The Meaning of Deuteronomy 19:16 Explained

Deuteronomy 19:16

KJV: If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong;

YLT: 'When a violent witness doth rise against a man, to testify against him apostasy,

Darby: If an unrighteous witness rise up against any man to testify against him of an offence;

ASV: If an unrighteous witness rise up against any man to testify against him of wrong-doing,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

If a false  witness  rise up  against any man  to testify  against him [that which is] wrong; 

What does Deuteronomy 19:16 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Deuteronomy 19

1  The cities of refuge
4  The privilege thereof for the manslayer
14  The landmark is not to be removed
15  At least two witnesses are required
16  the punishment of a false witness

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 19:16 mean?

If rises a witness FALSE against any man to testify against him of wrongdoing
כִּֽי־ יָק֥וּם עֵד־ חָמָ֖ס בְּאִ֑ישׁ לַעֲנ֥וֹת בּ֖וֹ סָרָֽה

יָק֥וּם  rises 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קוּם 
Sense: to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up.
עֵד־  a  witness 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: עֵד  
Sense: witness.
חָמָ֖ס  FALSE 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חָמָס  
Sense: violence, wrong, cruelty, injustice.
בְּאִ֑ישׁ  against  any  man 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
לַעֲנ֥וֹת  to  testify 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: לְעַנּׄות 
Sense: to answer, respond, testify, speak, shout.
בּ֖וֹ  against  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
סָרָֽה  of  wrongdoing 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: סָרָה 
Sense: apostasy, defection, turning aside, withdrawal.