Berean Standard Bible
Deuteronomy 19:15
15A lone witness is not sufficient to establish any wrongdoing or sin against a man, regardless of what offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.1
Deuteronomy 19:15 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.
- New International Version (NIV)One witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offense they may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.
- English Standard Version (ESV)"A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established.
Context of Deuteronomy 19:15
13You must show him no pity. You are to purge from Israel the guilt of shedding innocent blood, that it may go well with you. 14You must not move your neighbor’s boundary marker, which was set up by your ancestors to mark the inheritance you shall receive in the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess. A lone witness is not sufficient to establish any wrongdoing or sin against a man, regardless of what offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. 16If a false witness testifies against someone, accusing him of a crime, 17both parties to the dispute must stand in the presence of the LORD, before the priests and judges who are in office at that time.
Read all of Deuteronomy 19Deuteronomy 19:15 word by word
לֹֽא־יָקוּם֩ עֵ֨ד אֶחָ֜ד בְּאִ֗ישׁ לְכָל־עָוֹן֙ וּלְכָל־חַטָּ֔את בְּכָל־חֵ֖טְא אֲשֶׁ֣ר יֶֽחֱטָ֑א עַל־פִּ֣י׀ שְׁנֵ֣י עֵדִ֗ים א֛וֹ עַל־פִּ֥י שְׁלֹשָֽׁה־עֵדִ֖ים יָק֥וּם דָּבָֽר׃Read the interlinear
- A loneאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
- witnessעֵד‛êd · witnessH5707
- is not sufficientלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
- to establishקוּםqûm · to arise: establishH6965
- anyכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
- wrongdoingעָוֺן‛âvôn ‛âvôn · iniquity: crimeH5771
- sinחַטָּאתchaţţâ'âh chaţţâ'th · sinH2403
- against a manאִישׁ'îysh · man: anyoneH376
- offenseחֵטְאchêţ' · sinH2399
- ·אֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
- he may have committedחָטָאchâţâ' · to sinH2398
- A matterדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
- byעַל‛al · uponH5921
- the testimonyפֶּהpeh · lip: wordH6310
- of twoשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
- orאוֹ'ô 'av · orH176
- threeשָׁלֹשׁshâlôsh shâlôsh shelôshâh shelôshâh · threeH7969
Cross-references for Deuteronomy 19:15
- Deuteronomy 17:6On the testimony of two or three witnesses a man shall be put to death, but he shall not be executed on the testimony of a lone witness.
- Numbers 35:30If anyone kills a person, the murderer is to be put to death on the testimony of the witnesses. But no one is to be put to death based on the testimony of a lone witness.
- 1 Kings 21:10But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them testify, ‘You have cursed both God and the king!’ Then take him out and stone him to death.”
- Matthew 18:16But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’
- Matthew 26:60But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward
- John 8:17Even in your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid.
- 2 Corinthians 13:1This is the third time I am coming to you. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”
- 1 Timothy 5:19Do not entertain an accusation against an elder, except on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
- Hebrews 10:28Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
- Revelation 11:3And I will empower my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”
Commentaries on Deuteronomy 19:15
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15One witness shall not rise up, etc. - See Numbers 35:30; (note).Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-21Verses 15-21 Sentence should never be passed upon the testimony of one witness alone. A false witness should suffer the same punishment which he sought to have inflicted upon the person he accused. Nor could any law be more just. Let all Christians not only be cautious in bearing witness in public, but be careful not to join in private slanders; and let all whose consciences accuse them of crime, without delay flee for refuge to the hope set before them…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15The testimony of one witness had no more authority than the word of the accused. But two or three witnesses could confirm or challenge each other's statements. For New Testament references to this law, see Matthew 18:15–20; John 8:17–18; 2 Corinthians 13:1–2 and study note.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1515. One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity--The following rules to regulate the admission of testimony in public courts are founded on the principles of natural justice. A single witness shall not be admitted to the condemnation of an accused person.Read the comment
Topics related to Deuteronomy 19:15
In the dictionaries
Notes
- 1. Deuteronomy 19:15 Cited in Matthew 18:16 and 2 Corinthians 13:1 ↩
Commentaries on Deuteronomy 19
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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