Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
Parallel translations
- WEB A man who disregards Moses’ law dies without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses.
- KJV He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
- BSB Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
- NASB Anyone who has ignored the Law of Moses is put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
- NLT For anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Under Moses' law, those who rejected it died without mercy on the testimony of witnesses. The old covenant treated such rebellion severely.
Overview
The author cites the law's penalty (Deuteronomy 17:6) for serious covenant violation: death on the evidence of two or three witnesses. This recalls the seriousness with which God treated rebellion under the old covenant. It serves as the lesser case in an argument from the lesser to the greater.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Heb 2:2For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense;
- Deut 19:15One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sins. At the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall a matter be established.
- Deut 17:2–13If there is found among you, within any of your gates which Yahweh your God gives you, a man or woman who does that which is evil in Yahweh your God’s sight, in transgressing his covenant,
- John 8:17It’s also written in your law that the testimony of two people is valid.
- Num 15:30–31“‘But the soul who does anything with a high hand, whether he is native-born or a foreigner, the same blasphemes Yahweh. That soul shall be cut off from among his people.
- Num 15:36All the congregation brought him outside of the camp, and stoned him to death with stones, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
- Deut 19:13Your eye shall not pity him, but you shall purge the innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with you.
- 2 Cor 13:1This is the third time I am coming to you. “At the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.”
- Matt 18:16But if he doesn’t listen, take one or two more with you, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
- Rom 9:15For he said to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”
- Jer 13:14I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together,” says Yahweh: “I will not pity, nor spare, nor have compassion, that I should not destroy them.”’”
- 2 Sam 12:13David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against Yahweh.” Nathan said to David, “Yahweh also has put away your sin. You will not die.
- 2 Sam 12:9Why have you despised Yahweh’s word, to do that which is evil in his sight? You have struck Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.
- Isa 27:11When its boughs are withered, they will be broken off. The women will come and set them on fire, for they are a people of no understanding. Therefore he who made them will not have compassion on them, and he who formed them will show them no favor.
- Jas 2:13For judgment is without mercy to him who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
- Deut 13:6–10If your brother, the son of your mother, or your son, or your daughter, or the wife of your bosom, or your friend, who is as your own soul, entices you secretly, saying, “Let us go and serve other gods,” which you have not known, you, nor your fathers;
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Hebrews is sustained worship of Christ: better than angels, Moses, and the priests; the great High Priest after Melchizedek who by one sacrifice perfects forever those he saves.
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