then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Deuteronomy 19:19
What does Deuteronomy 19:19 mean?
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Deuteronomy 19:19
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What's so striking here is that the law isn't just about punishing a liar, but about the intent behind their words. The Hebrew word translated "meant to do" points to the active, evil plotting in the false witness's heart. This reveals that God’s justice targets not only the act but the malicious purpose behind it, calling for the removal of that deeply ingrained "evil" from the community.
then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage is part of a larger section detailing laws for justice and community purity, specifically addressing how to handle false testimony. Following the command that accusations must be supported by two or three witnesses, this law lays out the severe penalty for a false witness: they are to receive the exact punishment they intended for the accused, thereby purging such wickedness from their midst.
When someone tries to ruin your life with lies, what's the right response? This verse lays out a principle that sounds harsh but is rooted in profound justice.
The Principle of Retaliation
Deuteronomy 19:19 introduces a principle often summarized as 'an eye for an eye.' But it's not just about vengeance; it's about precise justice.
Justice isn't just about punishing the guilty; it's about protecting the whole community. This verse highlights a vital, often overlooked, aspect of God's law.
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The Goal: A Purified Community
The second part of the verse, 'So you shall purge the evil from your midst,' reveals the ultimate purpose behind this law.
This wasn't about creating a perfect society overnight, but about a constant, active process of purification guided by God's standards.
Understand the original words
ba‘ar · Hebrew Verb
The act of removing moral impurity or wickedness from the community, ensuring that the people remain holy and set apart for God's presence.
ra‘ah · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
A broad category for anything that is morally wicked, corrupt, or contrary to the will of God, often requiring decisive action to remove it from the covenant community.
This passage lays out the principle of 'an eye for an eye,' which is the foundational concept behind the punishment of retaliation described in Deuteronomy 19:19.
Leviticus 24:19-20This passage reiterates the law of retaliation for injury, directly paralleling the severity and fairness of the punishment for a false witness in Deuteronomy.
Proverbs 6:16-19While not directly about legal punishment, this proverb lists 'a false witness who breathes out lies' as one of the things the Lord hates, highlighting the deep moral evil of such actions.
Matthew 26:59-60This passage shows the ultimate application of false witness, where individuals lied against Jesus, demonstrating the real-world and spiritual danger of such accusations.
Acts 6:11-13This event illustrates how false witnesses were suborned to testify against Stephen, mirroring the scenario in Deuteronomy and showing the ongoing threat of malicious testimony.
calvinDeuteronomy 19:16-21: "If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong;"
- If a false witness rise up against any man. Because the fear of God does not so prevail in all men, as that they should voluntarily abstain from the love of slander, God here appoints the punishment to be inflicted for perjury: for political laws are enacted against the ungodly and disobedient, in order that those who despise God's judgment should be brought before the tribunal of…
gillDeuteronomy 19:19: "Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you."
Then shall ye do unto him as he had thought to have done unto his brother,.... Inflict the same fine or punishment on him he thought to have brought his brother under by his false testimony of him; whether any pecuniary fine, or whipping and scourging, or the loss of a member, or the value of it, or death itself; whether stoning, strangling, burning, o…
What's so striking here is that the law isn't just about punishing a liar, but about the intent behind their words. The Hebrew word translated "meant to do" points to the active, evil plotting in the false witness's heart. This reveals that God’s justice targets not only the act but the malicious purpose behind it, calling for the removal of that deeply ingrained "evil" from the community.
This passage is part of a larger section detailing laws for justice and community purity, specifically addressing how to handle false testimony. Following the command that accusations must be supported by two or three witnesses, this law lays out the severe penalty for a false witness: they are to receive the exact punishment they intended for the accused, thereby purging such wickedness from their midst.
This passage is part of a larger section detailing laws for justice and community purity, specifically addressing how to handle false testimony. Following the command that accusations must be supported by two or three witnesses, this law lays out the severe penalty for a false witness: they are to receive the exact punishment they intended for the accused, thereby purging such wickedness from their midst.
"then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother. So you shall purge the evil from your midst." — What's so striking here is that the law isn't just about punishing a liar, but about the intent behind their words. The Hebrew word translated "meant to do" points to the active, evil plotting in t…
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Last reviewed October 2026