Deuteronomy 19

“When the LORD thy God hath cut off the nations, whose land the LORD thy God giveth thee, and thou succeedest them, and…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“Thou shalt separate three cities for thee in the midst of thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it.” The number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Thou shalt prepare thee a way, and divide the coasts of thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee to inherit, into…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“And this is the case of the slayer, which shall flee thither, that he may live: Whoso killeth his neighbour…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“As when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long…” Naming Lest keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Wherefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt separate three cities for thee.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And if the LORD thy God enlarge thy coast, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers, and give thee all the land which he…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“If thou shalt keep all these commandments to do them, which I command thee this day, to love the LORD thy God, and to…” The number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“That innocent blood be not shed in thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and so blood be…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“But if any man hate his neighbour, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him mortally that he…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour’s landmark, which they of old time have set in thine inheritance, which thou shalt…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“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…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong;” The line’s distinctive content terms include false, rise, testify. Its relationship to verses 15 and 17 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the LORD , before the priests and the judges…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And those which remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil among you.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.