Deuteronomy 19:15

Authorized King James Version

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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.

Original Language Analysis

לֹֽא H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 1 of 24
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יָק֥וּם be established H6965
יָק֥וּם be established
Strong's: H6965
Word #: 2 of 24
to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
עֵדִ֖ים witness H5707
עֵדִ֖ים witness
Strong's: H5707
Word #: 3 of 24
concretely, a witness; abstractly, testimony; specifically, a recorder, i.e., prince
אֶחָ֜ד One H259
אֶחָ֜ד One
Strong's: H259
Word #: 4 of 24
properly, united, i.e., one; or (as an ordinal) first
בְּאִ֗ישׁ against a man H376
בְּאִ֗ישׁ against a man
Strong's: H376
Word #: 5 of 24
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
לְכָל H3605
לְכָל
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 6 of 24
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
עָוֹן֙ for any iniquity H5771
עָוֹן֙ for any iniquity
Strong's: H5771
Word #: 7 of 24
perversity, i.e., (moral) evil
וּלְכָל H3605
וּלְכָל
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 8 of 24
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
חַטָּ֔את or for any sin H2403
חַטָּ֔את or for any sin
Strong's: H2403
Word #: 9 of 24
an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also (concretely) an offender
בְּכָל H3605
בְּכָל
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 10 of 24
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
חֵ֖טְא in any sin H2399
חֵ֖טְא in any sin
Strong's: H2399
Word #: 11 of 24
a crime or its penalty
אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 12 of 24
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
יֶֽחֱטָ֑א that he sinneth H2398
יֶֽחֱטָ֑א that he sinneth
Strong's: H2398
Word #: 13 of 24
properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn
עַל H5921
עַל
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 14 of 24
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
פִּ֥י at the mouth H6310
פִּ֥י at the mouth
Strong's: H6310
Word #: 15 of 24
the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with prepos
שְׁנֵ֣י of two H8147
שְׁנֵ֣י of two
Strong's: H8147
Word #: 16 of 24
two; also (as ordinal) twofold
עֵדִ֖ים witness H5707
עֵדִ֖ים witness
Strong's: H5707
Word #: 17 of 24
concretely, a witness; abstractly, testimony; specifically, a recorder, i.e., prince
א֛וֹ H176
א֛וֹ
Strong's: H176
Word #: 18 of 24
desire (and so probably in proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if
עַל H5921
עַל
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 19 of 24
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
פִּ֥י at the mouth H6310
פִּ֥י at the mouth
Strong's: H6310
Word #: 20 of 24
the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with prepos
שְׁלֹשָֽׁה of three H7969
שְׁלֹשָֽׁה of three
Strong's: H7969
Word #: 21 of 24
three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice
עֵדִ֖ים witness H5707
עֵדִ֖ים witness
Strong's: H5707
Word #: 22 of 24
concretely, a witness; abstractly, testimony; specifically, a recorder, i.e., prince
יָק֥וּם be established H6965
יָק֥וּם be established
Strong's: H6965
Word #: 23 of 24
to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
דָּבָֽר׃ shall the matter H1697
דָּבָֽר׃ shall the matter
Strong's: H1697
Word #: 24 of 24
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause

Analysis & Commentary

Witness requirement repeated: '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.' This reiterates Deuteronomy 17:6, extending from capital cases to all judicial matters. One witness is insufficient regardless of offense severity. The phrase 'shall the matter be established' (יָקוּם דָּבָר, yaqum davar) requires solid evidentiary foundation. This protects against false accusation and personal vendettas. Justice requires corroboration. The principle became foundational to biblical and Western jurisprudence. Paul applies it to church discipline (1 Timothy 5:19: 'against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses').

Historical Context

This law protected innocent from malicious prosecution. Naboth's case (1 Kings 21) shows corruption: Jezebel procured false witnesses to frame him. Despite legal form (multiple witnesses), substance was violated (lying testimony). Jesus's trial violated this—inconsistent witnesses, no proper testimony (Mark 14:56-59). The principle: procedural protections serve justice; corrupt procedures serve injustice. Modern legal systems similarly require corroboration, especially in serious cases. Church discipline processes should follow this pattern—private confrontation, two or three witnesses, then church-wide (Matthew 18:15-17).

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