Shoftim 19:18 · unit 3

TT #256 · Parashas Shoftim · Sixth Aliyah · Passuk 19:18

The Complete Passuk

וְדָרְשׁ֥וּ הַשֹּׁפְטִ֖ים הֵיטֵ֑ב וְהִנֵּ֤ה עֵֽד־שֶׁ֙קֶר֙ הָעֵ֔ד שֶׁ֖קֶר עָנָ֥ה בְאָחִֽיו׃

And the judges shall inquire well, and behold, the witness is a false witness; he has testified falsely against his brother.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Sifrei Devarim 190.

TT lemma: שֶׁקֶר עָנָה בְאָחִיו.

Sefaria — Sifrei Devarim 190

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
שֶׁקֶר עָנָה בְאָחִיו – וְלֹא בְעַצְמוֹ.

English: ‘He has testified falsely against his brother’ – and not against himself.

On the daf / in context: The falsehood is directed at another person.

Type of Learning

Derash on the victim of the falsehood (Sifrei) — the testimony harms a fellow Jew.

What Is Learned

The crime of the malicious witness is that he has testified falsely against his brother, seeking to harm him through the court.