The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 19:16

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

To testify against him that which is wrong; literally, to testify against him defection, i.e. from the Law of God. The speaker has apparently in view here all such defections from the Law as would entail punishment on the convicted offender.

In Deuteronomy 13:5 (6), indeed, the crime described here as "that which is wrong" (margin, "falling away") is specially the crime of apostasy to idolatry; but the word ( סָרָה), though usually expressing apostasy from Jehovah, has properly the general sense of a deflection from a prescribed course (from סוּר, to go off, to go aside), and so may describe any departure from what is constituted right.

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commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 19:1-21EXPOSITION LAWS CONCERNING CITIES OF REFUGE. LANDMARKS NOT TO BE REMOVED. LAWS CONCERNING WITNESSES.Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryFalse Witnesses. (b. c. 1451.)FALSE WITNESSES. (B. C. 1451.) Here is a statute for the preventing of frauds and perjuries; for the divine law takes care of men's rights and properties, and has made a hedge about them. Such a friend is it to human so…Matthew Henry commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 19:14-21The law of retaliation. When we consider "retaliation," we find that it is the converse of the "golden rule." In fact, it is giving back to a person his breach of that rule to see how he likes it. It is just a rough met…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryMatthew Henry on Deuteronomy 19:15-21Sentence 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. Le…Matthew Henry commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 19:15-21Bulwark against perjury. "The tongue is an unruly member, and cannot easily be restrained." Private slander is base enough, but its basest utterance is when, in the sacred halls of justice, it swears away a man's reputa…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 19:15-21To secure against injury to life or property through inadequate or false attestation, it is enacted that more than one witness must appear before anything can be established; and that, should a witness be found on trial…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 19:16-21False witness. God's brand is here placed upon the crime of false witness. It was to be severely punished. Every one is interested in the suppression of such a crime-the parties whose interests are involved, society at…Joseph S. Exell and contributors