6 On the testimony of two or three witnesses a person is to be put to death, but no one is to be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.

Other Translations of Deuteronomy 17:6

King James Version

6 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.

English Standard Version

6 On the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses the one who is to die shall be put to death; a person shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness.

The Message

6 But only on the testimony of two or three witnesses may a person be put to death. No one may be put to death on the testimony of one witness.

New King James Version

6 Whoever is deserving of death shall be put to death on the testimony of two or three witnesses; he shall not be put to death on the testimony of one witness.

New Living Translation

6 But never put a person to death on the testimony of only one witness. There must always be two or three witnesses.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Deuteronomy 17:6

Commentary on Deuteronomy 17:1-7

(Read Deuteronomy 17:1-7)

No creature which had any blemish was to be offered in sacrifice to God. We are thus called to remember the perfect, pure, and spotless sacrifice of Christ, and reminded to serve God with the best of our abilities, time, and possession, or our pretended obedience will be hateful to him. So great a punishment as death, so remarkable a death as stoning, must be inflicted on the Jewish idolater. Let all who in our day set up idols in their hearts, remember how God punished this crime in Israel.