Deuteronomy 19:19
Deuteronomy 19:19 in Multiple Translations
you must do to him as he intended to do to his brother. So you must purge the evil from among you.
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 do unto his brother: so shalt thou put away the evil from the midst of thee.
Then do to him what it was his purpose to do to his brother: and so put away the evil from among you.
then you must punish the accuser in the same way they wanted to punish their victim. You must eliminate this evil from among you.
Then shall yee doe vnto him as hee had thought to doe vnto his brother: so thou shalt take euil away forth of the middes of thee.
'Then ye have done to him as he devised to do to his brother, and thou hast put away the evil thing out of thy midst,
then you shall do to him as he had thought to do to his brother. So you shall remove the evil from among you.
Then shall ye do to him, as he had thought to do to his brother: so shalt thou remove the evil from among you.
They shall render to him as he meant to do to his brother, and thou shalt take away the evil out of the midst of thee:
that person must be punished in the same way that the other one would have been punished if the judge decided that he ◄was guilty/had done what is wrong►. By punishing such people, you will get rid of this evil practice among you.
Berean Amplified Bible — Deuteronomy 19:19
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Deuteronomy 19:19 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וַ/עֲשִׂ֣יתֶם
ל֔/וֹ
כַּ/אֲשֶׁ֥ר
זָמַ֖ם
לַ/עֲשׂ֣וֹת
לְ/אָחִ֑י/ו
וּ/בִֽעַרְתָּ֥
הָ/רָ֖ע
מִ/קִּרְבֶּֽ/ךָ
וַ/עֲשִׂ֣יתֶם
ʻâsâh
H6213
to make
Conj | V-Qal-2mp
ל֔/וֹ
Prep | Suff
כַּ/אֲשֶׁ֥ר
ʼăsher
H834
which
Prep | Rel
זָמַ֖ם
zâmam
H2161
to plan
V-Qal-Perf-3ms
לַ/עֲשׂ֣וֹת
ʻâsâh
H6213
to make
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a
לְ/אָחִ֑י/ו
ʼâch
H251
brother
Prep | N-ms | Suff
וּ/בִֽעַרְתָּ֥
bâʻar
H1197
to burn
Conj | V-Piel-2ms
הָ/רָ֖ע
raʻ
H7451
bad
Art | Adj
מִ/קִּרְבֶּֽ/ךָ
qereb
H7130
entrails
Prep | N-ms | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Deuteronomy 19:19
וַ/עֲשִׂ֣יתֶם
ʻâsâh
H6213
"to make"
Conj | V-Qal-2mp
This verb means to make or do something, and is used over 2,600 times in the Bible. It is first used in Genesis 1:7 to describe God's creation of the world and is also used in Exodus 31:5 to describe the work of skilled craftsmen.
Definition: : make(OBJECT) 1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to do, work, make, produce 1a1a) to do 1a1b) to work 1a1c) to deal (with) 1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect 1a2) to make 1a2a) to make 1a2b) to produce 1a2c) to prepare 1a2d) to make (an offering) 1a2e) to attend to, put in order 1a2f) to observe, celebrate 1a2g) to acquire (property) 1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute 1a2i) to bring about 1a2j) to use 1a2k) to spend, pass 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be done 1b2) to be made 1b3) to be produced 1b4) to be offered 1b5) to be observed 1b6) to be used 1c) (Pual) to be made
Usage: Occurs in 2286 OT verses. KJV: accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use. See also: Genesis 1:7; Genesis 34:19; Exodus 18:24.
ל֔/וֹ
""
Prep | Suff
כַּ/אֲשֶׁ֥ר
ʼăsher
H834
"which"
Prep | Rel
This Hebrew word is a conjunction that connects ideas and events in the Bible, like in the book of Genesis, where it's used to describe the relationship between God and His creation.
Definition: A: 1) (relative part.) 1a) which, who 1b) that which 2) (conj) 2a) that (in obj clause) 2b) when 2c) since 2d) as 2e) conditional if B: Beth+ 1) in (that) which 2) (adv) 2a) where 3) (conj) 3a) in that, inasmuch as 3b) on account of C: Mem+ 1) from (or than) that which 2) from (the place) where 3) from (the fact) that, since D: Kaph+ 1) (conj.), according as, as, when 1a) according to that which, according as, as 1b) with a causal force: in so far as, since 1c) with a temporal force: when
Usage: Occurs in 4440 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] after, [idiom] alike, as (soon as), because, [idiom] every, for, [phrase] forasmuch, [phrase] from whence, [phrase] how(-soever), [idiom] if, (so) that ((thing) which, wherein), [idiom] though, [phrase] until, [phrase] whatsoever, when, where ([phrase] -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, [phrase] whither(-soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun expletively, used to show the connection. See also: Genesis 1:7; Genesis 20:9; Genesis 31:16.
