Deuteronomy 17:7

KJV

The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put the evil away from among you.

KJV (with Strong's)

The hands {H3027} of the witnesses {H5707} shall be first {H7223} upon him to put him to death {H4191}, and afterward {H314} the hands {H3027} of all the people {H5971}. So thou shalt put {H1197} the evil {H7451} away {H1197} from among {H7130} you.

Complete Jewish Bible

The witnesses are to be the first to stone him to death; afterwards, all the people are to stone him. Thus you will put an end to this wickedness among you.

Berean Standard Bible

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.

American Standard Version

The hand of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people. So thou shalt put away the evil from the midst of thee.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Deuteronomy 17:7 meticulously details the judicial protocol for capital punishment in ancient Israel, mandating that the witnesses who testified against the accused must be the first to initiate the execution, followed by the collective participation of the entire community. This stringent procedure underscores the gravity of false witness, ensures due process, and ultimately serves the profound theological purpose of purging moral and spiritual evil from the midst of God's covenant people, thereby maintaining the nation's holiness and fidelity to divine law.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse stands as the climactic instruction within a specific legal pericope in [Deuteronomy 17:2-7](/deuteronomy/17-2-7 "Deuteronomy 17:2-7 - Laws Concerning Idolatry and Justice"), which addresses the severe capital offense of idolatry or other covenant-breaking transgressions. The preceding verses, [Deuteronomy 17:2-5](/deuteronomy/17-2-5 "Deuteronomy 17:2-5 - Punishment for Idolatry"), define the nature of such a crime and stipulate the necessity of a thorough investigation and judicial process. Crucially, [Deuteronomy 17:6](/deuteronomy/17-6 "Deuteronomy 17:6 - Requirement of Multiple Witnesses") lays down the foundational legal principle that a person can only be condemned to death "at the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses," a safeguard against wrongful conviction. Deuteronomy 17:7 then completes this legal framework by specifying the precise execution protocol, placing the initial burden of action directly on these credible witnesses, followed by the participation of the broader community, culminating in the overarching theological purpose of removing evil from Israel.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, capital punishment was a common practice, often carried out arbitrarily or by decree of a monarch. However, the Mosaic Law, as presented in Deuteronomy, sought to establish a unique and just legal system for Israel, emphasizing due process and the sanctity of life. Capital offenses were reserved for grave sins that directly undermined Israel's unique covenant relationship with Yahweh, such as idolatry, blasphemy, or premeditated murder. The requirement for multiple witnesses ([Deuteronomy 19:15](/deuteronomy/19-15 "Deuteronomy 19:15 - Law of Two or Three Witnesses")) was a significant legal innovation, preventing false accusations common in other cultures. Furthermore, the involvement of the witnesses themselves in the execution process was a powerful and distinct deterrent against perjury. It ensured that those who testified against an accused person bore the ultimate, physical responsibility for their accusation, making them far less likely to provide false witness out of malice or carelessness. This public and communal act reinforced the seriousness of the offense and the collective commitment of the Israelite community to maintaining its purity and holiness before God.

