Catholic Bible
Mosaico decorativo

Deuteronomy, 19

1. 'When Yahweh your God has annihilated the nations whose country Yahweh your God is going to give you, and you have dispossessed them and are living in their towns and in their houses,

1. "When the LORD your God cuts off the nations whose land the LORD your God gives you, and you dispossess them and dwell in their cities and in their houses,

2. you must set aside three towns, centrally placed in the country which Yahweh your God is giving you for your own.

2. you shall set apart three cities for you in the land which the LORD your God gives you to possess.

3. You will keep the approaches to them in good order, dividing the area of the country which Yahweh your God is giving you as your heritage, into three parts, so that any killer can flee to these towns.

3. You shall prepare the roads, and divide into three parts the area of the land which the LORD your God gives you as a possession, so that any manslayer can flee to them.

4. Here is an example of how someone may save his life by fleeing to them. 'If anyone has struck his fellow accidentally, without any previous feud with him

4. "This is the provision for the manslayer, who by fleeing there may save his life. If any one kills his neighbor unintentionally without having been at enmity with him in time past --

5. (for example, he goes with his fellow into the forest to cut wood; his arm swings the axe to fell a tree; the head slips off the handle and strikes his companion dead), that man may take refuge in one of these towns and save his life.

5. as when a man goes into the forest with his neighbor to cut wood, and his hand swings the axe to cut down a tree, and the head slips from the handle and strikes his neighbor so that he dies -- he may flee to one of these cities and save his life;

6. It must not be allowed that the avenger of blood, in the heat of his anger, should pursue the killer and that the length of the road should help him to overtake and wound him fatally; for the man has not deserved to die, having had no previous feud with his victim.

6. lest the avenger of blood in hot anger pursue the manslayer and overtake him, because the way is long, and wound him mortally, though the man did not deserve to die, since he was not at enmity with his neighbor in time past.

7. 'Hence I am giving you this order: You must set aside three towns,

7. Therefore I command you, You shall set apart three cities.

8. and if Yahweh your God enlarges your territory, as he swore to your ancestors that he would, and gives you the whole country which he promised to give to your ancestors-

8. And if the LORD your God enlarges your border, as he has sworn to your fathers, and gives you all the land which he promised to give to your fathers --

9. provided that you keep and observe all the commandments which I am enjoining on you today, loving Yahweh your God and always following his ways-then, to those three towns you will add three more.

9. provided you are careful to keep all this commandment, which I command you this day, by loving the LORD your God and by walking ever in his ways -- then you shall add three other cities to these three,

10. In this way, innocent blood will not be shed in the country which Yahweh your God is going to give you as your heritage; otherwise you would incur blood-guilt.

10. lest innocent blood be shed in your land which the LORD your God gives you for an inheritance, and so the guilt of bloodshed be upon you.

11. 'But if it happens that a man has a feud with his fellow and lies in wait for him and attacks him and fatally wounds him and he dies, and the man takes refuge in one of these towns,

11. "But if any man hates his neighbor, and lies in wait for him, and attacks him, and wounds him mortally so that he dies, and the man flees into one of these cities,

12. the elders of his own town must send there and have him taken and handed over to the avenger of blood, to be put to death.

12. then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him from there, and hand him over to the avenger of blood, so that he may die.

13. You must show him no pity. You must banish the shedding of innocent blood from Israel, and then you will prosper.

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.

14. 'You must not displace your neighbour's boundary mark, positioned by men of old in the heritage soon to be yours, in the country which Yahweh your God is about to give you.

14. "In the inheritance which you will hold in the land that the LORD your God gives you to possess, you shall not remove your neighbor's landmark, which the men of old have set.

15. 'A single witness will not suffice to convict anyone of a crime or offence of any kind; whatever the misdemeanour, the evidence of two witnesses or three is required to sustain the charge.

15. "A single witness shall not prevail against a man for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed; only on the evidence of two witnesses, or of three witnesses, shall a charge be sustained.

16. 'If someone gives false evidence against anyone, laying a charge of apostasy,

16. If a malicious witness rises against any man to accuse him of wrongdoing,

17. both parties to this dispute before Yahweh must appear before the priests and judges then in office.

17. then both parties to the dispute shall appear before the LORD, before the priests and the judges who are in office in those days;

18. The judges will make a careful enquiry, and if it turns out that the witness is a liar and has made a false accusation against his brother,

18. the judges shall inquire diligently, and if the witness is a false witness and has accused his brother falsely,

19. you must treat the witness as he would have treated his brother. You must banish this evil from among you.

