Laws Concerning Witnesses

Deuteronomy 19

¹⁵ "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. _b Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established. ¹⁶ If _c a malicious witness arises to accuse a person of wrongdoing, ¹⁷ then both parties to the dispute shall appear before the Lord, _d before the priests and the judges who are in office in those days. ¹⁸ The judges shall _e inquire diligently, and if the witness is a false witness and has accused his brother falsely, ¹⁹ _f then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother. So you shall purge the evil ₁ from your midst. ²⁰ And the rest _g shall hear and fear, and shall never again commit any such evil among you. ²¹ _y Your eye shall not pity. _h It shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

1. Cross References
   Matthew 18:16
   But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
   2 Corinthians 13:1
   This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
   Numbers 35:30
   If anyone kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the evidence of witnesses. But no person shall be put to death on the testimony of one witness.
   
2. Cross References
   Exodus 23:1
   You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness.
   Psalms 35:11
   Malicious witnesses rise up; they ask me of things that I do not know.
   
3. Cross References
   Deuteronomy 17:8 - 9
   If any case arises requiring decision between one kind of homicide and another, one kind of legal right and another, or one kind of assault and another, any case within your towns that is too difficult for you, then you shall arise and go up to the place that the Lord your God will choose.
   Deuteronomy 21:5
   Then the priests, the sons of Levi, shall come forward, for the Lord your God has chosen them to minister to him and to bless in the name of the Lord, and by their word every dispute and every assault shall be settled.
   
4. Cross References
   Deuteronomy 13:14
   Then you shall inquire and make search and ask diligently. And behold, if it be true and certain that such an abomination has been done among you.
   Deuteronomy 17:4
   And it is told you and you hear of it, then you shall inquire diligently, and if it is true and certain that such an abomination has been done in Israel.
   
5. Cross References
   Proverbs 19:5
   A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will not escape.
   Proverbs 19:9
   A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish.
   Daniel 6:24
   And the king commanded, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions - they, their children, and their wives. And before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces.
   
6. Cross References
   Deuteronomy 13:11
   And all Israel shall hear and fear and never again do any such wickedness as this among you.
   
7. Cross References
   Deuteronomy 19:13
   Your eye shall not pity him, but you shall purge the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, so that it may be well with you.
   
8. Cross References
   Exodus 21:23 - 24
   But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life.