Deuteronomy 19:18
in Deuteronomy 19The judges shall investigate thoroughly, and if the witness is proven to be a liar who has falsely accused his brother,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
and the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and have testified falsely against his brother;
KJV
And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother;
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This verse in Deuteronomy 19
Commentary
4 notes on this verseAnd the judges shall make diligent inquisition,.... Into the case before them, into the nature of the evidence and proof that each witness brings for or against; so the Targum of Jonathan,"the judges shall interrogate the witness, by whom these things are said, well;''shall thoroughly examine the testimony given, and look carefully into it: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother; it appears plainly by full evidence that he has testified a falsehood of him.
This site's exposition
If a false witness testifies against someone
on Deuteronomy 19:16-21
The case goes to the central court of 17:8-13. The liar suffers what “he intended to do to his brother”, so intent alone carries the penalty the lie aimed at.
This site's exposition
The judges shall investigate thoroughly
John Gill notes that the Targum of Jonathan has the judges question the witness well, examining the testimony and looking carefully into it. The liar must be proven by full evidence before the sentence falls. Chapter 17:4 asked the same thorough investigation.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
A diligent inquisition must be made into the characters of the persons, and all the circumstances of the case, which must be compared, that the truth might be found out, which, where it is thus faithfully and impartially enquired into, Providence, it may be hoped, will particularly advance the discovery of.
The words behind it
10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְדָרְשׁ֥וּ | vedareshu | and they will investigate | H1875 → | 164 times |
| הַשֹּׁפְטִ֖ים | hashofetim | the judges | H8199 → | 202 times |
| הֵיטֵ֑ב | heitev | thoroughly <do well> | H3190 → | 117 times |
| וְהִנֵּ֤ה | vehineh | and there! | H2009 → | 843 times |
| עֵֽד־ | ʾed- | [is] a witness of | H5707 → | 70 times |
| שֶׁ֙קֶר֙ | sheker | falsehood | H8267 → | |
| הָעֵ֔ד | haed | the witness | H5707 → | 70 times |
| שֶׁ֖קֶר | sheker | falsehood | H8267 → | |
| עָנָ֥ה | ʾanah | he has testified | H6030 → | 331 times |
| בְאָחִֽיו׃ | veachiv | against countryman his | H251 → | 630 times |
וְדָרְשׁ֥וּand they will investigate
vedareshuH1875 →164 times
הַשֹּׁפְטִ֖יםthe judges
hashofetimH8199 →202 times
הֵיטֵ֑בthoroughly <do well>
heitevH3190 →117 times
וְהִנֵּ֤הand there!
vehinehH2009 →843 times
עֵֽד־[is] a witness of
ʾed-H5707 →70 times
שֶׁ֙קֶר֙falsehood
shekerH8267 →
הָעֵ֔דthe witness
haedH5707 →70 times
שֶׁ֖קֶרfalsehood
shekerH8267 →
עָנָ֥הhe has testified
ʾanahH6030 →331 times
בְאָחִֽיו׃against countryman his
veachivH251 →630 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
Deuteronomy 13:14then you must inquire, investigate, and interrogate thoroughly. And if it is established with certainty that this abomination has been committed among you,
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 17:4
and if it is reported and you hear about it, you must investigate it thoroughly. If the report is true and such an abomination has happened in Israel,
- John 7:24
Stop judging by outward appearances, and start judging justly.”
- Isaiah 11:3–4
And He will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what His eyes see, and He will not decide by what His ears hear,
- 1 Timothy 5:19
Do not entertain an accusation against an elder, except on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
- Deuteronomy 10:18
He executes justice for the fatherless and widow, and He loves the foreigner, giving him food and clothing.
- Deuteronomy 17:4
Through
Deuteronomy 17:4and if it is reported and you hear about it, you must investigate it thoroughly. If the report is true and such an abomination has happened in Israel,
it leads to
- John 7:51
“Does our law convict a man without first hearing from him to determine what he has done?”
- Deuteronomy 13:12–14
If, regarding one of the cities the LORD your God is giving you to inhabit, you hear it said
- Proverbs 25:2
It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to search it out.
- John 7:51
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies10
On this verse
About Deuteronomy
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.