The Meaning of Deuteronomy 17:6 Explained

Deuteronomy 17:6

KJV: 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.

YLT: By the mouth of two witnesses or of three witnesses is he who is dead put to death; he is not put to death by the mouth of one witness;

Darby: At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is to die be put to death: he shall not be put to death at the mouth of one witness.

ASV: At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is to die be put to death; at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Deuteronomy 17:6 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Deuteronomy 17

1  The things sacrificed must be sound
2  Idolaters must be slain
8  Hard controversies are to be determined by the priests and judges
12  The one who shows contempt for the judge must die
14  The election
16  and duty of a king

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 17:6 mean?

On the testimony of two witnesses or three witnesses shall be put to death Whoever is deserving of death not he shall be put to death the testimony of witness one
עַל־ פִּ֣י ׀ שְׁנַ֣יִם עֵדִ֗ים א֛וֹ שְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה עֵדִ֖ים יוּמַ֣ת הַמֵּ֑ת לֹ֣א יוּמַ֔ת פִּ֖י עֵ֥ד אֶחָֽד

פִּ֣י ׀  the  testimony 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
שְׁנַ֣יִם  of  two 
Parse: Number, md
Root: שְׁנַיִם  
Sense: two.
עֵדִ֗ים  witnesses 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: עֵד  
Sense: witness.
שְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה  three 
Parse: Number, masculine singular
Root: מִשְׁלֹשׁ 
Sense: three, triad.
עֵדִ֖ים  witnesses 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: עֵד  
Sense: witness.
יוּמַ֣ת  shall  be  put  to  death 
Parse: Verb, Hofal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.
הַמֵּ֑ת  Whoever  is  deserving  of  death 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.
יוּמַ֔ת  he  shall  be  put  to  death 
Parse: Verb, Hofal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.
פִּ֖י  the  testimony 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
עֵ֥ד  of  witness 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֵד  
Sense: witness.
אֶחָֽד  one 
Parse: Number, masculine singular
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).