Deuteronomy 19:15
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This verse isn't just about legal justice; it highlights how God values the evidence of truth itself. The phrase "shall the matter be established" uses the same Hebrew word as "shall not rise up," implying that a charge, whether true or false, only gains real standing and weight when backed by multiple, reliable voices, not just one. This principle guards against the flimsy foundation of single accusations, showing God's deep care for protecting individuals from being easily condemned.
“A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Just before this, God had laid out laws for warfare and how to deal with conquered cities. Now, turning to civil matters, He establishes a foundational principle for justice within Israel: a person's life and liberty are too precious to be jeopardized by the word of a single individual. This rule, emphasizing the need for multiple witnesses, sets the stage for the subsequent laws concerning false testimony and its severe consequences, ensuring that accusations are thoroughly vetted and justice is upheld.
Ever feel like one person's word against yours could ruin you? God's law had a built-in safeguard against this very thing.
Guarding Against False Accusations
This verse lays down a foundational principle for justice in ancient Israel: a single witness was never enough to condemn someone. Think about how easily one person, with a grudge or a misunderstanding, could ruin another's life if their word was taken as absolute proof.
God, in His wisdom, didn't want that to happen. He knew that one voice, however sincere, could be mistaken or malicious. So, He established a high bar for establishing guilt. Two, or even three, witnesses were required. This wasn't just about making things difficult for accusers; it was a profound act of care for the lives and reputations of His people, ensuring that innocence was protected from hasty or biased judgments.
Why two or three? It's not just about counting heads; it's about the reliability and power of a shared truth.
The Strength of Corroboration
The requirement for multiple witnesses speaks volumes about the seriousness with which God viewed testimony. A single witness could be wrong, mistaken, or even deliberately deceitful. However, when two or three witnesses independently came forward with the same account, it significantly increased the likelihood that the testimony was true.
This wasn't simply a legal technicality. It reflected a deep understanding of human fallibility and the dangers of unchecked accusations. The consensus of multiple witnesses acted as a powerful check against falsehood and ensured that any conviction was based on reliable, well-supported evidence. It was a system designed to uphold truth and prevent the oppression of the innocent.
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Understand the original words
ed · Hebrew Noun
A person who provides testimony regarding facts or events; biblically, the testimony must be corroborated to ensure truthfulness and protect the accused.
Jesus echoes this principle for church discipline, stating that a matter should be confirmed by the testimony of two or three witnesses. This shows the enduring importance of corroborated testimony for establishing truth and justice.
John 8:17Jesus quotes this very principle when challenging the Pharisees about the validity of their accusation against the woman caught in adultery. This highlights how foundational this law was, even to Jesus' own arguments.
Numbers 35:30This earlier passage in the Law of Moses lays out the same requirement for capital offenses, underscoring that the need for multiple witnesses was a consistent divine command for ensuring justice and preventing wrongful execution.
Hebrews 10:28The author of Hebrews references the severity of the Old Testament law, implying this requirement as part of that system where anyone rejecting Moses' law died without mercy. This passage shows the gravity with which such laws were viewed.
calvinDeuteronomy 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."
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.
Non stabit testis unus contra quenquam in quacunque iniqu…
pooleDeuteronomy 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."
Shall not rise up, or, not stand , or, not be established , accepted, owned as sufficient: it is the same word which in the end of the verse is rendered be established .
This verse isn't just about legal justice; it highlights how God values the evidence of truth itself. The phrase "shall the matter be established" uses the same Hebrew word as "shall not rise up," implying that a charge, whether true or false, only gains real standing and weight when backed by multiple, reliable voices, not just one. This principle guards against the flimsy foundation of single accusations, showing God's deep care for protecting individuals from being easily condemned.
Just before this, God had laid out laws for warfare and how to deal with conquered cities. Now, turning to civil matters, He establishes a foundational principle for justice within Israel: a person's life and liberty are too precious to be jeopardized by the word of a single individual. This rule, emphasizing the need for multiple witnesses, sets the stage for the subsequent laws concerning false testimony and its severe consequences, ensuring that accusations are thoroughly vetted and justice is upheld.
Just before this, God had laid out laws for warfare and how to deal with conquered cities. Now, turning to civil matters, He establishes a foundational principle for justice within Israel: a person's life and liberty are too precious to be jeopardized by the word of a single individual. This rule, emphasizing the need for multiple witnesses, sets the stage for the subsequent laws concerning false testimony and its severe consequences, ensuring that accusations are thoroughly vetted and justice is upheld.
"“A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established." — This verse isn't just about legal justice; it highlights how God values the evidence of truth itself. The phrase "shall the matter be established" uses the same Hebrew word as "shall not rise up,"…
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Last reviewed October 2026
