense of any departure from the Law.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv16, 17, 20, 21 Transgression against the law, by apostacy or by idolatry,…
Transgression against the law, by apostacy or by idolatry, (Junius) or by any other grievous crime. The person accused might, in this case, be examined, but he could not be condemned unless another witness appeared. Demosthenes (contra Aristocrat.) informs us how (Calmet) the Athenians (Haydock) required the witness in criminal matters, to swear on the flesh of a wild boar, ram, and bull, that he spoke the truth, and to utter horrible imprecations against himself and family, if he did otherwise. (Calmet)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On v16 PUNISHMENT OF A FALSE WITNESS. (Deu 19:16-21)
PUNISHMENT OF A FALSE WITNESS. (Deu 19:16-21)
But if convicted of perjury, it will be sufficient for his own condemnation, and his punishment shall be exactly the same as would have overtaken the object of his malignant prosecution. (See on Exo 21:23; see also Lev 24:20).
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Next: Deuteronomy Chapter 20
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv16, 17, 19, 21 16. A false witness — The general treatment of…
16. A false witness — The general treatment of the subject of bearing false witness is found in the earlier legislation. See Exodus xxiii, 1-3; Lev_19:15-18. But no penalties are assigned to particular cases. Here Moses allows the lex talionis — the law of retaliation — to be applied to those who through malice endeavour to wrong the innocent.
To testify… that which is wrong — The Hebrew word which is here rendered wrong is sometimes used with the significance of apostasy. It is here used in a more extended sense for any violation of law. We might translate the expression to testify against his departure — that is, from the law of Jehovah.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv16–21 16. But if] So Sam. LXX.
16. But if] So Sam. LXX.
unrighteous witness] Heb. witness of violence. So E, Exo_23:1, and Psa_35:11, apparently one who forces his evidence, does violence to the truth or intends violence to his neighbour. Driver renders malicious, ‘meditates some covert violence himself or assists by false testimony the high-handed wrong doer.’ Marti ‘with whom might goes before right.’ In any case the description is proleptic, his character is not decided till he is taken before the judges.
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rise up] See on previous v. In this simpler sense in other Sg. passages; see on Deu_13:1.
to testify against him] Same vb as in Deu_5:20 (17).
wrong doing] Heb. sarah same as rebellion, Deu_13:5 (6) R.V. (cp. Deu_17:17), but while there it means apostacy from Jehovah here it is wider, any delinquency or defection from the law.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv16, 17, 19, 20, 21 To testify against him that which is wrong; literally,…
To testify against him that which is wrong; literally, to testify against him defection, i.e. from the Law of God. The speaker has apparently in view here all such defections from the Law as would entail punishment on the convicted offender in Deu_13:5, indeed, the crime described here as "that which is wrong" (margin, "falling away") is specially the crime of apostasy to idolatry; but the word (hrs), though usually expressing apostasy from Jehovah, has properly the general sense of a deflection from a prescribed course (from rWs, to go off, to go aside), and so may describe any departure from what is constituted right.
Vers. 16-21. False witness.
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God"s brand is here placed upon the crime of false witness. It was to be severely punished. Every one is interested in the suppression of such a crime-the parties whose interests are involved, society at large, the Church, the magistracy, God himself, of one of whose commandments (the ninth) it is the daring violation. The rules here apply primarily to false witness given in courts of justice, but the principles involved may be extended to all forms of the sin.
I FALSE WITNESS IS IN GOD"S SIGHT A GREAT EVIL.
1. It indicates great malevolence.
2. It is grievously unjust and injurious to the person wrongfully accused.
3. It is certain to be taken up and industriously propagated.
A calumny is never wholly wiped out. There are always found some evil-speaking persons disposed to believe and repeat it. It affixes a mark on the injured party which remains on him through life.
II FALSE WITNESS ASSUMES MANY FORMS. It is not confined to law courts, but pervades private life, and appears in the way in which partisans deal with public men and public events. Persons of a malicious and envious disposition, given to detraction, can scarcely avoid it indeed, live in the element of it. Forms of this vice:
1. Deliberate invention and circulation of falsehoods.
2. Innuendo, or suggestio falsi.
3. Suppression of essential circumstancessuppressio veri.
4. The distortion or deceitful coloring of actual facts.
A lie is never so successful as when it can attach itself to a grain of truth
A lie that is all a lie may be met and fought with outright; But a lie that is part of a truth is a harder matter to fight.
III THE FALSE WITNESS BORNE BY ONE AGAINST ANOTHER WILL BE EXPOSED AT GOD"S JUDGMENT SEAT. The two parties he who was accused of bearing false witness and he who alleged himselfto be injured by it were required to appear before the Lord, and to submit their cause to the priests and judges, who acted as his deputies (ver. 17). It was their part to make diligent inquisition, and, if the crime was proved, to award punishment (vers. 18, 19). The punishment was to be on the principle of the lex talionis (vers. 19-21). So, at Christ"s judgment seat, the person who has long lain under an undeserved stigma through the false witness of another may depend on being cleared from wrong, and the wrong-doer will be punished. (Col_3:25) Meanwhile, it is the duty of every one to see to the punishment of this crime, not only in cases of actual perjury, But in every form of it, and not only by legal penalties, but which is the only means that can reach every case by the emphatic reprobation of society, and, where that is possible, by Church censures. J.O.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv17, 20 General Information:
General Information:
Moses continues to speak to the people of Israel.
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the ones between whom the controversy exists
"the ones who disagree with one another"
must stand before Yahweh, before the priests and the judges
This means the two persons must go to the sanctuary where Yahweh's presence dwells. At the sanctuary are priests and judges who have the authority to make legal decisions for Yahweh. (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
stand before Yahweh, before the priests and the judges
The phrase "stand before" is an idiom. It means to go to someone with authority and let him make a legal decision about a matter. (See: Idiom)
The judges must make diligent inquiries
"The judges must work very hard to determine what happened"
then must you do to him, as he had wished to do to his brother
"then you must punish the false witness in the same way as he wanted you to punish the other man"
you will remove the evil from among you
The nominal adjective "the evil" can be stated as an adjective. AT: "you will remove the evil practice from among you" (See: Nominal Adjectives)
translationWords
priest
judge
servant
day
inquire
testimony
corrupt witness
testimony
brother
evil
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v21 19:21 The legal principle described as life for life…
19:21 The legal principle described as life for life is known as lex talionis (“law of retaliation”), according to which the punishment must fit the crime (see Exod 21:23; Lev 24:20); it should be neither too lenient nor too severe. Appropriate punishment is a necessary function of government (cp. Rom 13:1-7), and it served to maintain Israel’s spiritual integrity as God’s people (see study note on Deut 17:7). But vengeance belongs to God, not individuals (see 1 Sam 25:26, 33; Matt 5:38-39; 1 Cor 6:1-8).
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.