Deuteronomy 17:7 kjv
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.
Deuteronomy 17:7 nkjv
The hands of the witnesses shall be the first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So you shall put away the evil from among you.
Deuteronomy 17:7 niv
The hands of the witnesses must be the first in putting that person to death, and then the hands of all the people. You must purge the evil from among you.
Deuteronomy 17:7 esv
The hand of the witnesses shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.
Deuteronomy 17:7 nlt
The witnesses must throw the first stones, and then all the people may join in. In this way, you will purge the evil from among you.
Deuteronomy 17 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 17:6 | On the evidence of two witnesses... he who is to die shall be put to death. | Requirement of two or three witnesses for capital case. |
| Deut 19:15 | A single witness shall not suffice... only on the evidence of two or three. | Confirms requirement for multiple witnesses. |
| Num 35:30 | If anyone kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the testimony of witnesses. | Witness requirement for murder. |
| Matt 18:16 | If he does not listen, take one or two others... by the evidence of two or three. | NT application for church discipline. |
| 2 Cor 13:1 | Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. | Paul applies witness principle. |
| 1 Tim 5:19 | Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. | Witness standard for accusations against leaders. |
| Heb 10:28 | Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy... on the evidence of two or three witnesses. | NT reference to severe consequences under the Law. |
| Acts 7:58 | Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments... | Witnesses involved in stoning of Stephen. |
| Deut 13:5 | So you shall purge the evil from your midst. | Initial command to purge evil for false prophet. |
| Deut 13:18 | So you shall obey the voice of the LORD... and purge evil from your midst. | Purging evil after executing an idolatrous city. |
| Deut 19:19 | Then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother. Purge evil. | Punishment for false witness, emphasizing purging. |
| Deut 21:21 | All the men of his city shall stone him to death with stones. So you shall purge the evil. | Stoning a rebellious son, purge evil. |
| Deut 22:21 | ...then they shall bring out the young woman... and the men of her city shall stone her. So you shall purge. | Stoning for pre-marital fornication, purge evil. |
| Deut 22:24 | You shall bring them both out to the gate of that city, and you shall stone them to death. So you shall purge. | Stoning for rape/fornication in the city, purge evil. |
| Deut 24:7 | ...you shall purge the evil from your midst. | Death penalty for kidnapping, purge evil. |
| 1 Cor 5:13 | "Purge the evil person from among you." | Paul's NT injunction for church purity. |
| Josh 7:25 | All Israel stoned him with stones... they burned them with fire. | Communal stoning of Achan, demonstrating removal of corporate sin. |
| Exod 22:20 | Whoever sacrifices to any god, except to the LORD alone, shall be devoted to destruction. | Capital punishment for idolatry. |
| Lev 20:2 | Anyone from the people of Israel... who gives any of his children to Molech shall surely be put to death. | Capital punishment for child sacrifice. |
| Deut 1:17 | You shall not be partial in judgment... hear the small and the great alike. | Principle of impartial justice. |
| Prov 17:15 | He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both an abomination. | Justice principle: not condemning the innocent or acquitting the guilty. |
Deuteronomy 17 verses
Deuteronomy 17 7 Meaning
Deuteronomy 17:7 mandates that the witnesses who testify against an individual accused of severe religious transgression, specifically idolatry, must be the first to participate in the execution, followed by all the people. This strict measure ensured the veracity of testimony and underscored the communal responsibility for maintaining the purity of the covenant community by thoroughly removing evil from their midst.
Deuteronomy 17 7 Context
Deuteronomy 17:7 is part of a series of laws outlining the judicial system and governance in ancient Israel. Specifically, it follows verses 2-6, which prescribe the death penalty for an Israelite found to have gone and served other gods or worshipped sun, moon, or stars—a high treason against the LORD. These verses also establish the indispensable requirement for "two or three witnesses" to confirm the transgression. Therefore, verse 7 clarifies the precise method of execution for such capital offenses, placing the initial responsibility directly on the witnesses and then the entire community. This emphasis underscored the severity of idolatry as a threat to the nation's covenant relationship with God, requiring swift and thorough purification of evil from their midst to prevent communal guilt and divine judgment.
Deuteronomy 17 7 Word analysis
- The hand (יַד - yad): Hebrew yad denotes literal hand, but also power, responsibility, agency, and ownership. Here, it signifies the direct, active participation and agency of the witnesses in executing the judgment.
