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

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

If a lying witness stand against a man, accusing him of transgression,

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

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

If a false witness makes a statement against a man, saying that he has done wrong,

If an unrighteous witness rise up against any man to bear perverted witness against him;

If a lying witness will have stood against a man, accusing him of a transgression,

Quum steterit testis mendax contra aliquem, ut testificetur contra eum verbum perversum:

If a false witness rise up against any man. Because the fear of God does not so prevail in all men, as that they should voluntarily abstain from the love of slander, God here appoints the punishment to be inflicted for perjury: for political laws are enacted against the ungodly and disobedient, in order that those who despise God's judgment should be brought before the tribunal of men. Although perjury is not here ordained to be tried before the judges, unless there should be an accuser, who should complain that he had been unjustly injured by false-witness, still reason dictates, that if any man have been condemned to death by false-witnesses, the judges should not hesitate to make an official inquiry into the matter. Yet, inasmuch as men are generally disposed to assert their own innocence, God has deemed it sufficient to put the case, that if any complaint should be lodged, the judges should diligently investigate it, and if the crime be proved, should inflict the punishment of retaliation (talionis.) Whence it appears that false-witnesses and murderers stand in the same light before God. By commanding that the inquiry should be made not only by the judges, but also by the priests, as if God Himself were present, He shews that He requires unusual diligence to be used; because a secret crime is not easily detected without the most anxious care.

Testify against him that which is wrong - Margin, more literally, "a falling away." The word is used Deuteronomy 13:5 to signify apostasy or revolt; here it is no doubt to be understood in the wider sense of any departure from the Law.

If a false witness rise up against any man,.... In a court of judicature:
to testify against him: that which is not true of him, let it be in what case it will; Aben Ezra instances in idolatry, but it holds good of any other.

PUNISHMENT OF A FALSE WITNESS. (Deuteronomy 19:16-21)
But if convicted of perjury, it will be sufficient for his own condemnation, and his punishment shall be exactly the same as would have overtaken the object of his malignant prosecution. (See on Exodus 21:23; see also Leviticus 24:20).

A safe witness - A single witness, though he speak truth, is not to be accepted for the condemnation of another man, but if he be convicted of false witness, this is sufficient for his own condemnation.