Deuteronomy 19:15
New International Version
One witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offense they may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.

New Living Translation
“You must not convict anyone of a crime on the testimony of only one witness. The facts of the case must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.

English Standard Version
“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.

Berean Standard Bible
A lone witness is not sufficient to establish any wrongdoing or sin against a man, regardless of what offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
“One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established.

New American Standard Bible
“A single witness shall not rise up against a person regarding any wrongdoing or any sin that he commits; on the testimony of two or three witnesses a matter shall be confirmed.

NASB 1995
“A single witness shall not rise up against a man on account of any iniquity or any sin which he has committed; on the evidence of two or three witnesses a matter shall be confirmed.

NASB 1977
“A single witness shall not rise up against a man on account of any iniquity or any sin which he has committed; on the evidence of two or three witnesses a matter shall be confirmed.

Legacy Standard Bible
“A single witness shall not rise up against a man on account of any iniquity or any sin which he has committed; at the mouth of two or three witnesses a matter shall be established.

Amplified Bible
“A single witness shall not appear in a trial against a man for any wrong or any sin which he has committed; [only] on the testimony or evidence of two or three witnesses shall a charge be confirmed.

Christian Standard Bible
“One witness cannot establish any iniquity or sin against a person, whatever that person has done. A fact must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
One witness cannot establish any wrongdoing or sin against a person, whatever that person has done. A fact must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”

American Standard Version
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 a matter be established.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
One witness shall not stand up against a man for any offense or for any sin in any sin that one will sin; by the mouth of two witnesses or by the mouth of three witnesses a word will be established.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
One witness shall not stand to testify against a man for any iniquity, or for any fault, or for any sin which he may commit; by the mouth of two witnesses, or by the mouth of three witnesses, shall every word be established.

Contemporary English Version
Before you are convicted of a crime, at least two witnesses must be able to testify that you did it.

Douay-Rheims Bible
One witness shall not rise up against any man, whatsoever the sin or wickedness be: but in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall stand.

English Revised Version
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 a matter be established.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
One witness is never enough to convict someone of a crime, offense, or sin he may have committed. Cases must be settled based on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

Good News Translation
"One witness is not enough to convict someone of a crime; at least two witnesses are necessary to prove that someone is guilty.

International Standard Version
"The testimony of one person alone is not to suffice to convict anyone of any iniquity, sin, or guilt. But the matter will stand on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

JPS Tanakh 1917
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 a matter be establishment

Literal Standard Version
One witness does not rise against a man for any iniquity and for any sin, in any sin which he sins; by the mouth of two witnesses or by the mouth of three witnesses is a thing established.

Majority Standard Bible
A lone witness is not sufficient to establish any wrongdoing or sin against a man, regardless of what offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.

New American Bible
One witness alone shall not stand against someone in regard to any crime or any offense that may have been committed; a charge shall stand only on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

NET Bible
A single witness may not testify against another person for any trespass or sin that he commits. A matter may be legally established only on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

New Revised Standard Version
A single witness shall not suffice to convict a person of any crime or wrongdoing in connection with any offense that may be committed. Only on the evidence of two or three witnesses shall a charge be sustained.

New Heart English Bible
One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sins: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall every word be established.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

World English Bible
One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin that he sins. At the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall a matter be established.

Young's Literal Translation
'One witness doth not rise against a man for any iniquity, and for any sin, in any sin which he sinneth; by the mouth of two witnesses, or by the mouth of three witnesses, is a thing established.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Testimony of Two or Three Witnesses
15A lone witness is not sufficient to establish any wrongdoing or sin against a man, regardless of what offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. 16If a false witness testifies against someone, accusing him of a crime,…

Cross References
Matthew 18:16
But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.'

Matthew 26:60
But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward

John 7:51
"Does our law convict a man without first hearing from him to determine what he has done?"

John 8:17
Even in your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid.

2 Corinthians 13:1
This is the third time I am coming to you. "Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses."

1 Timothy 5:19
Do not entertain an accusation against an elder, except on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

Hebrews 10:28
Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.


Treasury of Scripture

One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sins: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.

at the mouth

Deuteronomy 17:6
At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.

