The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put the evil away from among you.

DEUTERONOMY 17:7KJV
Know the Bible

Deuteronomy 17:7 (KJV)

What does Deuteronomy 17:7 mean?

Deuteronomy 17:7 says that the witnesses in a capital case must be the first to carry out the execution, followed by the rest of the people, as a way to remove evil from the community. This rule emphasizes the seriousness of giving testimony and the community’s responsibility to uphold justice.

In this verse, Moses is instructing the Israelites about legal procedures for dealing with serious crimes, especially those deserving death. The verse highlights that those who testify against someone must be directly involved in carrying out the sentence, which would discourage false accusations. The goal is to make sure that justice is handled carefully and that the community actively works to keep wrongdoing out of their midst.

The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 17:7

  • יָד (yad, "hands"): This word is used twice in the verse, first for the witnesses and then for the people. It stresses personal involvement and responsibility, not just a symbolic act.
  • עֵד (ed, "witnesses"): The witnesses are not just observers but active participants, showing that their testimony carries real consequences.
  • רִאשׁוֹן (rishon, "first"): This word underlines that the witnesses must act before anyone else, reinforcing the weight of their testimony.
  • בָּעַר (ba'ar, "put away"): This verb means to remove or purge, showing that the purpose is to cleanse the community from evil, not just to punish.

Why Deuteronomy 17:7 matters

  • This verse clarifies that witnesses in a capital case are not passive; their involvement in the sentence makes false testimony much less likely.
  • It connects to the broader context of Deuteronomy 17, which is about fair trials and the importance of reliable evidence in serious legal matters.
  • The verse shows that justice in ancient Israel was a community responsibility, not just the job of a judge or leader, and that removing evil was seen as necessary for the health of the whole group.

Where else these words appear

“afterward” Hebrew H314 · used in 48 verses

  • Genesis 33:2 And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost.
  • 1 Chronicles 23:27 For by the last words of David the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and above:
  • Psalms 78:6 That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:

“witnesses” Hebrew H5707 · used in 59 verses

  • Genesis 31:44 Now therefore come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee.
  • Joshua 22:28 Therefore said we, that it shall be, when they should so say to us or to our generations in time to come, that we may say again, Behold the pattern of the altar of the LORD, which our fathers made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifices; but it is a witness between us and you.
  • Proverbs 19:28 An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.

“put” Hebrew H1197 · used in 90 verses

  • Exodus 3:2 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
  • 2 Samuel 22:13 Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled.
  • Isaiah 30:33 For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.