Deuteronomy 17:6
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This verse reveals God's deep care for justice and the sanctity of life, even when dealing with severe sin like idolatry. By requiring at least two or three witnesses, God established a high standard to prevent wrongful execution, showing that every life holds immense value in His eyes. This meticulous requirement underscores the gravity of taking a life and the need for absolute certainty before such a sentence is carried out.
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage is part of a larger section detailing serious offenses against God, specifically idolatry, and the severe consequences that must follow. Before this verse, Moses has instructed that anyone found practicing idolatry must be stoned to death after being investigated. This verse then lays out the critical legal principle: no one could be condemned to death based on a single person's word, but required at least two or three credible witnesses to ensure justice and protect innocent lives.
Imagine a world where your life could be taken based on one person's word. This verse establishes a fundamental principle for justice.
Life Demands Certainty
This verse is a cornerstone of justice, not just for ancient Israel, but as a principle echoing through legal systems today. God, who gives life, sets a high bar for its removal.
This principle underscores that legal processes must be robust and fair, especially when the stakes are as high as life itself.
It's not just about witnesses, but they are. What makes a testimony truly reliable?
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Beyond Just Numbers
The ancient commentators rightly noted that the quality of the witnesses was as important as the quantity. God’s law isn’t just about technicalities; it’s about seeking truth.
This emphasis on the character and impartiality of witnesses highlights a profound truth: justice requires not only evidence but also integrity from those who provide it. The community needed to trust the process and the people involved.
Understand the original words
ʿēḏ · Hebrew Noun
A person who observes an event and provides testimony about it, serving as a basis for judicial truth. In biblical law, multiple witnesses were required to establish the veracity of a serious accusation.
This passage lays out the broader principle that a person could only be put to death based on the testimony of two or three witnesses, reinforcing the specific application in Deuteronomy 17 for idolaters.
Matthew 18:16Jesus echoes this principle in the New Testament, applying it to church discipline, showing the enduring importance of corroborating evidence before making serious accusations or judgments.
1 Timothy 5:19This New Testament letter further emphasizes the need for multiple witnesses in dealing with accusations against elders, demonstrating the consistency of this judicial principle throughout Scripture.
John 8:17Jesus Himself quotes Deuteronomy regarding the necessity of two witnesses when confronting the religious leaders, highlighting how this Old Testament law was recognized and upheld even in His time.
clarkeDeuteronomy 17:6: "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."
Two witnesses - One might be deceived, or be prejudiced or malicious; therefore God required two substantial witnesses for the support of the charge.
pooleDeuteronomy 17:6: "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."
At the mouth, i.e. upon the testimony delivered upon oath before the magistrates. Three witnesses, to wit, credible and competent witnesses. The Jews rejected the testimonies of madmen. children, women, servants, familiar friends, or enemies, persons of dissolute lives and evil fame.
This verse reveals God's deep care for justice and the sanctity of life, even when dealing with severe sin like idolatry. By requiring at least two or three witnesses, God established a high standard to prevent wrongful execution, showing that every life holds immense value in His eyes. This meticulous requirement underscores the gravity of taking a life and the need for absolute certainty before such a sentence is carried out.
This passage is part of a larger section detailing serious offenses against God, specifically idolatry, and the severe consequences that must follow. Before this verse, Moses has instructed that anyone found practicing idolatry must be stoned to death after being investigated. This verse then lays out the critical legal principle: no one could be condemned to death based on a single person's word, but required at least two or three credible witnesses to ensure justice and protect innocent lives.
This passage is part of a larger section detailing serious offenses against God, specifically idolatry, and the severe consequences that must follow. Before this verse, Moses has instructed that anyone found practicing idolatry must be stoned to death after being investigated. This verse then lays out the critical legal principle: no one could be condemned to death based on a single person's word, but required at least two or three credible witnesses to ensure justice and protect innocent lives.
"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." — This verse reveals God's deep care for justice and the sanctity of life, even when dealing with severe sin like idolatry. By requiring at least two or three witnesses, God established a high standard…
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Last reviewed October 2026
