What Does Deuteronomy 17:7 Mean?

“The hands”

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

“of the witnesses”

concretely, a witness; abstractly, testimony; specifically, a recorder, i.e., prince

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

“shall be first”

first, in place, time or rank (as adjective or noun)

“upon him to put him to death”

to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill

“The hands”

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

“of all the people”

a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock

“and afterward”

hinder; generally, late or last; specifically (as facing the east) western

“So thou shalt put”

to be(-come) brutish

“the evil”

bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)

“from among”

properly, the nearest part, i.e., the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial (especially with preposition)