* **Key Themes:** [Deuteronomy 17:7](/deuteronomy/17-7 "Deuteronomy 17:7 - The Role of Witnesses in Execution") powerfully contributes to several foundational themes within the book of Deuteronomy and the broader Old Testament. Firstly, it highlights the paramount importance of **Justice and Due Process**, establishing rigorous legal procedures to ensure fair judgment and prevent wrongful death. This emphasis on judicial integrity is a recurring motif, as seen in the broader legal code of Deuteronomy and the requirement for multiple witnesses found in [Deuteronomy 19:15](/deuteronomy/19-15 "Deuteronomy 19:15 - Requirement for Multiple Witnesses"). Secondly, the verse underscores the pervasive theme of **Communal Responsibility and Purity**. The concluding phrase, "So thou shalt put the evil away from among you," is a recurring theological refrain throughout Deuteronomy (e.g., [Deuteronomy 13:5](/deuteronomy/13-5 "Deuteronomy 13:5 - Removing Evil from the Community"), [Deuteronomy 19:19](/deuteronomy/19-19 "Deuteronomy 19:19 - Removing False Witness"), [Deuteronomy 21:21](/deuteronomy/21-21 "Deuteronomy 21:21 - Removing a Rebellious Son")), emphasizing the nation's collective duty to purge moral and spiritual corruption to preserve its holiness and covenant fidelity. Finally, the public and communal nature of the execution, initiated by the very witnesses, served as a strong **Deterrent**, intended to instill fear and discourage others from committing similar grave sins that threatened the integrity of the covenant community.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Hands (Hebrew, _yâd_):** This primitive word, H3027, refers to "a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.))." In this context, "hands" functions as a metonymy, representing the direct, active involvement and agency of the individuals. It signifies their personal responsibility and the physical act they are required to perform. The emphasis is on their direct participation in carrying out the sentence.
* **Death (Hebrew, _mûwth_):** This primitive root, H4191, means "to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill." Here, it signifies the ultimate, irreversible penalty for severe covenant violations. The use of this verb emphasizes the finality of the judgment and the complete removal of the offender from the community, highlighting the gravity of the sin and the decisive nature of the divine law.
* **Evil (Hebrew, _raʻ_):** This word, H7451, derived from `rāʻaʻ`, means "bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)." In this verse, "the evil" refers to the moral and spiritual wickedness that has corrupted the individual and, by extension, threatens the purity of the entire community. Its removal is essential for maintaining the nation's holiness and its covenant relationship with God.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death":** This foundational clause establishes the unique and weighty responsibility of the witnesses. The phrase "the hands of the witnesses" signifies their direct, active participation. By requiring those who provided the testimony to initiate the execution, the law instituted a profound safeguard against perjury. It ensured that witnesses would not offer testimony lightly or falsely, as they would bear the immediate physical and moral burden of carrying out the sentence, thus validating the truthfulness and gravity of their sworn statements.
* **"and afterward the hands of all the people":** Following the witnesses, the entire community was to participate in the execution. This communal involvement transformed the act from a mere judicial sentence carried out by officials into a public declaration of the community's collective rejection of the egregious evil committed. It underscored the shared responsibility of all Israelites to uphold God's law, maintain the nation's purity, and reinforce the covenant obligations that bound them together as a holy people. This act served to publicly affirm the community's commitment to divine justice and its abhorrence of sin.
* **"So thou shalt put the evil away from among you":** This concluding phrase articulates the overarching purpose and profound theological rationale behind the entire process. The execution of the offender was not simply an act of retribution, but fundamentally an act of communal purification and spiritual cleansing. By removing the individual who embodied a severe evil, the nation collectively purged the defilement that threatened its holiness and its sacred relationship with God. This decisive act was essential for preserving the integrity of the covenant, ensuring God's continued presence, and securing His blessings among His people, demonstrating their commitment to a holy separation from wickedness.

#### Literary Devices
Deuteronomy 17:7 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its message with clarity and force. The use of **Metonymy** is prominent in the recurring phrase "the hands of the witnesses" and "the hands of all the people," where "hands" serves as a stand-in for the direct, active participation and personal responsibility of the individuals. This device succinctly conveys agency and direct involvement in the judicial process. The verse also functions as a precise **Legal Stipulation** or **Prescription**, characteristic of the Deuteronomic law code, providing clear, unambiguous instructions for judicial procedure in capital cases. The concluding phrase, "So thou shalt put the evil away from among you," acts as a potent **Didactic Formula** or **Refrain**, appearing multiple times throughout Deuteronomy to emphasize the theological rationale behind various judgments and the imperative for communal purity and holiness. This repetition creates a strong sense of **Emphasis** on the absolute necessity of purging wickedness from the community, reinforcing the sanctity of the covenant and the consequences of its violation.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Deuteronomy 17:7 encapsulates profound theological principles concerning divine justice, communal holiness, and the devastating consequences of sin. It reveals a God who demands absolute fidelity from His covenant people and provides clear, albeit severe, mechanisms for maintaining that fidelity. The meticulous process for capital punishment, with its emphasis on credible witnesses and communal participation, underscores God's unwavering commitment to righteousness and His intolerance of evil that defiles His holy community. This verse reminds us that sin, particularly that which directly assaults God's covenant, has far-reaching implications beyond the individual, impacting the entire collective. The "putting away of evil" is thus a theological imperative for the health, spiritual well-being, and continued blessing of God's people, demonstrating their corporate commitment to His standards.

* [Deuteronomy 13:5](/deuteronomy/13-5 "Deuteronomy 13:5 - Removing the Evil from Israel")
* [Deuteronomy 19:19](/deuteronomy/19-19 "Deuteronomy 19:19 - Removing the False Witness")
* [1 Corinthians 5:13](/1_corinthians/5-13 "1 Corinthians 5:13 - Expelling the Wicked Person")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the direct application of capital punishment as described in Deuteronomy 17:7 is specific to ancient Israel's theocratic context and is not directly transferable to New Covenant believers, the underlying principles offer enduring spiritual and ethical lessons for the church today. The verse profoundly emphasizes the gravity of bearing witness and the immense responsibility that comes with making accusations or judgments against others. It calls us to consider the weight of our words and the potential impact of our testimony, urging us towards truthfulness, integrity, and careful discernment, recognizing that our words can have life-altering consequences. Furthermore, the communal imperative to "put the evil away from among you" remains a vital call for the church today. This translates not into physical execution, but into a commitment to spiritual purity, confronting sin within the body of Christ, upholding biblical standards of righteousness, and fostering an environment where harmful influences are addressed through biblical discipline, repentance, and restoration, thereby preserving the integrity and witness of the Christian community in a manner consistent with the grace and truth revealed in Christ.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the emphasis on the witnesses' primary role in Deuteronomy 17:7 challenge our modern understanding of accountability and responsibility in legal or communal settings, particularly regarding the consequences of our testimony?**
* **In what ways can the principle of "putting the evil away from among you" be applied spiritually within a Christian community today, without resorting to physical punishment, and what forms might this "putting away" take?**
* **What is the significance of communal participation in upholding justice and righteousness, and how might this concept inform our collective responsibility for spiritual integrity in our churches or broader society?**
* **How does this passage deepen our understanding of the seriousness of sin and its pervasive impact not just on individuals but on the entire community of faith?**

