Matthew 18:16
New International Version
But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’

New Living Translation
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.

English Standard Version
But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.

Berean Standard Bible
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.’

Berean Literal Bible
But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'every word may be strengthened upon the testimony of two or three witnesses.'

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
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.’

New American Standard Bible
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.

NASB 1995
“But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED.

NASB 1977
“But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED.

Legacy Standard Bible
But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED.

Amplified Bible
But if he does not listen, take along with you one or two others, so that EVERY WORD MAY BE CONFIRMED BY THE TESTIMONY OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES.

Christian Standard Bible
But if he won’t listen, take one or two others with you, so that by the testimony of two or three witnesses every fact may be established.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But if he won’t listen, take one or two more with you, so that by the testimony of two or three witnesses every fact may be established.

American Standard Version
But if he hear thee not, take with thee one or two more, that at the mouth of two witnesses or three every word may be established.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And if he does not hear you, take one or two with you, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word will be established.

Contemporary English Version
But if that one refuses to listen, take along one or two others. The Scriptures teach that every complaint must be proven true by two or more witnesses.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And if he will not hear thee, take with thee one or two more: that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may stand.

English Revised Version
But if he hear thee not, take with thee one or two more, that at the mouth of two witnesses or three every word may be established.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But if he does not listen, take one or two others with you so that every accusation may be verified by two or three witnesses.

Good News Translation
But if he will not listen to you, take one or two other persons with you, so that 'every accusation may be upheld by the testimony of two or more witnesses,' as the scripture says.

International Standard Version
But if he doesn't listen, take one or two others with you so that 'every word may be confirmed by the testimony of two or three witnesses.'

Literal Standard Version
and if he may not hear, take with you yet one or two, that by the mouth of two witnesses or three every word may stand.

Majority Standard Bible
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.’

New American Bible
If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that ‘every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses.’

NET Bible
But if he does not listen, take one or two others with you, so that at the testimony of two or three witnesses every matter may be established.

New Revised Standard Version
But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses.

New Heart English Bible
But if he does not listen, take one or two more with you, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

Weymouth New Testament
But if he will not listen to you, go again, and ask one or two to go with you, that every word spoken may be attested by two or three witnesses.

World English Bible
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.

Young's Literal Translation
and if he may not hear, take with thee yet one or two, that by the mouth of two witnesses or three every word may stand.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Brother who Sins
15If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16But 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.’ 17If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, regard him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.…

Cross References
Numbers 35:30
If anyone kills a person, the murderer is to be put to death on the testimony of the witnesses. But no one is to be put to death based on the testimony of a lone witness.

Deuteronomy 17:6
On the testimony of two or three witnesses a man shall be put to death, but he shall not be executed on the testimony of a lone witness.

Deuteronomy 19:15
A lone witness is not sufficient to establish any wrongdoing or sin against a man, regardless of what offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.

John 8:17
Even in your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid.

2 Corinthians 13:1
This is the third time I am coming to you. "Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses."

1 Timothy 5:19
Do not entertain an accusation against an elder, except on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

Hebrews 10:28
Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.


Treasury of Scripture

But if he will not hear you, then take with you one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

that in.

Numbers 35:30
Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die.

Deuteronomy 17:6
At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.

Deuteronomy 19:15
One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.

Jump to Previous
Attested Besides Confirmed Ear Established Evidence Fact Hear Lips Matter Mouth Others Stand Testimony Three Witnesses Word
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Attested Besides Confirmed Ear Established Evidence Fact Hear Lips Matter Mouth Others Stand Testimony Three Witnesses Word
Matthew 18
1. Jesus warns his disciples to be humble and harmless,
7. to avoid offenses,
10. and not to despise the little ones;
15. teaches how we are to deal with our brothers when they offend us,
21. and how often to forgive them;
23. which he sets forth by a parable of the king who took account of his servants,
32. and punished him who showed no mercy to his fellow servant.














(16) Take with thee one or two more.--The principle of action is the same as before. The first point aimed at is the reformation of the offender without the scandal (here we may take the word both in its earlier and later senses) of publicity. If personal expostulation failed, then the "one or two" were to be called in. (Comp. 1Corinthians 6:5.) It is, of course, implied that they are not partisans, but disinterested representatives of what is likely to be the common estimate of the fault committed. If the end is attained through them, well; if not, then they are in reserve for the final stage as witnesses that every effort has been made in the spirit of a righteous friendship. As the previous verse implied a reference to Leviticus 19:17, so does this to Deuteronomy 19:15. This selection of all that was highest and most spiritual in the ethical teaching of the Law is one of the features of our Lord's method, for the most part insufficiently recognised. (See John 8:17.)

Verse 16. - This gives the second step or stage in discipline. Take with thee one or two more. If the offender is obdurate to secret remonstrance, do not yet resort to public measures, but make a fresh effort accompanied by a friend or two, who will support your view and confirm your expostulation, which might otherwise be considered partial or self-interested. In the mouth of two or three witnesses. The idea is derived from the requirement of the Jewish Law in a case of litigation (see Deuteronomy 19:15; John 8:17; 2 Corinthians 13:1). By the testimony of these witnesses, every word that has passed between you may be fully certified. There will be forthcoming, if necessary, the regular legal evidence, should the matter come to other ears.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
But
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

if
ἐὰν (ean)
Conjunction
Strong's 1437: If. From ei and an; a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.

he will not listen,
ἀκούσῃ (akousē)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 191: To hear, listen, comprehend by hearing; pass: is heard, reported. A primary verb; to hear.

take
παράλαβε (paralabe)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 3880: From para and lambano; to receive near, i.e. Associate with oneself; by analogy, to assume an office; figuratively, to learn.

one
ἕνα (hena)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1520: One. (including the neuter Hen); a primary numeral; one.

or
(ē)
Conjunction
Strong's 2228: Or, than. A primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than.

two
δύο (dyo)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1417: Two. A primary numeral; 'two'.

others
ἔτι (eti)
Adverb
Strong's 2089: (a) of time: still, yet, even now, (b) of degree: even, further, more, in addition. Perhaps akin to etos; 'yet, ' still.

along,
μετὰ (meta)
Preposition
Strong's 3326: (a) gen: with, in company with, (b) acc: (1) behind, beyond, after, of place, (2) after, of time, with nouns, neut. of adjectives.

so that
ἵνα (hina)
Conjunction
Strong's 2443: In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that.

‘every
πᾶν (pan)
Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

matter
ῥῆμα (rhēma)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4487: From rheo; an utterance, ; by implication, a matter or topic; with a negative naught whatever.

may be established
σταθῇ (stathē)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2476: A prolonged form of a primary stao stah'-o; to stand, used in various applications.

by
Ἐπὶ (Epi)
Preposition
Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

[the] testimony
στόματος (stomatos)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 4750: The mouth, speech, eloquence in speech, the point of a sword.

of two
δύο (dyo)
Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 1417: Two. A primary numeral; 'two'.

or
(ē)
Conjunction
Strong's 2228: Or, than. A primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than.

three
τριῶν (triōn)
Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 5140: Three. Or neuter tria a primary number; 'three'.

witnesses.’
μαρτύρων (martyrōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3144: A witness (judicially) or figuratively (genitive case); by analogy, a 'martyr'.


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NT Gospels: Matthew 18:16 But if he doesn't listen take one (Matt. Mat Mt)
Matthew 18:15
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