What Does Deuteronomy 19:18 Mean in the King James?
And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother;
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
A witness’s accusation is not self-authenticating; it has to withstand inquiry.
THE MEANING
When an accusation is made against someone near you, its force does not make it true; the claim is subject to searching examination. The person named remains a brother while the truth of what is said is still being tested.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The lie this undoes is that a witness’s charge becomes true simply because it is presented as testimony.
THE ROOT
וְדָרְשׁוּ
wĕdārešû
GROWS FROM
ד־ר־שׁ
d-r-sh
To seek, inquire, or investigate.
“diligent inquisition” in this verse is wĕdārešû. English makes this sound like a formal procedure, but the Hebrew centers the judges’ active search for what is true. The same root connects inquiry with seeking: testimony is something to examine, not merely receive.
ALSO GROWS
dārash: To seek or inquire.
דָּרַשׁ
This is the root action behind the judges’ careful investigation.
midrash: Inquiry or interpretation.
מִדְרָשׁ
This branch preserves the root’s sense of pursuing understanding through examination.
שֶׁקֶר
sheqer
GROWS FROM
שׁ־ק־ר
sh-q-r
Falsehood or deception.
“false witness; testified falsely” in this verse is sheqer. Hebrew repeats שֶׁקֶר (sheqer, falsehood): the witness is called a witness of falsehood, then said to have answered falsehood against his brother. The repetition ties the witness’s claim to the falsehood it carries.
ALSO GROWS
sheqer: Falsehood or a lie.
שֶׁקֶר
This is the word that characterizes both the witness and his testimony.
shāqar: To lie or deal falsely.
שָׁקַר
The related verb shows falsehood as something spoken or enacted, not just an abstract idea.
THE PATTERN
A claim that can harm another’s standing must be examined before it is accepted as truth.
He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.THE THREAD
Then shalt thou enquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and, behold, if it be truth, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought among you;The same root דָּרַשׁ (dārash, seek or inquire) appears here in “inquire,” joined with “make search” and “ask diligently.” The repeated root opens this verse as a deliberate search for truth before a charge becomes judgment.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us