זָמַ֖ם
zâmam
H2161
"to plan"
V-Qal-Perf-3ms
This Hebrew word means to plan, often with bad intentions, like plotting or scheming. It appears in the Bible when someone is thinking of doing something evil. In the KJV, it's translated as 'consider, devise, imagine, plot, purpose, think evil'.
Definition: 1) to have a thought, devise, plan, consider, purpose 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to consider, fix thought upon 1a2) to purpose, devise 1a3) to plot (of evil intent)
Usage: Occurs in 13 OT verses. KJV: consider, devise, imagine, plot, purpose, think (evil). See also: Genesis 11:6; Proverbs 31:16; Psalms 17:3.
לַ/עֲשׂ֣וֹת
ʻâsâh
H6213
"to make"
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a
This verb means to make or do something, and is used over 2,600 times in the Bible. It is first used in Genesis 1:7 to describe God's creation of the world and is also used in Exodus 31:5 to describe the work of skilled craftsmen.
Definition: : make(OBJECT) 1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to do, work, make, produce 1a1a) to do 1a1b) to work 1a1c) to deal (with) 1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect 1a2) to make 1a2a) to make 1a2b) to produce 1a2c) to prepare 1a2d) to make (an offering) 1a2e) to attend to, put in order 1a2f) to observe, celebrate 1a2g) to acquire (property) 1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute 1a2i) to bring about 1a2j) to use 1a2k) to spend, pass 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be done 1b2) to be made 1b3) to be produced 1b4) to be offered 1b5) to be observed 1b6) to be used 1c) (Pual) to be made
Usage: Occurs in 2286 OT verses. KJV: accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use. See also: Genesis 1:7; Genesis 34:19; Exodus 18:24.
לְ/אָחִ֑י/ו
ʼâch
H251
"brother"
Prep | N-ms | Suff
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means a brother or male sibling, but it can also refer to a close relative, friend, or someone with a similar relationship. It is used to describe the bond between brothers, like the relationship between Cain and Abel in Genesis.
Definition: : male-sibling 1) brother 1a) brother of same parents 1b) half-brother (same father) 1c) relative, kinship, same tribe 1d) each to the other (reciprocal relationship) 1e) (fig.) of resemblance
Usage: Occurs in 572 OT verses. KJV: another, brother(-ly); kindred, like, other. Compare also the proper names beginning with 'Ah-' or 'Ahi-'. See also: Genesis 4:2; Genesis 42:13; Numbers 25:6.
וּ/בִֽעַרְתָּ֥
bâʻar
H1197
"to burn"
Conj | V-Piel-2ms
To be brutish means to be stupid or barbarous, and can also refer to consuming something by fire or eating. It is used to describe someone who is dull-hearted or unreceptive.
Definition: : burn/ignite 1) to burn, consume, kindle, be kindled 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to begin to burn, be kindled, start burning 1a2) to burn, be burning 1a3) to burn, consume 1a4) Jehovah's wrath, human wrath (fig.) 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to kindle, burn 1b2) to consume, remove (of guilt) (fig.) 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to kindle 1c2) to burn up 1c3) to consume (destroy) 1d) (Pual) to burn
Usage: Occurs in 90 OT verses. KJV: be brutish, bring (put, take) away, burn, (cause to) eat (up), feed, heat, kindle, set (on fire), waste. See also: Exodus 3:2; Psalms 39:4; Psalms 2:12.
הָ/רָ֖ע
raʻ
H7451
"bad"
Art | Adj
Ra means bad or evil, referring to moral or natural harm. It describes adversity, affliction, or distress, and is often used to convey a sense of misery or injury.
Definition: : harmful adj 1) bad, evil 1a) bad, disagreeable, malignant 1b) bad, unpleasant, evil (giving pain, unhappiness, misery) 1c) evil, displeasing 1d) bad (of its kind-land, water, etc) 1e) bad (of value) 1f) worse than, worst (comparison) 1g) sad, unhappy 1h) evil (hurtful) 1i) bad, unkind (vicious in disposition) 1j) bad, evil, wicked (ethically) 1j1) in general, of persons, of thoughts 1j2) deeds, actions
Usage: Occurs in 623 OT verses. KJV: adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, [phrase] displease(-ure), distress, evil((-favouredness), man, thing), [phrase] exceedingly, [idiom] great, grief(-vous), harm, heavy, hurt(-ful), ill (favoured), [phrase] mark, mischief(-vous), misery, naught(-ty), noisome, [phrase] not please, sad(-ly), sore, sorrow, trouble, vex, wicked(-ly, -ness, one), worse(-st), wretchedness, wrong. (Incl. feminine raaah; as adjective or noun.). See also: Genesis 2:9; Judges 9:57; 2 Kings 21:6.
