Deuteronomy 17:6 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.
Deuteronomy 17:6 nkjv
Whoever is deserving of death shall be put to death on the testimony of two or three witnesses; he shall not be put to death on the testimony of one witness.
Deuteronomy 17:6 niv
On the testimony of two or three witnesses a person is to be put to death, but no one is to be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.
Deuteronomy 17:6 esv
On the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses the one who is to die shall be put to death; a person shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness.
Deuteronomy 17:6 nlt
But never put a person to death on the testimony of only one witness. There must always be two or three witnesses.
Deuteronomy 17 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 35:30 | "Whoever kills any person... shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses, but one witness shall not testify against a person to cause him to die." | Principle for murder cases. |
| Deut 19:15 | "A single witness shall not suffice to convict a person... Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established." | Extends principle to any charge. |
| Matt 18:16 | "If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses." | Applied to church discipline. |
| 2 Cor 13:1 | "This is the third time I am coming to you. 'Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.'" | Paul applying the principle to his warnings. |
| 1 Tim 5:19 | "Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses." | Applies principle to church leadership accusation. |
| Heb 10:28 | "Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without pity on the evidence of two or three witnesses." | Highlights the serious consequence under the Law. |
| John 8:17 | "In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true." | Jesus uses the principle to validate His own testimony. |
| Exod 20:16 | "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." | Foundation of truthful testimony. |
| Deut 5:20 | "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." | Reiterates the prohibition against false witness. |
| Prov 19:5 | "A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will not escape." | Consequences for false witnesses. |
| Prov 19:9 | "A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish." | Reiteration of consequence for false witnesses. |
| Exod 23:1 | "You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness." | Warns against false reports and malicious testimony. |
| Ps 27:12 | "For false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence." | Prayer against false witnesses. |
| Ps 35:11 | "Malicious witnesses rise up; they ask me of things that I do not know." | Description of malicious witnesses. |
| Mk 14:56-59 | "For many bore false witness against him... For even their testimony did not agree." | Contrast: Seeking false witnesses against Jesus. |
| Acts 6:13 | "And they set up false witnesses who said, 'This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law.'" | False accusation against Stephen. |
| Acts 7:58 | "Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul." | Witnesses' role in executions (Stephen). |
| Lev 24:14 | "Bring out of the camp the one who cursed, and let all who heard him lay their hands on his head, and let all the congregation stone him." | Public act by witnesses in execution. |
| 1 Kgs 21:10, 13 | "Set two worthless men before him... that they may give false testimony against him, saying, ‘You have cursed God and King!’" | Perversion of the law (Jezebel & Naboth). |
| Zech 8:16 | "These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace." | Call for truth in judgment and interaction. |
Deuteronomy 17 verses
Deuteronomy 17 6 Meaning
Deuteronomy 17:6 establishes a foundational principle of biblical jurisprudence for capital offenses: an accused individual facing the death penalty must be convicted based on the corroborated testimony of at least two or three witnesses. A single witness's testimony is explicitly insufficient for a capital conviction, safeguarding against unjust executions and false accusations, underscoring the high value God places on human life.
Deuteronomy 17 6 Context
This verse appears within a section of Deuteronomy (chapters 16-18) that outlines regulations for Israel's leadership and judicial system once they settle in the Promised Land. Specifically, chapter 17 deals with:
- Prohibition of Idolatry: Directives against sacrificing blemished animals and practicing idolatry (v. 1-7). The verse in focus (v. 6) provides the judicial standard for executing someone found guilty of idolatry, linking it to the severe capital punishment prescribed earlier in v. 5.
- Legal Difficulties: Instructions for complex legal cases requiring decision from the Levitical priests and judges (v. 8-13).
- Law of the King: Regulations for the future king of Israel (v. 14-20).Thus, Deut 17:6 functions as a critical safeguard within Israel's divinely appointed legal framework, ensuring fairness and protecting against wrongful convictions, particularly in matters of life and death, reinforcing God's righteous character in judicial proceedings.
Deuteronomy 17 6 Word analysis
- "On the evidence of": From the Hebrew, al-pī (עַל־פִּ֣י), literally meaning "at the mouth of" or "according to the mouth of." This emphasizes the importance of direct, spoken testimony from individuals, rather than circumstantial evidence alone or written accusations, as the primary basis for conviction. It highlights the direct personal responsibility of the witness.
- "two witnesses": Hebrew: shenayim edim (שְׁנַיִם עֵדִים). This establishes the absolute minimum requirement. The number two indicates corroboration, ensuring that a single, possibly false, mistaken, or malicious testimony does not lead to conviction. It points to the need for agreement and independent confirmation of facts.
- "or of three witnesses": Hebrew: o sheloshah edim (אֽוֹ־שְׁלֹשָׁה עֵדִֽים). While two are sufficient, three provide an even stronger, undeniable confirmation, leaving no reasonable doubt. This reinforces the seriousness with which God views life and justice, seeking multiple layers of certainty before taking a life. It might also address cases where one of the two witnesses could be disqualified or questioned.
- "the person who is to die": Hebrew: hamet (הַמֵּת). Refers specifically to the accused who faces a capital charge, indicating the context is always a death penalty offense.
- "shall be put to death": Hebrew: yumat (יוּמַת). This is a Pual verb, emphasizing that the action will be carried out and is a definitive, certain consequence. The doubling of the root mut ("to die"), which is implied from earlier in the clause ("the one who is to die"), is an emphatic structure in Hebrew (e.g., mot tamut, "dying you shall die"), reinforcing the absolute certainty of the execution once guilt is established by sufficient witness.
- "he shall not be put to death": Hebrew: lo yumat (לֹא יוּמַת). The strong negative particle lo paired with yumat constitutes an absolute prohibition. It categorically forbids the execution based on insufficient evidence, highlighting the divine protection of human life and judicial fairness.
- "on the evidence of one witness": Hebrew: al-pi ed echad (עַל־פִּי עֵד אֶחָֽד). This specifies the exact insufficiency: the testimony of a singular individual is inherently unreliable and untrustworthy for such grave matters. It stands as a bulwark against tyranny, vendetta, and flawed human judgment, valuing truth over speed or expediency in judgment.
Deuteronomy 17 6 Bonus section
The legal principle of requiring two or three witnesses influenced subsequent legal traditions, contributing to the development of legal concepts like corroborating evidence in Western common law. This command served to temper human fallibility, corruption, and the ease of false accusation. It established a moral precedent, asserting that justice, not merely vengeance, should be the foundation of a society's legal system, always prioritizing the sanctity of life. The emphasis is not just on punishing the guilty, but first and foremost on protecting the innocent from wrongful death.
Deuteronomy 17 6 Commentary
Deuteronomy 17:6 is a cornerstone of Israelite jurisprudence, reflecting God's profound respect for human life and His nature as a just God. It sets a remarkably high bar for capital conviction, requiring verified, independent testimony from multiple sources before the ultimate penalty can be inflicted. This standard distinguishes the divine law from arbitrary and often brutal legal systems prevalent in the ancient Near East, which sometimes relied on single accusations or coerced confessions. The command safeguards against judicial murder, personal vendettas, and errors in judgment. Its inclusion within the laws for kings and judges underscores the importance of a just judicial system for the stability and righteousness of the entire nation. The principle transcends ancient Israelite courts, becoming a moral guideline for seeking truth and confirming serious accusations in later biblical contexts, from early church discipline to the integrity of public witness.