### FAQ

**Why were the witnesses required to cast the first stone or initiate the execution?**

Answer: The requirement for the witnesses to be the first to initiate the execution served multiple critical purposes in ancient Israel's legal system, acting as a profound safeguard against injustice. Primarily, it functioned as a powerful deterrent against false testimony. Knowing that their accusation would directly lead to a person's death, and that they would be physically responsible for initiating that death, would compel witnesses to be extremely cautious and ensure their testimony was truthful and certain beyond any doubt. It placed the ultimate burden of proof and responsibility squarely on those who claimed to have seen the offense. This practice underscored the gravity of bearing witness in a capital case and protected against frivolous or malicious accusations, ensuring that convictions were based on credible and certain evidence, as explicitly mandated in [Deuteronomy 19:15](/deuteronomy/19-15 "Deuteronomy 19:15 - Requirement for Multiple Witnesses").

**What does "put the evil away from among you" mean in a broader sense?**

Answer: The phrase "put the evil away from among you" (Hebrew: _ba‘ar hara‘ mikirbeka_) is a recurring and highly significant theological motif in Deuteronomy, signifying a decisive act of purification and eradication of moral or spiritual corruption from the community. It means to thoroughly purge, cleanse, or remove that which is wicked, defiling, or disobedient to God's covenant from the midst of His people. In the context of Deuteronomy, this often refers to severe sins like idolatry ([Deuteronomy 13:5](/deuteronomy/13-5 "Deuteronomy 13:5 - Removing Idolatry")), false witness ([Deuteronomy 19:19](/deuteronomy/19-19 "Deuteronomy 19:19 - Removing False Witness")), or rebellion ([Deuteronomy 21:21](/deuteronomy/21-21 "Deuteronomy 21:21 - Removing a Rebellious Son")). The profound theological implication is that unaddressed evil within the community would defile the entire nation, jeopardize its covenant relationship with God, and potentially lead to divine judgment. Therefore, its decisive removal was essential for maintaining holiness, securing God's blessing, and preserving the integrity of Israel's identity as a holy nation set apart for Yahweh.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Deuteronomy 17:7, with its stark depiction of purging evil through physical death, finds its ultimate and profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ, though not in a literal, retributive sense. The Old Testament law, including its severe penalties and the imperative to "put away evil," highlighted the absolute holiness of God and the devastating, defiling nature of sin, which brings spiritual death and separates humanity from its Creator. Jesus, as the perfect Lamb of God, became the ultimate "putting away of evil" for humanity, not by executing others, but by being executed Himself. He bore the full weight of humanity's sin and its just penalty on the cross, becoming a curse for us ([Galatians 3:13](/galatians/3-13 "Galatians 3:13 - Christ Redeemed Us from the Curse of the Law")) so that we might be cleansed from all unrighteousness. Through His atoning sacrifice, Christ definitively "put away" sin, not merely from the community, but from the very presence of God for those who believe, offering forgiveness and spiritual purification that the Old Covenant's physical purifications could only foreshadow ([Hebrews 9:26](/hebrews/9-26 "Hebrews 9:26 - Christ Appeared to Put Away Sin")). In the New Covenant, the emphasis shifts from the physical removal of an individual to the spiritual transformation of the heart and the internal cleansing of the community of believers. The church, as the body of Christ, is called to maintain its purity not through capital punishment, but through spiritual discernment, repentance, forgiveness, and, when necessary, restorative church discipline, always reflecting the grace and truth of the One who perfectly removed the ultimate evil—sin itself—from our midst, making us a new lump, unleavened with malice and evil ([1 Corinthians 5:7](/1_corinthians/5-7 "1 Corinthians 5:7 - Cleanse Out the Old Leaven")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Deuteronomy 13:9

But thou shalt surely kill him; thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people.

1 Corinthians 5:13

But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

Deuteronomy 17:12

And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the LORD thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel.

Deuteronomy 13:5

And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn [you] away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.

Deuteronomy 24:7

If a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and maketh merchandise of him, or selleth him; then that thief shall die; and thou shalt put evil away from among you.

Deuteronomy 19:19

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.

Acts 7:58

And cast [him] out of the city, and stoned [him]: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.