מִ/קִּרְבֶּֽ/ךָ
qereb
H7130
"entrails"
Prep | N-ms | Suff
This Hebrew word means the inner part or midst of something, whether physical or emotional, and can refer to the entrails of an animal or the seat of thought and emotion. In 1 Kings 17:21, it describes Elijah's emotional plea to God.
Definition: : among/within 1) midst, among, inner part, middle 1a) inward part 1a1) physical sense 1a2) as seat of thought and emotion 1a3) as faculty of thought and emotion 1b) in the midst, among, from among (of a number of persons) 1c) entrails (of sacrificial animals) Also means: qe.rev (קֶ֫רֶב ": inner_parts" H7130H)
Usage: Occurs in 220 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] among, [idiom] before, bowels, [idiom] unto charge, [phrase] eat (up), [idiom] heart, [idiom] him, [idiom] in, inward ([idiom] -ly, part, -s, thought), midst, [phrase] out of, purtenance, [idiom] therein, [idiom] through, [idiom] within self. See also: Genesis 18:12; Joshua 7:12; Psalms 5:10.
Study Notes — Deuteronomy 19:19
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Deuteronomy 19:19 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Deuteronomy 19:19
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Deuteronomy 19:19
- Ellicott's Commentary on Deuteronomy 19:19
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Deuteronomy 19:19
- Cambridge Bible on Deuteronomy 19:19
- Barnes' Notes on Deuteronomy 19:19
- Whedon's Commentary on Deuteronomy 19:19
- Sermons on Deuteronomy 19:19
Context — The Testimony of Two or Three Witnesses
17both parties to the dispute must stand in the presence of the LORD, before the priests and judges who are in office at that time.
18The judges shall investigate thoroughly, and if the witness is proven to be a liar who has falsely accused his brother,
19you must do to him as he intended to do to his brother. So you must purge the evil from among you.
20Then the rest of the people will hear and be afraid, and they will never again do anything so evil among you. 21You must show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, and foot for foot.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 19:5 | A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape. |
| 2 | Proverbs 19:9 | A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who pours out lies will perish. |
| 3 | Daniel 6:24 | At the command of the king, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought and thrown into the den of lions—they and their children and wives. And before they had reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones. |
| 4 | Deuteronomy 17:7 | The hands of the witnesses shall be the first in putting him to death, and after that, the hands of all the people. So you must purge the evil from among you. |
| 5 | Deuteronomy 22:24 | you must take both of them out to the gate of that city and stone them to death—the young woman because she did not cry out in the city, and the man because he has violated his neighbor’s wife. So you must purge the evil from among you. |
| 6 | Deuteronomy 13:5 | Such a prophet or dreamer must be put to death, because he has advocated rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery; he has tried to turn you from the way in which the LORD your God has commanded you to walk. So you must purge the evil from among you. |
| 7 | Deuteronomy 21:20–21 | and say to the elders, “This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious; he does not obey us. He is a glutton and a drunkard.” Then all the men of his city will stone him to death. So you must purge the evil from among you, and all Israel will hear and be afraid. |
| 8 | Jeremiah 14:15 | Therefore this is what the LORD says about the prophets who prophesy in My name: I did not send them, yet they say, ‘No sword or famine will touch this land.’ By sword and famine these very prophets will meet their end! |
| 9 | Deuteronomy 19:20 | Then the rest of the people will hear and be afraid, and they will never again do anything so evil among you. |
| 10 | Deuteronomy 24:7 | If a man is caught kidnapping one of his Israelite brothers, whether he treats him as a slave or sells him, the kidnapper must die. So you must purge the evil from among you. |
Deuteronomy 19:19 Summary
This verse, Deuteronomy 19:19, is saying that if someone lies about another person, they should be punished in the same way that they wanted the other person to be punished. This is to help keep the community safe and to encourage people to tell the truth. It's like what it says in Proverbs 12:22, 'the LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are truthful'. By punishing false witnesses, the Israelites were able to maintain a sense of justice and fairness in their community, and we can learn from this principle today by striving to be honest and truthful in all our interactions with others (as seen in Colossians 3:9-10).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of punishing the false witness in Deuteronomy 19:19?
The purpose is to purge the evil from among the people, as stated in the verse, and to serve as a deterrent to others, as seen in Deuteronomy 19:20, where it says that the rest of the people will hear and be afraid, and never again do anything so evil among them.
