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 a malicious witness rises up against a person to testify against him of wrongdoing, 17then both people who have the dispute shall stand before the Lord, before the priests and the judges who will be in office in those days. And the judges shall investigate thoroughly, and if the witness is a false witness and he has testified against his brother falsely, 19then you shall do to him just as he had planned to do to his brother. So you shall eliminate the evil from among you. 20And the rest of the people will hear and be afraid, and will never again do such an evil thing among you.

Deuteronomy 19:18 word by word

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

• And the judgesשָׁפַטshâphaţ · to judgeH8199
• shall investigateדָּרַשׁdârash · to seekH1875
• thoroughlyיָטַבyâţab · be goodH3190
• and ifהִנֵּהhinnêh · beholdH2009
• the witnessעֵד‛êd · witnessH5707
• is a falseשֶׁ֫קֶרsheqer · deceptionH8267
• he has testifiedעָנָה‛ânâh · to answerH6030
• against his brotherאָח'âch · brother: compatriotH251

Cross-references for Deuteronomy 19:18

• Deuteronomy 13:14then you shall investigate, search out, and inquire thoroughly. And if it is true and the matter is certain that this abomination has been committed among you,
• Deuteronomy 17:4and if it is reported to you and you have heard about it, then you shall investigate thoroughly. And if it is true and the report is trustworthy that this detestable thing has been done in Israel,
• 2 Chronicles 19:6He said to the judges, “Consider what you are doing, for you do not judge for mankind but for the Lord who is with you when you render judgment.
• Job 19:16I call to my servant, but he does not answer; I have to implore his favor 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