Numbers 35:30
Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die.

1 Kings 21:10,13
And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die…

Jump to Previous
Account Accused Committed Confirmed Connection Convict Crime Enough Established Establishment Evidence Iniquity Matter Mouth Offense Prevail Rise Sin Single Sinneth Sins Three Witness Witnesses Wrong
Jump to Next
Account Accused Committed Confirmed Connection Convict Crime Enough Established Establishment Evidence Iniquity Matter Mouth Offense Prevail Rise Sin Single Sinneth Sins Three Witness Witnesses Wrong
Deuteronomy 19
1. The cities of refuge
4. The privilege thereof for the manslayer
14. The landmark is not to be removed
15. At least two witnesses are required
16. the punishment of a false witness














Deuteronomy 19:15-21. FALSE TESTIMONY.

The law of retaliation is sternly laid down here; but it must be administered by the judges, not by men acting on their own behalf.

(17) Both the men . . . shall stand before the Lord, before the priests and the judges.--This appears to mean that all cases of suspected false testimony were to go before the supreme court (see Deuteronomy 17:9); that the matter was not to be lightly decided.

(21) Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.--This is to be effected by the award of the judges, not as a matter of private revenge. But manifestly it rests with the injured party to press the case.

Verses 15-21. - To secure against injury to life or property through inadequate or false attestation, it is enacted that more than one witness must appear before anything can be established; and that, should a witness be found on trial to have testified falsely against his neighbor, he was to be punished by having done to him what he thought to have done to his neighbor (cf. Deuteronomy 17:6; Numbers 35:30). Verse 15. - The rule in Deuteronomy 17:6, regarding accusations of idolatry, is here extended to accusations of every kind before a court of justice; a single witness was not to be admitted as sufficient to convict a man of any offence, either civil or criminal.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
A lone
אֶחָ֜ד (’e·ḥāḏ)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 259: United, one, first

witness
עֵ֨ד (‘êḏ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5707: A witness, testimony, a recorder, prince

is not sufficient
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

to establish
יָקוּם֩ (yā·qūm)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6965: To arise, stand up, stand

any
לְכָל־ (lə·ḵāl)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

wrongdoing
עָוֺן֙ (‘ā·wōn)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 5771: Iniquity, guilt, punishment for iniquity

[or]
וּלְכָל־ (ū·lə·ḵāl-)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

sin
חַטָּ֔את (ḥaṭ·ṭāṯ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2403: An offence, its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, expiation, an offender

against a man,
בְּאִ֗ישׁ (bə·’îš)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

regardless of what
בְּכָל־ (bə·ḵāl)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

offense
חֵ֖טְא (ḥêṭ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2399: A crime, its penalty

he may have committed.
יֶֽחֱטָ֑א (ye·ḥĕ·ṭā)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2398: To miss, to sin, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, lead astray, condemn

A matter
דָּבָֽר׃ (dā·ḇār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

must be established
יָק֥וּם (yā·qūm)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6965: To arise, stand up, stand

by
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the testimony
פִּ֣י ׀ (pî)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6310: The mouth, edge, portion, side, according to

of two
שְׁנֵ֣י (šə·nê)
Number - mdc
Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number)

or
א֛וֹ (’ōw)
Conjunction
Strong's 176: Desire, if

three
שְׁלֹשָֽׁה־ (šə·lō·šāh-)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 7969: Three, third, thrice

witnesses.
עֵדִ֗ים (‘ê·ḏîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5707: A witness, testimony, a recorder, prince


Links
Deuteronomy 19:15 NIV
Deuteronomy 19:15 NLT
Deuteronomy 19:15 ESV
Deuteronomy 19:15 NASB
Deuteronomy 19:15 KJV

Deuteronomy 19:15 BibleApps.com
Deuteronomy 19:15 Biblia Paralela
Deuteronomy 19:15 Chinese Bible
Deuteronomy 19:15 French Bible
Deuteronomy 19:15 Catholic Bible

OT Law: Deuteronomy 19:15 One witness shall not rise up against (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 19:14
Top of Page
Top of Page