But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’
Parallel translations
- WEB But 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.
- KJV But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
- NKJV But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’
- NASB But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that on the testimony of two or three witnesses every matter may be confirmed.
- NLT But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by 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
If private appeal fails, take one or two others so that every matter is confirmed by witnesses. Loving correction proceeds carefully and justly.
Overview
Jesus applies the Old Testament principle of multiple witnesses (Deuteronomy 19:15) to guard truth and fairness in the process. The added witnesses still aim at recovery, not punishment. This measured escalation protects both the accused and the integrity of the community's judgment.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Deut 19:15A 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.
- 2 Cor 13:1This is the third time I am coming to you. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”
- John 8:17Even in your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid.
- 1 Tim 5:19Do not entertain an accusation against an elder, except on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
- Heb 10:28Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
- Num 35:30If anyone kills a person, the murderer is to be put to death on the testimony of the witnesses. But no one is to be put to death based on the testimony of a lone witness.
- Deut 17:6On the testimony of two or three witnesses a man shall be put to death, but he shall not be executed on the testimony of a lone witness.
- 1 Kgs 21:13And the two scoundrels came in and sat opposite Naboth, and these men testified against him before the people, saying, “Naboth has cursed both God and the king!” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death.
- 1 Jn 5:7–8For there are three that testify:
- Rev 11:3And I will empower my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 18:16 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.