Matthew 18:16

14 In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.

15 If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.

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.’

17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, regard him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

18 Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
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.’
KJV
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.
WEB
But if he doesn’t listen, take one or two more with you, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
ASV
But if he hear [thee] not, take with thee one or two more, that at the mouth of two witnesses or three every word may be established.
DARBY
But if he do not hear [thee], take with thee one or two besides, that every matter may stand upon the word of two witnesses or of three.
BLB
But if he may not hear, take with you one or two more, so that ‘every word may be stood upon the testimony of two or three witnesses.’
ÅB
Men om han ikke vil høre, så ta enda en eller to med deg, for at enhver sak skal stå fast ved to eller tre vitners ord.
OTB
Men hvis de ikke lytter, ta med en eller to andre, slik at enhver sak kan bli bekreftet av vitnesbyrdet fra to eller tre vitner.
B1930
men vil han ikke høre, da ta ennu en eller to med dig, forat enhver sak skal stå fast ved to eller tre vidners ord.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 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 three witnesses.

    Read in context
  • 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.”

    Read in context
  • John 8:17

    Even in your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid.

    Read in context
  • 1 Timothy 5:19

    Do not entertain an accusation against an elder, except on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

    Read in context
  • Hebrews 10:28

    Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

    Read in context
  • 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 lone witness.

    Read in context
  • Deuteronomy 17:6

    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.

    Read in context
  • 1 Kings 21:13

    And the two scoundrels came in and sat opposite Naboth, and these men testified against him before the people, saying, “Naboth has cursed both God and the king!” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death.

    Read in context