João 8:17

17 Ora, na vossa lei está escrito que o testemunho de dois homens é verdadeiro.

João 8:17 Meaning and Commentary

John 8:17

It is also written in your law
The law of Moses, which was given unto them, and they boasted of; the passage referred to is in ( Deuteronomy 19:15 ) ; see also ( Deuteronomy 17:6 ) ; where though what follows is not to be found in so many words, yet the sense is there expressed:

that the testimony of two men is true:
concerning which the Jewish writers say F25,

``they used not to determine any judiciary matter by the mouth of one witness, neither pecuniary causes, nor causes of life and death, as it is said, ( Deuteronomy 17:6 ) . It is asked F26 in their oral law, if the testimony of two men stand, why does the Scripture particularly mention three? (for no other reason) but to compare or equal three with two, that as three convict two of a falsehood, two may also convict three.''

On which one of their commentators F1 has this observation, taking notice of ( Deuteronomy 19:18 ) , which speaks of a single witness;

``Mar (a doctor) says, wherever it is said a "witness", it is to be understood of two, unless the Scripture particularly specifies one.''

In the case of a wife suspected of adultery, and in the business of striking off the neck of the heifer in case of murder, they admitted of one witness F2.


FOOTNOTES:

F25 Maimon. Hilchot Eduth. c. 5. sect. 1.
F26 Misn. Maccot. c. 1. sect. 7.
F1 Bartenora in ib.
F2 Maimon. Hilchot Eduth, ib. sect. 2.

João 8:17 In-Context

15 Vós julgais segundo a carne; eu a ninguém julgo.
16 E, mesmo que eu julgue, o meu juízo é verdadeiro; porque não sou eu só, mas eu e o Pai que me enviou.
17 Ora, na vossa lei está escrito que o testemunho de dois homens é verdadeiro.
18 Sou eu que dou testemunho de mim mesmo, e o Pai que me enviou, também dá testemunho de mim.
19 Perguntavam-lhe, pois: Onde está teu pai? Jesus respondeu: Não me conheceis a mim, nem a meu Pai; se vós me conhecêsseis a mim, também conheceríeis a meu Pai.
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