19. then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother; so you shall purge the evil from the midst of you.

20. The rest, hearing of this, will be afraid and never again do such an evil thing among you.

20. And the rest shall hear, and fear, and shall never again commit any such evil among you.

21. You must show no pity. 'Life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.'

21. Your eye shall not pity; it shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.



Read the Bible in a Year

Join our community and complete the entire Bible in 365 days. A structured and inspiring path to deepen your faith and knowledge of Scripture.

Join the Program Download the PDF Plan

Footnotes:

19:1-3 - Cities of refuge are instituted as a means of protection for those who have committed involuntary manslaughter, demonstrating God's mercy and the importance of balanced justice (see also Numbers 35:6-7 and Hebrews 6:18).

19:4-10 - The guidelines on involuntary manslaughter emphasize the need to understand the intentions and circumstances behind actions, emphasizing justice and fairness in the application of the law (see also Exodus 21:12-14 and Matthew 5:21-22).

19:11-13 - The penalty for premeditated murder highlights the seriousness of the sin and the protection of human life. This distinction between involuntary and premeditated manslaughter reflects the importance of the value of life (see also Genesis 9:6 and Romans 13:4).

19:14 - The prohibition against moving landmarks is a warning against injustice and exploitation, reinforcing integrity and honesty in transactions. Preservation of property is fundamental to social justice (see also Proverbs 22:28 and Hosea 5:10).

19:15-21 - The principle of testimony is reiterated, highlighting the importance of a fair judicial system and truthfulness in statements. Justice is fundamental to community life and the well-being of society (see also Matthew 18:16 and 2 Corinthians 13:1).

Verses related to Deuteronomy, 19:

Deuteronomy chapter 19 establishes laws to protect life and justice. How does God promote equity in Israelite society? This significant text details the creation of cities of refuge, offering protection to unintentional murderers. The chapter also addresses the importance of truthful witnesses and the consequences for false testimony. Deuteronomy 19 reveals the value God places on human life and impartial justice. Consider with us five biblical passages that correlate with the crucial themes of this revealing chapter.

Joshua 20:2-3: "Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge that I told you about through Moses, so that anyone who kills someone unintentionally and without premeditation can flee there and find protection from the slain person's avenger." - This passage shows the implementation of the cities of refuge established in Deuteronomy 19.

Matthew 18:16: "But if he does not listen to them, take one or two more people with him, so that 'any accusation may be confirmed by the testimony of two or three witnesses.'" - Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 19:15 about the need for two or three witnesses, applying the principle to church discipline.

2 Corinthians 13:1: "This will be my third visit to you. 'Every question must be decided by the testimony of two or three witnesses'." - Paul quotes Deuteronomy 19:15, applying the witness principle to his visit to the church at Corinth.

Hebrews 10:28: "Whoever rejected the law of Moses died without mercy, on the testimony of two or three witnesses." - The author of Hebrews references the law of witnesses in Deuteronomy 19:15, using it as the basis for an argument about the gravity of rejecting Christ.

1 Timothy 5:19: "Do not accept an accusation against an elder unless it is confirmed by two or three witnesses." - Paul applies the Deuteronomy 19:15 principle about witnesses to the discipline of leaders in the church.

FAQ:

What is the purpose of the cities of refuge in Deuteronomy 19?

Cities of refuge were places where someone who committed accidental homicide could flee to avoid revenge until he could be judged. (Deuteronomy 19:2-4)

What to do in cases of false testimony in Deuteronomy 19?

False testimony was severely punished. The false accuser would suffer the same punishment he tried to inflict on the accused. (Deuteronomy 19:16-19)

Why is the presence of two or three witnesses important?

The presence of two or three witnesses was necessary to establish the truth in trials, preventing unfair accusations. (Deuteronomy 19:15)

How should justice be applied in homicide cases?

An accidental murderer could flee to a city of refuge, but a premeditated murderer was to be handed over to justice and punished with death. (Deuteronomy 19:11-13)

What does “an eye for an eye” mean in Deuteronomy 19?

An eye for an eye means that punishment should be proportionate to the crime committed, ensuring justice without excessive revenge. (Deuteronomy 19:21)


Bibles

Old Testament

New Testament

Follow us