God’s Word Translation
Deuteronomy 19:17
17The two people involved must stand in the Lord’s presence, in front of the priests and judges who are serving at that time.
Deuteronomy 19:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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;
- New International Version (NIV)the two people involved in the dispute must stand in the presence of the Lord before the priests and the judges who are in office at the time.
- English Standard Version (ESV)then both parties to the dispute shall appear before the Lord, before the priests and the judges who are in office in those days.
- New King James Version (NKJV)then both men in the controversy shall stand before the Lord, before the priests and the judges who serve in those days.
Context of Deuteronomy 19:17
15One witness is never enough to convict someone of a crime, offense, or sin he may have committed. Cases must be settled based on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 16This is what you must do whenever a witness takes the stand to accuse a person falsely of a crime. The two people involved must stand in the Lord’s presence, in front of the priests and judges who are serving at that time. 18The judges must make a thorough investigation. If it is found that the witness lied when he testified against the other Israelite, 19then do to him what he planned to do to the other person. You must get rid of this evil.
Read all of Deuteronomy 19Deuteronomy 19:17 word by word
וְעָמְד֧וּ שְׁנֵֽי־הָאֲנָשִׁ֛ים אֲשֶׁר־לָהֶ֥ם הָרִ֖יב לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה לִפְנֵ֤י הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ וְהַשֹּׁ֣פְטִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִהְי֖וּ בַּיָּמִ֥ים הָהֵֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Then bothשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
- the menאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
- between whom the controversyרִיבrîyb rib · strifeH7379
- shall standעָמַד‛âmad · to stand: standH5975
- beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
- the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- the priestsכֹּהֵןkôhên · priestH3548
- and the judgesשָׁפַטshâphaţ · to judgeH8199
- which shall be in those daysיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
Cross-references for Deuteronomy 19:17
- Deuteronomy 17:9Go to the Levitical priests and the judge who is serving at that time. Ask for their opinion, and they will give you their verdict
- Deuteronomy 21:5The priests, the descendants of Levi, must come forward. The Lord your God has chosen them to serve him as priests and to bless people in the Lord’s name. Their decision is final in all cases involving a disagreement or an assault.
- Malachi 2:7“A priest’s lips should preserve knowledge. Then, because he is the messenger for the Lord of Armies, people will seek instruction from his mouth.
- Matthew 23:2“The experts in Moses’ Teachings and the Pharisees teach with Moses’ authority.
Commentaries on Deuteronomy 19:17
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17Both the men, between whom the controversy is - Not the accused and the false witness, but the plaintiff and defendant (compare Exodus 23:1) who were summoned before the supreme court held, as provided in Deuteronomy 17, at the sanctuary. The judges acted as God‘s representative; to lie to them was to lie to Him.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
- 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 19:17
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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