Deuteronomy 19:18

Deuteronomy 19:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother;
• New International Version (NIV)The judges must make a thorough investigation, and if the witness proves to be a liar, giving false testimony against a fellow Israelite,
• English Standard Version (ESV)The judges shall inquire diligently, and if the witness is a false witness and has accused his brother falsely,
• New King James Version (NKJV)And the judges shall make careful inquiry, and indeed, if the witness is a false witness, who has testified falsely against his brother,

Context of Deuteronomy 19:18

16If an unrighteous witness rise up against any man to testify against him of an offence; 17then both the men between whom the controversy is shall stand before Jehovah, before the priests and the judges that shall be in those days; and the judges shall make thorough inquiry; and if the witness be a false witness, and he have testified falsely against his brother, 19then shall ye do unto him as he had thought to have done unto his brother; and thou shalt put evil away from thy midst. 20And those that remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil in thy midst.

Deuteronomy 19:18 word by word

וְדָרְשׁ֥וּ הַשֹּׁפְטִ֖ים הֵיטֵ֑ב וְהִנֵּ֤ה עֵֽד־שֶׁ֙קֶר֙ הָעֵ֔ד שֶׁ֖קֶר עָנָ֥ה בְאָחִֽיו׃Read the interlinear

• judgesשָׁפַטshâphaţ · to judgeH8199
• makeיָטַבyâţab · be goodH3190
• witnessעֵד‛êd · witnessH5707
• brotherאָח'âch · brother: male-siblingH251

Cross-references for Deuteronomy 19:18

• Deuteronomy 13:14then shalt thou inquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and if it be truth, [and] the thing be certain, that this abomination hath happened in the midst of thee,
• Deuteronomy 17:4and it be told thee, and thou hearest of it; then thou shalt make thorough inquiry, and if it be truth [and] the thing be certain, that this abomination hath been wrought in Israel,
• 2 Chronicles 19:6And he said to the judges, Take heed what ye do; for ye judge not for man, but for Jehovah, who will be with you in the matter of judgment.
• Job 19:16I called my servant, and he answered not; I entreated him with my mouth.

Commentaries on Deuteronomy 19:18

• 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
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 16-2116-21. 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 Ex 21:23; see also Le 24:20).Read the comment

Topics related to Deuteronomy 19:18

• Church
• Diligence
• Evidence
• False Teachers
• Fear of God
• Judge
• Rulers
• Slander

In the dictionaries

• Add
• Landmark
• Remove
• Witness
• Atonement, Day of
• Crime; Crimes
• Criticism
• Diligence; Diligent; Diligently
• Exodus, the Book of
• Gate, East

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