19:15–21 The general principle was that a conviction was not to be based on the testimony of a single witness (v. 15). When false testimony was detected, the false witness was to receive the same punishment that the falsely accused person would have received (vv. 19–21).

In the jurisprudence of the ancient Near East, much responsibility was given to the judge. He did not simply compare an offense to a particular law and pronounce a verdict. Rather, he compared a case with the principles of the law and with typical cases and gave a decision in accordance with justice and equity (1:13; 16:18; 17:8).