Deuteronomy 13:9
Context13:9 Instead, you must kill him without fail! 1 Your own hand must be the first to strike him, 2 and then the hands of the whole community.
Deuteronomy 17:7
Context17:7 The witnesses 3 must be first to begin the execution, and then all the people 4 are to join in afterward. In this way you will purge evil from among you.
[13:9] 1 tn The Hebrew text uses the infinitive absolute for emphasis, which the translation indicates with the words “without fail” (cf. NIV “you must certainly put him to death”).
[13:9] 2 tn Heb “to put him to death,” but this is misleading in English for such an action would leave nothing for the others to do.
[17:7] 3 tn Heb “the hand of the witnesses.” This means the two or three witnesses are to throw the first stones (cf. NCV, TEV, CEV, NLT).