Deuteronomy 19:16
in Deuteronomy 19If a false witness testifies against someone, accusing him of a crime,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
If an unrighteous witness rise up against any man to testify against him of wrong-doing,
KJV
If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong;
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This verse in Deuteronomy 19
Commentary
5 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Testify against him that which is wrong - Margin, more literally, “a falling away.” The word is used Deu 13:5 to signify apostasy or revolt; here it is no doubt to be understood in the wider sense of any departure from the Law.
This site's exposition
If a false witness rise up against any man
on Deuteronomy 19:16-21
The case goes to the central court of 17:8-13, before the priests and the judges, and Albert Barnes reads both the men in verse 17 as the two parties to the original suit rather than the accused and his accuser. The witness is then sentenced for what he had thought to have done, so intent alone carries whatever penalty the lie was aiming at, death or stripes or a fine. Verse 20 uses the deterrent formula this book repeats at 13:11, 17:13 and 21:21, that those which remain shall hear, and fear. The chapter closes on life for life, eye for eye, which Exodus 21:23-25 and Leviticus 24:20 also carry and which Jesus takes up at Matthew 5:38.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
A safe witness - A single witness, though he speak truth, is not to be accepted for the condemnation of another man, but if he be convicted of false witness, this is sufficient for his own condemnation.
If a false witness rise up against any man,.... In a court of judicature: to testify against him: that which is not true of him, let it be in what case it will; Aben Ezra instances in idolatry, but it holds good of any other.
If a false witness rise up against any man,.... In a court of judicature: to testify against him: that which is not true of him, let it be in what case it will; Aben Ezra instances in idolatry, but it holds good of any other.
The words behind it
8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כִּֽי־ | ki- | that | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| יָק֥וּם | yakum | he will stand | H6965 → | 628 times |
| עֵד־ | ʾed- | a witness of | H5707 → | 70 times |
| חָמָ֖ס | chamas | injustice | H2555 → | |
| בְּאִ֑ישׁ | beish | in anyone | H376 → | 1663 times |
| לַעֲנ֥וֹת | laanot | to testify | H6030 → | 331 times |
| בּ֖וֹ | bo | against <the> him | ||
| סָרָֽה׃ | sarah | rebellion | H5627 → |
כִּֽי־that
ki-H3588 →4482 times
יָק֥וּםhe will stand
yakumH6965 →628 times
עֵד־a witness of
ʾed-H5707 →70 times
חָמָ֖סinjustice
chamasH2555 →
בְּאִ֑ישׁin anyone
beishH376 →1663 times
לַעֲנ֥וֹתto testify
laanotH6030 →331 times
בּ֖וֹagainst <the> him
bo
סָרָֽה׃rebellion
sarahH5627 →
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
Psalms 27:12Do not hand me over to the will of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence.
it leads to
- Matthew 26:59–60
Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking false testimony against Jesus in order to put Him to death.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 35:11
Hostile witnesses come forward; they make charges I know nothing about.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 31:8
You have not delivered me to the enemy; You have set my feet in the open.
- Psalms 41:11
By this I know that You delight in me, for my enemy does not triumph over me.
- Acts 6:11–13
Then they prompted some men to say, “We heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God.”
- Matthew 26:59–60
Through
Psalms 35:11Hostile witnesses come forward; they make charges I know nothing about.
it leads to
- Psalms 27:12
Do not hand me over to the will of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence.
- 1 Samuel 24:9
and said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Look, David intends to harm you’?
- Psalms 27:12
Through
Acts 6:13where they presented false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law.
it leads to
- Acts 6:11
Then they prompted some men to say, “We heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God.”
- Acts 6:11
Where this verse is studied
About Deuteronomy
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament.