KJV ORIGINAL
At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
A person can only be sentenced to death if two or three witnesses testify against them. No one should be put to death based on the testimony of just one witness.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
This verse establishes that at least two witnesses are required before someone can receive the death penalty, protecting people from false accusations.
📚 Historical Context
This law was given to the Israelites as they prepared to enter the Promised Land, establishing their judicial system. In ancient times, false accusations were common, so requiring multiple witnesses provided crucial protection against wrongful execution. This principle became foundational to Hebrew law and later influenced legal systems throughout history.
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