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Deuteronomy 17:6

Truth and honestyJustice

4 And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and enquired diligently, and, behold, it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel:

5 Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they die.

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.

7 The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put the evil away from among you.

8 If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates: then shalt thou arise, and get thee up into the place which the LORD thy God shall choose;

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This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
On 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.
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.
WEB
At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, he who is to die shall be put to death. At the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.
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.
DARBY
At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is to die be put to death: he shall not be put to death at the mouth of one witness.
BLB
On the testimony of two witnesses or three witnesses he must surely be put to death; he shall not be put to death on the testimony of one witness.
ÅB
Etter to eller tre vitners utsagn skal den late livet som skal dø; han skal ikke late livet bare etter ett vitnes utsagn.
OTB
På vitnesbyrd av to eller tre vitner skal den som fortjener døden, bli dømt til døden. Ingen skal bli dømt til døden på vitnesbyrd av bare ett vitne.
B1930
Efter to eller tre vidners utsagn skal den late livet som skal dø; han skal ikke late livet bare efter ett vidnes utsagn.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Hebrews 10:28

    He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

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  • Numbers 35:30

    Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die.

    Read in context

  • Deuteronomy 19:15

    One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.

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  • Matthew 18:16

    But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

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  • 1 Timothy 5:19

    Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.

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  • John 8:17–18

    It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.

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  • 2 Corinthians 13:1

    This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

    Read in context