Deuteronomy 17:6

Amharic Catholic Version (መጽሐፍ ቅዱስ - (ካቶሊካዊ እትም - ኤማሁስ)) No Year

ሞት የሚገባው ሰው፥ በሁለት ወይም በሦስት ሰዎች ምስክርነት ይገደል፤ ነገር ግን በአንድ ሰው ምስክርነት ብቻ ማንም ሰው አይገደል።

What Does This Mean?

This verse says that for someone to be punished with death, at least two or three witnesses must agree on the evidence. One witness alone is not enough. It's about fairness and ensuring justice.

Explained for Children

Imagine if you were playing a game and someone said you cheated. For your friends to believe them, they would need at least two more friends to say they saw you cheating too. This rule helps make sure no one gets in trouble just because one person says so.

Historical Background

Moses spoke this to the Israelites as part of the law. It was given before they entered the Promised Land, around 1400 BC, to ensure fair trials and justice in their society.

Living It Out Today

In today’s legal system, this principle can be seen in the requirement for multiple witnesses in court. For example, in a workplace dispute, a company might require at least two employees to confirm an incident before taking action.

Topics

• justice
• witnesses
• fairness
• laws
• death penalty
• evidence

Related Verses

• Matthew 18:16
• 2 Corinthians 13:1
• 1 Timothy 5:19
• Numbers 35:30
• 1 Kings 21:10

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are two or three witnesses required?

Two or three witnesses are required to ensure that a decision is fair and based on multiple confirmations, preventing false accusations and maintaining justice.

How does this principle apply to modern legal systems?

Modern legal systems often require corroborating evidence or multiple witnesses to ensure fairness and prevent wrongful convictions, reflecting the same principle.

Can one witness ever be enough?

In legal contexts, one witness alone is generally not sufficient for conviction. However, specific circumstances or laws might allow for exceptions.

What happens if there are only one witness?

If there is only one witness, the accused cannot be condemned to death. The law requires at least two or three witnesses to agree on the evidence.