Deuteronomy 19:17
in Deuteronomy 19both parties to the dispute must stand in the presence of the LORD, before the priests and judges who are in office at that time.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before Jehovah, before the priests and the judges that shall be in those days;
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;
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This verse in Deuteronomy 19
Commentary
4 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Both the men, between whom the controversy is - Not the accused and the false witness, but the plaintiff and defendant (compare Exo 23:1) who were summoned before the supreme court held, as provided in Deut. 17, at the sanctuary. The judges acted as God’s representative; to lie to them was to lie to Him.
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 Awakening2 voices
Then both the men between whom the controversy is,....
(3.) Causes of this kind, having more than ordinary difficulty in them, were to be brought before the supreme court, The priests and judges, who are said to be before the Lord, because, as other judges sat in the gates of their cities, so these at the gate of the sanctuary, ch. xvii.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְעָמְד֧וּ | veamedu | and they will stand | H5975 → | 521 times |
| שְׁנֵֽי־ | shenei- | [the] two | H8147 → | 768 times |
| הָאֲנָשִׁ֛ים | haanashim | the people | H582 → | 566 times |
| אֲשֶׁר־ | ʾasher- | whom | H834 → | 5497 times |
| לָהֶ֥ם | lahem | [belongs] to <the> them | ||
| הָרִ֖יב | hariv | the dispute | H7379 → | 61 times |
| לִפְנֵ֣י | lifnei | <to> before | H6440 → | 2123 times |
| יְהוָ֑ה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| לִפְנֵ֤י | lifnei | <to> before | H6440 → | 2123 times |
| הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ | hakohanim | the priests | H3548 → | 750 times |
| וְהַשֹּׁ֣פְטִ֔ים | vehashofetim | and the judges | H8199 → | 202 times |
| אֲשֶׁ֥ר | ʾasher | who | H834 → | 5497 times |
| יִהְי֖וּ | yihyu | they will be | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| בַּיָּמִ֥ים | baiyamim | in the days | H3117 → | 2304 times |
| הָהֵֽם׃ | hahem | <the> those | H1992 → | 553 times |
וְעָמְד֧וּand they will stand
veameduH5975 →521 times
שְׁנֵֽי־[the] two
shenei-H8147 →768 times
הָאֲנָשִׁ֛יםthe people
haanashimH582 →566 times
אֲשֶׁר־whom
ʾasher-H834 →5497 times
לָהֶ֥ם[belongs] to <the> them
lahem
הָרִ֖יבthe dispute
harivH7379 →61 times
לִפְנֵ֣י<to> before
lifneiH6440 →2123 times
יְהוָ֑הYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
לִפְנֵ֤י<to> before
lifneiH6440 →2123 times
הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙the priests
hakohanimH3548 →750 times
וְהַשֹּׁ֣פְטִ֔יםand the judges
vehashofetimH8199 →202 times
אֲשֶׁ֥רwho
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
יִהְי֖וּthey will be
yihyuH1961 →3559 times
בַּיָּמִ֥יםin the days
baiyamimH3117 →2304 times
הָהֵֽם׃<the> those
hahemH1992 →553 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
Malachi 2:7For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts.
it leads to
- 2 Timothy 2:24–25
And a servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and forbearing.
- Leviticus 10:11
so that you may teach the Israelites all the statutes that the LORD has given them through Moses.”
- Deuteronomy 21:5
And the priests, the sons of Levi, shall come forward, for the LORD your God has chosen them to serve Him and pronounce blessings in His name and to give a ruling in every…
- 2 Corinthians 5:20
Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God.
- 2 Timothy 2:24–25
Through
Deuteronomy 21:5And the priests, the sons of Levi, shall come forward, for the LORD your God has chosen them to serve Him and pronounce blessings in His name and to give a ruling in every…
it leads to
- Malachi 2:7
For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Chronicles 23:13
The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron and his descendants were set apart forever to consecrate the most holy things, to burn incense before the LORD, to minister before Him, and to pronounce…
- Deuteronomy 10:8
At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to serve Him, and to pronounce blessings in…
- Malachi 2:7
Through
Deuteronomy 17:9You are to go to the Levitical priests and to the judge who presides at that time. Inquire of them, and they will give you a verdict in the case.
it leads to
- Ezekiel 44:24
In any dispute, they shall officiate as judges and judge according to My ordinances. They must keep My laws and statutes regarding all My appointed feasts, and they must keep My Sabbaths holy.
- Ezekiel 44:24
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 Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.