Deuteronomy 19:15

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.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses addresses Israel on the plains of Moab, establishing legal standards for the community before they possess the inherited land. The directive functions as a procedural safeguard immediately following instructions on property boundaries and preceding rules on false testimony.

The words — עֵד אֶחָד ('ed 'echad) literally renders "a witness one," while יָקוּם (yaqum) means "he will stand" or "be established." The syntax negates the standing of a single witness's testimony against any person for any iniquity.

The thread — The requirement appears in Numbers 35:30 and Deuteronomy 17:6, and is later quoted in 2 Corinthians 13:1 regarding apostolic authority and church discipline.

Why it lands — The text mandates multiple independent accounts to validate any accusation, preventing convictions based on solitary claims. A reader must apply this standard by refusing to act on uncorroborated allegations and demanding verified testimony before taking legal or communal action.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

King James 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 the matter be established.

Cross-references

Numbers 35:30 If anyone kills a person, the murderer is to be put to death on the testimony of the witnesses. But no one is to be put to death based on the testimony of a lone witness.
Deuteronomy 17:6 On the testimony of two or three witnesses a man shall be put to death, but he shall not be executed on the testimony of a lone witness.
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.”
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.’
Hebrews 10:28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
John 8:17 Even in your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid.
1 Timothy 5:19 Do not entertain an accusation against an elder, except on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
1 Kings 21:10 But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them testify, ‘You have cursed both God and the king!’ Then take him out and stone him to death.”
1 Kings 21:13 And the two scoundrels came in and sat opposite Naboth, and these men testified against him before the people, saying, “Naboth has cursed both God and the king!” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death.
Matthew 26:60 But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward