Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 19:15–21

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.^b

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. ¹⁸The judges shall investigate thoroughly, and if the witness is proven to be a liar who has falsely accused his brother, ¹⁹you must do to him as he intended to do to his brother. So you must purge the evil from among you.^c ²⁰Then the rest of the people will hear and be afraid, and they will never again do anything so evil among you. ²¹You must show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth,^d hand for hand, and foot for foot.

Footnotes

b 19:15 Cited in Matthew 18:16|MAT 18:16and 2 Corinthians 13:1
c 19:19 Cited in 1 Corinthians 5:13|1CO 5:13
d 19:21 Cited in Matthew 5:38|MAT 5:38

Read all of Deuteronomy 19

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Deuteronomy 19:15

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
A lone	אֶחָ֜ד	’e·ḥāḏ	Number - masculine singular	H259 one
witness	עֵ֨ד	‘êḏ	Noun - masculine singular	H5707 witness
is not sufficient	לֹֽא־	lō-	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
to establish	יָקוּם֩	yā·qūm	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H6965 arise, stand up, stand
any	לְכָל־	lə·ḵāl	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
wrongdoing	עָוֺן֙	‘ā·wōn	Noun - common singular	H5771 iniquity, guilt, or punishment of iniquity
sin	חַטָּ֔את	ḥaṭ·ṭāṯ	Noun - feminine singular	H2403 offence, penalty, occasion
against a man	בְּאִ֗ישׁ	bə·’îš	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
regardless of what	בְּכָל־	bə·ḵāl	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
offense	חֵ֖טְא	ḥêṭ	Noun - masculine singular	H2399 sin
he may have committed	יֶֽחֱטָ֑א	ye·ḥĕ·ṭā	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H2398 miss
A matter	דָּבָֽר׃	dā·ḇār	Noun - masculine singular	H1697 speech, word
must be established	יָק֥וּם	yā·qūm	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H6965 arise, stand up, stand
by	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
the testimony	פִּ֣י׀	pî	Noun - masculine singular construct	H6310 mouth
of two	שְׁנֵ֣י	šə·nê	Number - masculine dual construct	H8147 two
or	א֛וֹ	’ōw	Conjunction	H176 or
three	שְׁלֹשָֽׁה־	šə·lō·šāh-	Number - masculine singular	H7969 a three, triad
witnesses	עֵדִ֗ים	‘ê·ḏîm	Noun - masculine plural	H5707 witness

Deuteronomy 19:16

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
If	כִּֽי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
a false	חָמָ֖ס	ḥā·mās	Noun - masculine singular	H2555 violence, wrong
witness	עֵד־	‘êḏ-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H5707 witness
testifies	לַעֲנ֥וֹת	la·‘ă·nō·wṯ	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H6030 answer, respond
against	בּ֖וֹ	bōw	Preposition; third person masculine singular
someone	בְּאִ֑ישׁ	bə·’îš	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
accusing him of a crime	סָרָֽה׃	sā·rāh	Noun - feminine singular	H5627 a turning aside, defection, apostasy, withdrawal

Deuteronomy 19:17

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
both	שְׁנֵֽי־	šə·nê-	Number - masculine dual construct	H8147 two
parties	הָאֲנָשִׁ֛ים	hā·’ă·nā·šîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H582 man, mankind
to the dispute	הָרִ֖יב	hā·rîḇ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H7379 strife, dispute
must stand	וְעָמְד֧וּ	wə·‘ā·mə·ḏū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural	H5975 take one's stand, stand
in the presence	לִפְנֵ֣י	lip̄·nê	Preposition-l; Noun - common plural construct	H6440 face, before
of the LORD	יְהוָ֑ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
before	לִפְנֵ֤י	lip̄·nê	Preposition-l; Noun - common plural construct	H6440 face, before
the priests	הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙	hak·kō·hă·nîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H3548 priest
and judges	וְהַשֹּׁ֣פְטִ֔ים	wə·haš·šō·p̄ə·ṭîm	Conjunctive waw, Article; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural	H8199 judge, govern
who	אֲשֶׁ֥ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
are	יִהְי֖וּ	yih·yū	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
at that	הָהֵֽם׃	hā·hêm	Article; Pronoun - third person masculine plural	H1992 they, them
time	בַּיָּמִ֥ים	bay·yā·mîm	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine plural	H3117 day

