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Deuteronomy 19

Deuteronomy 19 Summary, Context, and Full Chapter

Deuteronomy 19 explains how Israel was to protect life and keep justice in the land. It sets aside cities of refuge for accidental killers, forbids abusing legal process, and requires careful handling of accusations. The chapter also warns against moving boundary markers, showing concern for both public fairness and personal integrity.

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What happens in Deuteronomy 19?

The chapter begins with instructions for cities of refuge, places where someone who caused a death by accident could flee from revenge until the case was judged. It distinguishes between accidental death and murder, requiring protection for the innocent and punishment for deliberate killers. The chapter also prohibits moving boundary markers, guarding inherited land from theft. In the final section, Moses requires more than one witness to establish a charge, orders judges to investigate carefully, and applies just penalties to false witnesses so that evil is removed from Israel.

Deuteronomy 19 stands in the section where Moses explains covenant life for Israel as they prepare to enter the land. After earlier laws about leadership and worship, this chapter focuses on justice in daily life. It follows instructions about prophets and priests and leads into further laws about warfare and community order in the chapters ahead.

Themes to notice

  • Cities of refugeGod makes room for protection and fair judgment when a death was not intended.
  • Justice and truthClaims must be proven carefully, and false accusation must be answered with accountability.
  • Respect for boundariesThe chapter protects family inheritance and community trust by forbidding land theft.

Questions for Deuteronomy 19

  • What do the cities of refuge teach about the difference between accident and murder?
  • Why does the chapter require two or three witnesses before a charge is accepted?
  • How do these laws show God's concern for both justice and mercy?

Read the full text of Deuteronomy 19 below, then open it in the reader to highlight, take notes, or ask follow-up Bible questions. No account is required to read.

Deuteronomy 19

Cities of Refuge

1When the LORD your God has cut off the nations whose land He is giving you, and when you have driven them out and settled in their cities and houses,2then you are to set apart for yourselves three cities within the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess.3You are to build roads for yourselves and divide into three regions the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, so that any manslayer can flee to these cities.4Now this is the situation regarding the manslayer who flees to one of these cities to save his life, having killed his neighbor accidentally, without intending to harm him:5If he goes into the forest with his neighbor to cut timber and swings his axe to chop down a tree, but the blade flies off the handle and strikes and kills his neighbor, he may flee to one of these cities to save his life.6Otherwise, the avenger of blood might pursue the manslayer in a rage, overtake him if the distance is great, and strike him dead though he did not deserve to die, since he did not intend any harm.7This is why I am commanding you to set apart for yourselves three cities.8And if the LORD your God enlarges your territory, as He swore to your fathers, and gives you all the land He promised them,9and if you carefully keep all these commandments I am giving you today, loving the LORD your God and walking in His ways at all times, then you are to add three more cities to these three.10Thus innocent blood will not be shed in the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, so that you will not be guilty of bloodshed.11If, however, a man hates his neighbor and lies in wait, attacks him and kills him, and then flees to one of these cities,12the elders of his city must send for him, bring him back, and hand him over to the avenger of blood to die.13You must show him no pity. You are to purge from Israel the guilt of shedding innocent blood, that it may go well with you.

14You must not move your neighbor’s boundary marker, which was set up by your ancestors to mark the inheritance you shall receive in the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess.

The Testimony of Two or Three Witnesses

15A lone witness is not sufficient to establish any wrongdoing or sin against a man, regardless of what offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.16If a false witness testifies against someone, accusing him of a crime,17both parties to the dispute must stand in the presence of the LORD, before the priests and judges who are in office at that time.18The judges shall investigate thoroughly, and if the witness is proven to be a liar who has falsely accused his brother,19you must do to him as he intended to do to his brother. So you must purge the evil from among you.20Then the rest of the people will hear and be afraid, and they will never again do anything so evil among you.21You must show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, and foot for foot.

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