- of the witnesses (הָעֵדִים - hā‘ēdîm): Referring to those who gave legal testimony (at least two or three). Their testimony was crucial for a death sentence (Deut 17:6). This role as first executors tied their word to a profound, irreversible action, demanding absolute certainty and integrity in their witness.
- shall be first (תִּהְיֶה בָּהֶם בָּרִאשֹׁנָה - tihyeh bāhem bārishōnāh): Emphasizes precedence and leadership. The witnesses initiate the execution, physically throwing the first stones (in the case of stoning), making them accountable and ensuring they truly believed their testimony justified death.
- against him (לַהֲמִיתוֹ - lahămîtô): Directly linking the witnesses' actions to the purpose of putting the accused "to death." This verb implies execution, ensuring life is taken according to law.
- and afterward (וְיַד - wĕyad... ăhărê-kên): Introduces a sequence. The general assembly completes the action, indicating communal affirmation and responsibility once the witnesses have fulfilled their unique role.
- the hand of all the people (כָּל־הָעָם - kol-hā‘ām): "All the people" (the congregation) signifies corporate responsibility. This wasn't merely the witnesses' burden; the entire nation, as a covenant body, participated in removing severe sin to maintain their holiness.
- So you shall purge (וּבִעַרְתָּ - ûbi‘artā): The Hebrew ba'ar means to burn, sweep away, remove utterly, consume, eradicate. It is a strong term for complete cleansing, emphasizing the totality and decisiveness required to eliminate the transgression. It suggests not just punishment, but a radical purification.
- the evil (הָרָע - hārā‘): Refers to wickedness, harm, anything morally depraved, destructive, or spiritually defiling. In this context, it primarily refers to the individual who committed the idolatry, seen as the embodiment of that specific evil within the community.
- from your midst (מִקִּרְבֶּךָ - miqqirbekā): Emphasizes internal cleansing. The community must deal with its own sin and threats from within, protecting its sanctity and relationship with God. This ensures the covenant body remains whole and undefiled.
- "The hand of the witnesses shall be first... and afterward the hand of all the people": This sequential involvement establishes accountability and corporate responsibility. The witnesses, having brought forth the charge leading to capital punishment, must first confirm their conviction through action. The participation of "all the people" signifies the entire community's affirmation of the verdict and their collective commitment to upholding the law and holiness.
- "So you shall purge the evil from your midst": This phrase encapsulates the overarching theological principle behind the harshness of the law. The physical removal of the guilty individual served as a spiritual cleansing of the entire nation, preventing defilement and corporate guilt. It illustrates the community's obligation to protect its unique identity and relationship with a holy God by rigorously upholding divine standards.
Deuteronomy 17 7 Bonus section
The strong emphasis on the purging of evil throughout Deuteronomy, illustrated here by the execution process, reflects the understanding that corporate Israel existed in a unique covenant relationship with the LORD. Idolatry, therefore, was not merely a personal spiritual choice but a direct assault on the nation's very existence as God's chosen people. Failing to "purge the evil" risked the withdrawal of God's favor and potential judgment on the entire nation, as exemplified by events like Achan's sin and its consequences for Israel (Josh 7). This highlights a key biblical principle: communal responsibility for sin within a covenant relationship. The act of stoning, common in ancient Near Eastern justice for severe offenses against the community's core values, further amplified the idea of public participation in judgment and the removal of impurity.
Deuteronomy 17 7 Commentary
Deuteronomy 17:7 prescribes a deeply significant judicial practice for capital offenses, particularly idolatry. By requiring the witnesses to initiate the execution, the law embedded a crucial safeguard against false testimony: a person would think twice before falsely accusing someone if they had to be the first to deliver the lethal blow. This direct involvement ensured their conviction in the truth of their witness. Following the witnesses, the participation of "all the people" emphasized the corporate nature of Israel's covenant. A severe sin like idolatry was not just an individual transgression but an act of spiritual treason that defiled the entire community. Thus, the collective involvement in the execution served as a ritual purging, cleansing the nation from the contaminant of evil and upholding the holiness essential for their relationship with God. This practice reinforced the sanctity of God's law and the communal obligation to preserve Israel's covenant purity.