📖 Deuteronomy — Chapter 19 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
Deuteronomy 19:1 When the LORD thy God Rhath cut off the nations, whose land the LORD thy God giveth thee, and thou Tsucceedest them, and dwellest in their cities, and in their houses;
Deuteronomy 19:2 Thou shalt Rseparate three cities for thee in the midst of thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it.
Deuteronomy 19:3 Thou shalt prepare thee a way, and divide the coasts of thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee to inherit, into three parts, that every slayer may flee thither.
Deuteronomy 19:4 And this is the case of Rthe slayer, which shall flee thither, that he may live: Whoso killeth his neighbour ignorantly, whom he hated not Tin time past;
Deuteronomy 19:5 As when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the RThead slippeth from the Thelve, and Tlighteth upon his neighbour, that he die; he shall flee unto one of those cities, and live:
Deuteronomy 19:6 Lest Rthe avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and Tslay him; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not Tin time past.
Deuteronomy 19:7 Wherefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt separate three cities for thee.
Deuteronomy 19:8 And if the LORD thy God enlarge thy coast, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers, and give thee all the land which he promised to give unto thy fathers;
Deuteronomy 19:9 RIf thou shalt keep all these commandments to do them, which I command thee this day, to love the LORD thy God, and to walk ever in his ways; then shalt thou add three cities more for thee, beside these three:
Deuteronomy 19:10 That innocent blood be not shed in thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and so blood be upon thee.
Deuteronomy 19:11 RBut if any man hate his neighbour, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him Tmortally that he die, and fleeth into one of these cities:
Deuteronomy 19:12 Then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die.
Deuteronomy 19:13 RThine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with thee.
Deuteronomy 19:14 Thou Rshalt not remove thy neighbour’s landmark, which they of old time have set in thine inheritance, which thou shalt inherit in the land that the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it.
Deuteronomy 19:15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.
Deuteronomy 19:16 If Ra false witness rise up against any man to testify against him Tthat which is wrong;
Deuteronomy 19:17 Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days;
Deuteronomy 19:18 And the judges shall make Rdiligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother;
Deuteronomy 19:19 RThen shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you.
Deuteronomy 19:20 And those which remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil among you.
Deuteronomy 19:21 And thine eye shall not pity; but Rlife shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
Deuteronomy 19:1–13 — Refuge and intentional killing
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Cities of refuge protect a person who killed unintentionally. They are distinguished from sanctuary for deliberate, hostile killing.
Key Truth: The law distinguishes an accident from a deliberate attack.
Check What You Remember
1. How many cities were initially to be separated in the land? (Deuteronomy 19:2)
Find it in Deuteronomy 19:2 (KJV).
2. What cutting tool is used in the example of an accidental death? (Deuteronomy 19:5)
Find it in Deuteronomy 19:5 (KJV).
3. What additional number of cities was to be provided if the territory expanded as described? (Deuteronomy 19:9)
Find it in Deuteronomy 19:9 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Deuteronomy 19:14–17 — Boundaries and witnesses
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
An inherited boundary is not to be moved. A matter requires more than one witness, and disputed testimony is heard before the LORD's appointed authorities.
Key Truth: Property boundaries and truthful evidence are protected.
Check What You Remember
1. What was not to be removed from a neighbor's inheritance? (Deuteronomy 19:14)
Find it in Deuteronomy 19:14 (KJV).
2. Could one witness alone establish every wrongdoing? (Deuteronomy 19:15)
Find it in Deuteronomy 19:15 (KJV).
3. Before whom were the disputing men to stand, alongside the priests and judges? (Deuteronomy 19:17)
Find it in Deuteronomy 19:17 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Deuteronomy 19:18–21 — False witness and proportional judgment
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Judges must investigate diligently. A false witness faces the consequence intended for the accused, and the penalty is framed proportionately.
Key Truth: False accusation is serious and judgment is to be proportionate.
Check What You Remember
1. How were the judges to investigate? (Deuteronomy 19:18)
Find it in Deuteronomy 19:18 (KJV).
2. Whose intended punishment was to be applied to the false witness? (Deuteronomy 19:19)
Find it in Deuteronomy 19:19 (KJV).
3. Complete the stated principle: eye for ___. (Deuteronomy 19:21)
Find it in Deuteronomy 19:21 (KJV).
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. Why must roads and territorial divisions accompany the refuge cities?
2. What distinguishes the axe example from the later case of lying in wait?
3. What conditions lead to adding three more refuge cities?
4. How does the chapter ensure a dispute about false testimony is examined?
5. What principle determines the false witness’s punishment?
Notes
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