Deuteronomy 19:18 - and the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and behold, if the witness is a false witness, and has testified falsely against his brother;
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What does "Deuteronomy 19:18" mean?
Deuteronomy 19:18 is a part of a passage dealing with false accusations. Let's break down what it means:
"and the judges shall make diligent inquisition": This means the judges are instructed to conduct a thorough and careful investigation. They can't just take the witness's testimony at face value. They need to look into the details, ask probing questions, and consider all the evidence to determine if the accusation is true. The word "inquisition" here doesn't carry the negative connotations it has from the historical Inquisition. Instead, it refers to a careful and thorough judicial inquiry.
"and behold, if the witness is a false witness": If, after their diligent investigation, the judges find that the person giving testimony is lying, they are declared to be a "false witness." This means they have deliberately misrepresented the truth.
"and has testified falsely against his brother": This specifies that the false testimony is directed against someone else. "Brother" here could refer to a literal sibling, but more broadly it refers to a fellow member of the Israelite community. The false testimony harms another member of their society.
In essence, the verse means:
The judges must thoroughly investigate any accusation. If they discover that a witness has lied and given false testimony against another person in the community, they have committed a serious offense.
Significance:
The verse highlights the importance of truth and justice in the legal system. It emphasizes the responsibility of judges to ensure fair trials and protect individuals from false accusations. It also underscores the severity of bearing false witness, as it can lead to severe consequences for the falsely accused. The following verse (Deuteronomy 19:19) dictates that the false witness should receive the punishment they intended to inflict upon the falsely accused. This is the concept of lex talionis (the law of retaliation), often summarized as "an eye for an eye."
The verse promotes accountability and discourages people from lying in court, protecting the innocent and upholding the integrity of the legal process.
Deuteronomy 19:18 - and the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and behold, if the witness is a false witness, and has testified falsely against his brother;
What does "Deuteronomy 19:18" mean?
Deuteronomy 19:18 is a part of a passage dealing with false accusations. Let's break down what it means:
"and the judges shall make diligent inquisition": This means the judges are instructed to conduct a thorough and careful investigation. They can't just take the witness's testimony at face value. They need to look into the details, ask probing questions, and consider all the evidence to determine if the accusation is true. The word "inquisition" here doesn't carry the negative connotations it has from the historical Inquisition. Instead, it refers to a careful and thorough judicial inquiry.
"and behold, if the witness is a false witness": If, after their diligent investigation, the judges find that the person giving testimony is lying, they are declared to be a "false witness." This means they have deliberately misrepresented the truth.
"and has testified falsely against his brother": This specifies that the false testimony is directed against someone else. "Brother" here could refer to a literal sibling, but more broadly it refers to a fellow member of the Israelite community. The false testimony harms another member of their society.
In essence, the verse means:
The judges must thoroughly investigate any accusation. If they discover that a witness has lied and given false testimony against another person in the community, they have committed a serious offense.
Significance:
The verse highlights the importance of truth and justice in the legal system. It emphasizes the responsibility of judges to ensure fair trials and protect individuals from false accusations. It also underscores the severity of bearing false witness, as it can lead to severe consequences for the falsely accused. The following verse (Deuteronomy 19:19) dictates that the false witness should receive the punishment they intended to inflict upon the falsely accused. This is the concept of lex talionis (the law of retaliation), often summarized as "an eye for an eye."
The verse promotes accountability and discourages people from lying in court, protecting the innocent and upholding the integrity of the legal process.