Deuteronomy 17:6
in Deuteronomy 17On the testimony of two or three witnesses a man shall be put to death, but he shall not be executed on the testimony of a lone witness.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is to die be put to death; at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.
KJV
At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.
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This verse in Deuteronomy 17
Commentary
7 notes on this verseTwo witnesses - One might be deceived, or be prejudiced or malicious; therefore God required two substantial witnesses for the support of the charge.
This site's exposition
Then shalt thou bring forth that man
on Deuteronomy 17:5-6
Sentence is carried out at the gates, the open ground where a town did its legal business, and Albert Barnes ties the choice of place to the fact that all the people had to be able to take part. Two or three witnesses are required in a capital case, and Numbers 35:30 lays the same floor on a charge of murder. Hebrews 10:28 quotes this verse, that he who despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses, and the same number governs church discipline at Matthew 18:16, 2 Corinthians 13:1 and 1 Timothy 5:19.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"Two angels, however, appeared there." For just so many honorary companions were required by the Word of God, which usually prescribes "two witnesses." Moreover, the women, returning from the sepulcher and from this vision of the angels were foreseen by Isaiah, when he says, "Come, you women, who return from the vision"; that is, "come" to report the resurrection of the Lord.
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Witnesses - Namely, credible and competent witnesses. The Jews rejected the testimonies of children, women, servants, familiar friends or enemies, persons of dissolute lives or evil fame.
At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death,.... The idolater found guilty was to be stoned; two witnesses were sufficient to prove a fact, if three the better, but, on the testimony of one, sentence might not be pronounced.
How heinous and dangerous soever the crime is, yet they must not punish any for it, unless there were good proof against them, by two witnesses at least.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
If there be found among you . . . man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness--The grand object contemplated in choosing Israel was to preserve the knowledge and worship of the one true God; and hence idolatry of any kind, whether of the heavenly bodies or in some grosser form, is called "a transgression of His covenant." No rank or sex could palliate this crime.
The words behind it
15 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| עַל־ | ʾal- | on | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| פִּ֣י׀ | pi | [the] mouth of | H6310 → | 498 times |
| שְׁנַ֣יִם | shenayim | two | H8147 → | 768 times |
| עֵדִ֗ים | ʾedim | witnesses | H5707 → | 70 times |
| א֛וֹ | ʾo | or | H176 → | 321 times |
| שְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה | sheloshah | three | H7969 → | 432 times |
| עֵדִ֖ים | ʾedim | witnesses | H5707 → | 70 times |
| יוּמַ֣ת | yumat | he will be put to death | H4191 → | 839 times |
| הַמֵּ֑ת | hamet | the [one who] dies | H4191 → | 839 times |
| לֹ֣א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| יוּמַ֔ת | yumat | he will be put to death | H4191 → | 839 times |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | on | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| פִּ֖י | pi | [the] mouth of | H6310 → | 498 times |
| עֵ֥ד | ʾed | a witness | H5707 → | 70 times |
| אֶחָֽד׃ | ʾechad | one | H259 → | 971 times |
עַל־on
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
פִּ֣י׀[the] mouth of
piH6310 →498 times
שְׁנַ֣יִםtwo
shenayimH8147 →768 times
עֵדִ֗יםwitnesses
ʾedimH5707 →70 times
א֛וֹor
ʾoH176 →321 times
שְׁלֹשָׁ֥הthree
sheloshahH7969 →432 times
עֵדִ֖יםwitnesses
ʾedimH5707 →70 times
יוּמַ֣תhe will be put to death
yumatH4191 →839 times
הַמֵּ֑תthe [one who] dies
hametH4191 →839 times
לֹ֣אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
יוּמַ֔תhe will be put to death
yumatH4191 →839 times
עַל־on
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
פִּ֖י[the] mouth of
piH6310 →498 times
עֵ֥דa witness
ʾedH5707 →70 times
אֶחָֽד׃one
ʾechadH259 →971 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Matthew 18:16But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 19:15
A 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…
Reached by 4 separate paths from here.
- 2 Corinthians 13:1
This is the third time I am coming to you. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”
Reached by 4 separate paths from here.
- 1 Timothy 5:19
Do not entertain an accusation against an elder, except on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- John 8:17
Even in your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid.
- Deuteronomy 19:15
Through
Deuteronomy 19:15A 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…
it leads to
- Hebrews 10:28
Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
Reached by 4 separate paths from here.
- Matthew 18:16
But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- Numbers 35:30
If anyone kills a person, the murderer is to be put to death on the testimony of the witnesses. But no one is to be put to death based on the testimony of a…
- Hebrews 10:28
Through
Hebrews 10:28Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
it leads to
- Hebrews 2:2
For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every transgression and disobedience received its just punishment,
- Hebrews 2:2
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Deuteronomy
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Tertullian, AGAINST MARCION 4.43.2.