Deuteronomy 19:15
“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)
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This verse isn't just about eyewitness accounts; the phrasing "shall not rise up" and "shall be established" shows that the weight of testimony is what matters. It emphasizes that one voice, even if truthful, lacks the necessary authority to condemn someone, protecting individuals from hasty judgments and ensuring accusations stand on solid ground.
This instruction is given within a broader section detailing how Israel should set up just legal systems and address falsehood. Immediately preceding this, Moses discusses establishing cities of refuge to protect those who accidentally cause death, highlighting the preciousness of life. Following this verse, the text lays out severe penalties for false witnesses, establishing a principle of "eye for eye," ensuring that accusations are not made lightly and that justice protects the innocent from the potentially devastating impact of a single, uncorroborated claim.
Imagine being accused of something you didn't do. What if your entire future hinged on the word of just one person? God's law here is a powerful safeguard.
This verse lays down a fundamental principle for justice: one person's word isn't enough to condemn another. This isn't just about fairness; it's about valuing human life and innocence.
God's Concern for Justice
God deeply values human life and wants to prevent innocent people from suffering.
The Danger of Hasty Judgment
Allowing a single witness to condemn someone would open the door to false accusations, prejudice, and wrongful convictions. This law acts as a crucial check against such dangers.
It's not just about preventing false condemnation, but about actually finding the truth. Why is two or three witnesses the standard for establishing a charge?
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The requirement for two or three witnesses serves a dual purpose: it protects the innocent and helps ensure the truth is established.
Corroboration and Credibility
When two or three people testify to the same event, their accounts can be compared and corroborated. This makes the testimony more reliable and helps to weed out falsehoods or misunderstandings.
The Power of Consensus
A single voice can be mistaken or malicious, but the agreement of multiple credible witnesses significantly increases the certainty of a charge being true. This helps judges and communities make more confident and just decisions.
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.
This passage reiterates the same law from Deuteronomy, emphasizing that a murderer can only be convicted based on the testimony of two or more witnesses, highlighting God's concern for justice and the sanctity of life.
Matthew 18:16Jesus echoes this principle in the New Testament, applying it to church discipline, stating that a matter is confirmed by the testimony of two or three witnesses, showing the enduring importance of corroboration.
John 8:17Jesus quotes directly from the Old Testament law (referencing Deuteronomy 17:6 and implicitly this verse) when confronting the Pharisees, underscoring the foundational legal and theological principle that two witnesses are required for a matter to be established.
1 Timothy 5:19The Apostle Paul directly references this Mosaic Law principle, instructing Timothy not to entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is supported by two or three witnesses, demonstrating its continued relevance for church governance and fair judgment.
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 eyewitness accounts; the phrasing "shall not rise up" and "shall be established" shows that the weight of testimony is what matters. It emphasizes that one voice, even if truthful, lacks the necessary authority to condemn someone, protecting individuals from hasty judgments and ensuring accusations stand on solid ground.
This instruction is given within a broader section detailing how Israel should set up just legal systems and address falsehood. Immediately preceding this, Moses discusses establishing cities of refuge to protect those who accidentally cause death, highlighting the preciousness of life. Following this verse, the text lays out severe penalties for false witnesses, establishing a principle of "eye for eye," ensuring that accusations are not made lightly and that justice protects the innocent from the potentially devastating impact of a single, uncorroborated claim.
This instruction is given within a broader section detailing how Israel should set up just legal systems and address falsehood. Immediately preceding this, Moses discusses establishing cities of refuge to protect those who accidentally cause death, highlighting the preciousness of life. Following this verse, the text lays out severe penalties for false witnesses, establishing a principle of "eye for eye," ensuring that accusations are not made lightly and that justice protects the innocent from the potentially devastating impact of a single, uncorroborated claim.
"“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 eyewitness accounts; the phrasing "shall not rise up" and "shall be established" shows that the weight of testimony is what matters. It emphasizes that one voice, even i…
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