Is the punishment in Deuteronomy 19:19 an example of the 'eye for an eye' principle?
Yes, the punishment in Deuteronomy 19:19 is an example of the 'eye for an eye' principle, which is also mentioned in Deuteronomy 19:21, where it says 'life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, and foot for foot', and is also seen in other passages such as Leviticus 24:20 and Exodus 21:24.
Does the punishment in Deuteronomy 19:19 apply to us today?
While the specific punishment in Deuteronomy 19:19 was given to the Israelites under the Old Covenant, the principle of punishing false witnesses and purging evil from among the people is still relevant today, as seen in passages such as Ephesians 5:11, where it says to 'have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them'.
How does Deuteronomy 19:19 relate to the concept of justice in the Bible?
Deuteronomy 19:19 shows that justice in the Bible is not just about punishing the guilty, but also about protecting the innocent, as seen in Deuteronomy 19:18, where the judges are to investigate thoroughly to determine the truth, and in other passages such as Proverbs 21:15, where it says 'when justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers'.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I can 'purge the evil from among' my own life, as mentioned in Deuteronomy 19:19?
- How can I balance the need for justice with the need for mercy and forgiveness, as seen in passages such as Matthew 5:38-42?
- What are some ways that false witnesses can cause harm, and how can I avoid being a false witness myself?
- How can I use my words and actions to build up and protect others, rather than tearing them down or accusing them falsely?
- What does Deuteronomy 19:19 teach me about the importance of honesty and integrity in my relationships with others?
Gill's Exposition on Deuteronomy 19:19
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;
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Deuteronomy 19:19
If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong; But if convicted of perjury, it will be sufficient for his own condemnation, and his punishment shall be exactly
Ellicott's Commentary on Deuteronomy 19:19
Deuteronomy 19:15-21. FALSE .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.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Deuteronomy 19:19
Verse 19. Then shall ye do unto him as he had thought to have done unto his brother] Nothing can be more equitable or proper than this, that if a man endeavour to do any injury to or take away the life of another, on detection he shall be caused to undergo the same evil which he intended for his innocent neighbour. Some of our excellent English laws have been made on this very ground. In the 37th of Edw. III., chap. 18, it is ordained that all those who make suggestion shall incur the same pain which the other should have had, if he were attainted, in case his suggestions be found evil. A similar law was made in the 38th of the same reign, chap. 9. By a law of the twelve Tables, a false witness was thrown down the Tarpeian rock. In short, false witnesses have been execrated by all nations.
Cambridge Bible on Deuteronomy 19:19
19. shall ye do] the only Pl. in the passage, confirmed by Sam. LXX; either a clerical error or an instance of the possibility of a writer slipping from one form of address into the other. Read shalt thou. thought] Heb. zamam, devised. so shalt thou put away] Frequent in this Code, see on Deuteronomy 13:5 (6).
Barnes' Notes on Deuteronomy 19:19
See the marginal references.
Whedon's Commentary on Deuteronomy 19:19
19. Do unto him, as he had thought to have done — The convicted perjurer was to suffer the identical punishment that would have been inflicted upon the one against whom he falsely testified, had he been proven guilty. Comp.
Sermons on Deuteronomy 19:19
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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(Proverbs) ch.18:4 - 19:5 by Zac Poonen | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the danger of building a crowd of admirers based on generosity, as it can hinder the growth of the body of Christ. The Bible warns that a fal |
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(Proverbs) ch.19:5 - 20:6 by Zac Poonen | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the consequences of lying and the importance of following God's laws. He emphasizes that no one can escape the punishment for their sins, as |
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Some Indirect Ways of Lying by J.R. Miller | J.R. Miller addresses the various forms of untruthfulness, emphasizing that lies can be conveyed through tone, emphasis, and even statistics. He categorizes lies into three types: |
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Lying Lips by Erlo Stegen | This sermon focuses on the seriousness of lying according to Proverbs 12:22, highlighting how lying lips are an abomination to the Lord. The speaker emphasizes the importance of sp |
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Some of the Mis Representations by Job Scott | In this sermon, the preacher exposes the misrepresentations contained in a pamphlet titled 'A Letter from a Friend in America to Luke Howard of Tottenham, near London.' The preache |
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The Ignatian Epistles Entirely Spurious - Part 3 by William Dool Killen | William Dool Killen preaches about the controversy surrounding the date of the martyrdom of Polycarp and its implications on the Ignatian Epistles. He discusses the arguments prese |
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Homily 3 on Romans by St. John Chrysostom | John Chrysostom preaches on Romans 1:18, emphasizing the severity of God's wrath against ungodliness and unrighteousness, revealing how those who reject the truth are left to their |