Bible Strands

Deuteronomy 19:18

The judges shall investigate thoroughly, and if the witness is proven to be a liar who has falsely accused his brother,

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses instructs the Israelite assembly on judicial procedure, directing the priests and judges standing before the LORD to examine disputed claims. The passage addresses the legal officers responsible for verifying testimony between conflicting parties.

The words — דָרְשׁוּ (darashu) translates literally as "they will investigate," and שֶׁקֶר (sheker) means "falsehood." These terms anchor the verse's focus on judicial inquiry and the exposure of perjury.

The thread — The mandate to probe claims thoroughly appears in Deuteronomy 13:14 and Deuteronomy 17:4, where leaders must verify reports before acting. This judicial standard is echoed in 2 Chronicles 19:6, which reminds judges that their authority derives from the LORD.

Why it lands — The text demands that officials verify testimony before rendering judgment, establishing that false accusations trigger proportional legal consequences. Readers must recognize that procedural diligence protects the community from injustice and upholds the integrity of the law.

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

וְדָרְשׁ֥וּve./da.re.Shuand/ they will investigateהַשֹּׁפְטִ֖יםha./sho.fe.Timthe/ judgesהֵיטֵ֑בhei.Tevthoroughly <do well>וְהִנֵּ֤הve./hi.Nehand/ there!עֵֽד־'ed-[is] a witness ofשֶׁ֙קֶר֙she.kerfalsehoodהָעֵ֔דha./'Edthe/ witnessשֶׁ֖קֶרShe.kerfalsehoodעָנָ֥ה'a.Nahhe has testifiedבְאָחִֽיו׃ve./'a.Chi/vagainst/ countryman/ his

King James Version

And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother;

Cross-references