16 If a malicious witness takes the stand to accuse someone of a crime,
16 If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong;
16 If a malicious witness arises to accuse a person of wrongdoing,
16 If a hostile witness stands to accuse someone of a wrong,
16 If a false witness rises against any man to testify against him of wrongdoing,
16 "If a malicious witness comes forward and accuses someone of a crime,
19 then do to the false witness as that witness intended to do to the other party. You must purge the evil from among you.
19 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.
19 then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother. So you shall purge the evil
19 give him the same medicine he intended for the other party. Clean the polluting evil from your company.
19 then you shall do to him as he thought to have done to his brother; so you shall put away the evil from among you.
19 you must impose on the accuser the sentence he intended for the other person. In this way, you will purge such evil from among you.
(Read Deuteronomy 19:15-21)
Sentence should never be passed upon the testimony of one witness alone. A false witness should suffer the same punishment which he sought to have inflicted upon the person he accused. Nor could any law be more just. Let all Christians not only be cautious in bearing witness in public, but be careful not to join in private slanders; and let all whose consciences accuse them of crime, without delay flee for refuge to the hope set before them in Jesus Christ.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Deuteronomy 19:16
Commentary on Deuteronomy 19:15-21
(Read Deuteronomy 19:15-21)
Sentence should never be passed upon the testimony of one witness alone. A false witness should suffer the same punishment which he sought to have inflicted upon the person he accused. Nor could any law be more just. Let all Christians not only be cautious in bearing witness in public, but be careful not to join in private slanders; and let all whose consciences accuse them of crime, without delay flee for refuge to the hope set before them in Jesus Christ.