Deuteronomy 19:16-21

16 If a malicious witness comes forward to accuse someone of wrongdoing,
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 and the judges shall make a thorough inquiry. If the witness is a false witness, having testified falsely against another,
19 then you shall do to the false witness just as the false witness had meant to do to the other. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.
20 The rest shall hear and be afraid, and a crime such as this shall never again be committed among you.
21 Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

Deuteronomy 19:16-21 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 19

This chapter contains an order to separate three cities of refuge in the land of Canaan, for such that killed a man unawares to flee to, of which those who were guilty of murder purposely were to have no benefit, De 19:1-13, a law is given against removing landmarks, De 19:14, and others concerning witnesses, that they should be more than one; be two, or three, De 19:15, and that a false witness, on conviction, should be punished, De 19:16-21.

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.