Deuteronomy 17:7
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.
Original Language Analysis
וְיַ֥ד
The hands
H3027
וְיַ֥ד
The hands
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
1 of 13
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
הָֽעֵדִ֞ים
of the witnesses
H5707
הָֽעֵדִ֞ים
of the witnesses
Strong's:
H5707
Word #:
2 of 13
concretely, a witness; abstractly, testimony; specifically, a recorder, i.e., prince
תִּֽהְיֶה
H1961
תִּֽהְיֶה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
3 of 13
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
בָרִֽאשֹׁנָה֙
shall be first
H7223
בָרִֽאשֹׁנָה֙
shall be first
Strong's:
H7223
Word #:
5 of 13
first, in place, time or rank (as adjective or noun)
לַֽהֲמִית֔וֹ
upon him to put him to death
H4191
לַֽהֲמִית֔וֹ
upon him to put him to death
Strong's:
H4191
Word #:
6 of 13
to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
וְיַ֥ד
The hands
H3027
וְיַ֥ד
The hands
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
7 of 13
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
8 of 13
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הָעָ֖ם
of all the people
H5971
הָעָ֖ם
of all the people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
9 of 13
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
בָּאַֽחֲרֹנָ֑ה
and afterward
H314
בָּאַֽחֲרֹנָ֑ה
and afterward
Strong's:
H314
Word #:
10 of 13
hinder; generally, late or last; specifically (as facing the east) western
Cross References
Deuteronomy 13:9But thou shalt surely kill him; thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people.1 Corinthians 5:13But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.Deuteronomy 17:12And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the LORD thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel.Deuteronomy 13:5And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.
Historical Context
Requiring witnesses to execute first prevented casual accusations—if you testified, you had to be willing to personally kill the accused, ensuring serious commitment to truth. Achan's execution (Joshua 7:25) and Naboth's false execution (1 Kings 21:13) illustrate this law in practice. Later Judaism developed such stringent evidentiary standards that capital punishment became rare.
Questions for Reflection
- How does requiring witnesses to participate in consequences affect the integrity of testimony today?
- What does 'purging evil from among you' look like in the church age without physical execution?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him—witnesses who testified must initiate execution, ensuring they stake their own integrity on their testimony. False witnesses thus risked exposure (Deuteronomy 19:16-19 prescribes reciprocal punishment). This deters perjury and frivolous accusations.
Afterward the hands of all the people—communal participation maintains covenant solidarity. The entire community, not professional executioners, bears responsibility. Put the evil away from among you (בִּעַרְתָּ הָרָע, bi'arta hara)—'burn out' or 'purge' the evil—like removing diseased tissue. This phrase appears repeatedly in Deuteronomy (13:5, 17:12, 19:19, 21:21, 22:21-24) for capital offenses threatening covenant purity. New Testament equivalent: church discipline removes unrepentant sin (1 Corinthians 5:1-13).