EasyEnglish Bible 2018
Deuteronomy 19:15
15If only one person says that he has seen someone do something wrong, that is not enough. There must be at least two or three people who saw the sin. Then the judge may say that the person is guilty.
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
13Do not be sorry for him. You must punish murderers with death. Then Israel will not be guilty of evil acts. If you do that, everything will be well for you. 14When you go to live in the land that the Lord your God is giving to you, each family will receive their piece of land. You must never move the stones that show the edge of your neighbour's land. It has always belonged to them. If only one person says that he has seen someone do something wrong, that is not enough. There must be at least two or three people who saw the sin. Then the judge may say that the person is guilty. 16Somebody may accuse another person because he wants to hurt him. He tells lies against him. 17Then both of them must stand in front of the judges that the Lord has chosen. Those are the priests and the judges who have authority 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
Words taken from the KJV.
- Oneאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
- witnessעֵד‛êd · witnessH5707
- shall not rise upקוּםqûm · to arise: establishH6965
- against a manאִישׁ'îysh · man: anyoneH376
- for any iniquityעָוֺן‛âvôn ‛âvôn · iniquity: crimeH5771
- or for any sinחַטָּאתchaţţâ'âh chaţţâ'th · sinH2403
- in any sinחֵטְאchêţ' · sinH2399
- that he sinnethחָטָאchâţâ' · to sinH2398
- at the mouthפֶּהpeh · lip: wordH6310
- of twoשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
- of threeשָׁלֹשׁshâlôsh shâlôsh shelôshâh shelôshâh · threeH7969
- shall the matterדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
Cross-references for Deuteronomy 19:15
- Deuteronomy 17:6But two or three people must agree about what the person has done. You must never kill anyone because of the words of only one person.
- Numbers 35:30Before you kill a murderer, people must agree that they saw him kill someone. But if only one person saw what happened, that is not enough for you to kill him.
- 1 Kings 21:10Put two wicked men in seats near him. Tell them to accuse Naboth that he has insulted God and the king. Then take him out. Throw stones at him until he is dead.’
- Matthew 18:16But maybe he does not want to listen to you. Then take one or two other people with you to speak to him. They will then know what wrong things your friend has done. Remember what the Bible says: “There must be two or three people to say certainly that another person has done something wrong. Two or three people must agree what has happened.”
- Matthew 26:60Many people did come. And they said things against Jesus that were not true. But still the Jewish leaders could not find a reason to kill Jesus. Then two men stood up and they said,
- John 8:17Your own Law says, “There must be two people to agree that something is true.”
- 2 Corinthians 13:1This is the third time that I will be coming to visit you. Remember this: ‘There must be two or three people to say certainly that another person has done something wrong. Two or three people must agree what has happened.’
- 1 Timothy 5:19Somebody may tell you that a leader of the believers has done something wrong. But do not accept that as true, unless two or three people say the same thing.
- Hebrews 10:28In the old agreement, anyone who refused to obey Moses' rules had to die. If two or three people said that he had done a bad thing, that person had to die. They would not forgive him.
- Revelation 11:3I will give authority to my two servants who speak my message clearly. They will tell people my messages for 1,260 days. They will wear rough clothes made from goats' hair.’
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
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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