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.
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.
- BSB 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.’
- 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.’
- 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 19:15One 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.
- 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.”
- John 8:17It’s also written in your law that the testimony of two people is valid.
- 1 Tim 5:19Don’t receive an accusation against an elder, except at the word of two or three witnesses.
- Heb 10:28A man who disregards Moses’ law dies without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses.
- Num 35:30“‘Whoever kills any person, the murderer shall be slain at the mouth of witnesses; but one witness shall not testify against any person that he die.
- Deut 17:6At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, he who is to die shall be put to death. At the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.
- 1 Kgs 21:13The two men, the base fellows, came in and sat before him. The base fellows testified against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, “Naboth cursed God and the king!” Then they carried him out of the city and stoned him to death with stones.
- 1 Jn 5:7–8For there are three who testify:
- Rev 11:3I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred sixty 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
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