Deuteronomy 19:18

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
The judges	הַשֹּׁפְטִ֖ים	haš·šō·p̄ə·ṭîm	Article; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural	H8199 judge, govern
shall investigate	וְדָרְשׁ֥וּ	wə·ḏā·rə·šū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural	H1875 resort to, seek
thoroughly	הֵיטֵ֑ב	hê·ṭêḇ	Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute	H3190 be good, well, glad, pleasing
and if	וְהִנֵּ֤ה	wə·hin·nêh	Conjunctive waw; Interjection	H2009 lo! behold!
the witness	עֵֽד־	‘êḏ-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H5707 witness
is proven to be a liar	שֶׁ֙קֶר֙	še·qer	Noun - masculine singular	H8267 deception, disappointment, falsehood
who has falsely	שֶׁ֖קֶר	še·qer	Noun - masculine singular	H8267 deception, disappointment, falsehood
accused	עָנָ֥ה	‘ā·nāh	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H6030 answer, respond
his brother	בְאָחִֽיו׃	ḇə·’ā·ḥîw	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H251 brother

Deuteronomy 19:19

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
you must do	וַעֲשִׂ֣יתֶם	wa·‘ă·śî·ṯem	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural	H6213 do, make
to him	ל֔וֹ	lōw	Preposition; third person masculine singular
as	כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר	ka·’ă·šer	Preposition-k; Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
he intended	זָמַ֖ם	zā·mam	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H2161 consider, purpose, devise
to do	לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת	la·‘ă·śō·wṯ	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H6213 do, make
to his brother	לְאָחִ֑יו	lə·’ā·ḥîw	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H251 brother
So you must purge	וּבִֽעַרְתָּ֥	ū·ḇi·‘ar·tā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular	H1197 burn, consume
the evil	הָרָ֖ע	hā·rā‘	Article; Adjective - masculine singular	H7451 bad, evil
from among you	מִקִּרְבֶּֽךָ׃	miq·qir·be·ḵā	Preposition-m; Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H7130 inward part, midst

Deuteronomy 19:20

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Then the rest	וְהַנִּשְׁאָרִ֖ים	wə·han·niš·’ā·rîm	Conjunctive waw, Article; Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural	H7604 remain, be left over
will hear	יִשְׁמְע֣וּ	yiš·mə·‘ū	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural	H8085 hear
and be afraid	וְיִרָ֑אוּ	wə·yi·rā·’ū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H3372 fear
and they will never	וְלֹֽא־	wə·lō-	Conjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
again	יֹסִ֨פוּ	yō·si·p̄ū	Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural	H3254 add
do	לַעֲשׂ֜וֹת	la·‘ă·śō·wṯ	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H6213 do, make
anything	כַּדָּבָ֥ר	kad·dā·ḇār	Preposition-k, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H1697 speech, word
so	הַזֶּ֖ה	haz·zeh	Article; Pronoun - masculine singular	H2088 this, that
evil	הָרָ֛ע	hā·rā‘	Article; Adjective - masculine singular	H7451 bad, evil
among you	בְּקִרְבֶּֽךָ׃	bə·qir·be·ḵā	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H7130 inward part, midst

Deuteronomy 19:21

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
You must show no pity	וְלֹ֥א	wə·lō	Conjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
life	נֶ֣פֶשׁ	ne·p̄eš	Noun - feminine singular	H5315 soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion
for life	בְּנֶ֗פֶשׁ	bə·ne·p̄eš	Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular	H5315 soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion
eye	עַ֤יִן	‘a·yin	Noun - common singular	H5869 eye
for eye	בְּעַ֙יִן֙	bə·‘a·yin	Preposition-b; Noun - common singular	H5869 eye
tooth	שֵׁ֣ן	šên	Noun - common singular	H8127 tooth, ivory
for tooth	בְּשֵׁ֔ן	bə·šên	Preposition-b; Noun - common singular	H8127 tooth, ivory
hand	יָ֥ד	yāḏ	Noun - feminine singular	H3027 hand
for hand	בְּיָ֖ד	bə·yāḏ	Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular	H3027 hand
foot	רֶ֥גֶל	re·ḡel	Noun - feminine singular	H7272 foot
for foot	בְּרָֽגֶל׃ס	bə·rā·ḡel	Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular	H7272 foot