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.

Then shall ye do {H6213} unto him, as he had thought {H2161} to have done {H6213} unto his brother {H251}: so shalt thou put {H1197} the evil {H7451} away {H1197} from among {H7130} you.

you are to do to him what he intended to do to his brother. In this way, you will put an end to such wickedness among you.

you must do to him as he intended to do to his brother. So you must purge the evil from among you.

then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to do unto his brother: so shalt thou put away the evil from the midst of thee.

Commentary

Commentary on Deuteronomy 19:19 (KJV)

Deuteronomy 19:19, from the King James Version, states: "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." This verse prescribes a severe punishment for a false witness, ensuring that justice is served and corruption is purged from the community.

Context

This verse is found within a section of the Mosaic Law dealing with judicial proceedings and the administration of justice in ancient Israel. Specifically, Deuteronomy 19:15-21 outlines the requirements for credible testimony, demanding two or three witnesses to establish a charge. The passage then addresses the serious offense of a "malicious witness" who testifies falsely against another. Deuteronomy 19:19 provides the specific retribution for such a crime: the false witness was to suffer the very penalty they intended to bring upon the innocent party.

Key Themes

  • Retributive Justice (Lex Talionis): The core principle here is a form of lex talionis, or "an eye for an eye", applied not literally to the false witness, but to the *intended* harm. If the false witness intended to have the accused put to death, the false witness would face death. If the intent was a fine, the false witness would pay that fine. This ensured that the punishment fit the crime's intent.
  • Deterrence: The severity of this punishment served as a powerful deterrent against perjury and false accusations. Knowing that one would suffer the exact same fate they sought for another would discourage malicious testimony.
  • Community Purity: The phrase "so shalt thou put the evil away from among you" emphasizes the theological and societal goal of these laws. False testimony was seen not just as a legal infraction but as a moral corruption that defiled the community. By executing swift and severe justice, Israel was to cleanse itself of wickedness and maintain its covenant faithfulness before God. This concept of removing evil from the midst was central to the Law.
  • Protection of the Innocent: These laws were designed to protect the innocent from unjust accusations and to uphold the integrity of the judicial system, which was vital for a just society.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "put the evil away from among you" (Hebrew: וּבִעַרְתָּ הָרָע מִקִּרְבֶּךָ - u·bi'arta hara' mikirbeka) signifies a strong act of purging or eradicating wickedness. It’s a recurring theme in Deuteronomy, emphasizing the need for Israel to maintain moral and spiritual purity by actively removing sources of corruption, whether idolatry, injustice, or other transgressions. This was not merely about punishment, but about the health and holiness of the entire nation.

Significance and Application

Deuteronomy 19:19 highlights the immense value God places on truth and justice, especially in legal matters. In ancient Israel, a person's life, reputation, and property could be decided by the testimony of witnesses, making the integrity of witness crucial. The law ensured that those who sought to pervert justice would face severe consequences.

While the New Testament introduces principles of grace and personal forgiveness, such as turning the other cheek (Matthew 5:38-39), these teachings primarily apply to individual retaliation, not to the function of civil government in administering justice. God's desire for justice and the suppression of evil remains central. This verse serves as a foundational principle for just legal systems: that false witnesses should be punished severely to deter perjury and ensure fair trials. The pursuit of truth and the protection of the innocent are timeless biblical values, essential for any well-ordered society, as echoed in Proverbs 19:9 which states that a false witness will not go unpunished.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Proverbs 19:5

    ¶ A false witness shall not be unpunished, and [he that] speaketh lies shall not escape.

  • Proverbs 19:9

    ¶ A false witness shall not be unpunished, and [he that] speaketh lies shall perish.

  • Daniel 6:24

    And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast [them] into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.

  • Deuteronomy 17:7

    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.

  • Deuteronomy 22:24

    Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, [being] in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbour's wife: so thou shalt put away evil from among you.

  • Deuteronomy 19:20

    And those which remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil among you.

  • 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.
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