Focused Passage

Deuteronomy 13:1-5

Testing the Prophets and Purging the Tempters: The Absolute Demand of Exclusive Loyalty

From the prophet whose sign comes true but who teaches rebellion (vv. 1-5), through the intimate family member or friend who secretly entices to idolatry (vv. 6-11), to the entire city within Israel that has been led astray (vv. 12-18) — the chapter moves from individual false prophet through intimate personal betrayal to communal apostasy, each requiring the same covenant response: investigation, refusal, and execution of the tempter.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1 If a prophet or dreamer of dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you,

2 and if the sign or wonder he has spoken to you comes about, but he says, “Let us follow other gods (which you have not known) and let us worship them,”

3 you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. For the LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love Him with all your heart and with all your soul.

4 You are to follow the LORD your God and fear Him. Keep His commandments and listen to His voice; serve Him and hold fast to Him.

5 Such a prophet or dreamer must be put to death, because he has advocated rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery; he has tried to turn you from the way in which the LORD your God has commanded you to walk. So you must purge the evil from among you.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Cross-references

Matthew 7:15 Classic cross-references 2 Peter 2:1 Classic cross-references 1 John 4:1 Classic cross-references Matthew 24:24 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 23:25 Classic cross-references

Original words

If כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction a prophet נָבִ֔יא H5030 Noun - masculine singular or א֖וֹ H176 Conjunction dreamer חֹלֵ֣ם H2492 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct of dreams חֲל֑וֹם H2472 Noun - masculine singular arises יָק֤וּם H6965 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular among you בְּקִרְבְּךָ֙ H7130 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular and proclaims וְנָתַ֥ן H5414 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular a sign א֖וֹת H226 Noun - common singular or א֥וֹ H176 Conjunction wonder מוֹפֵֽת׃ H4159 Noun - masculine singular to you אֵלֶ֛יךָ H413 Preposition | second person masculine singular

Verse 2

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 13:13 Classic cross-references 2 Corinthians 11:13 Classic cross-references 2 Thessalonians 2:9 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 13:6 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 18:22 Classic cross-references

Original words

and if the sign הָאוֹת֙ H226 Article | Noun - common singular or wonder וְהַמּוֹפֵ֔ת H4159 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular - אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative he has spoken דִּבֶּ֥ר H1696 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular to you אֵלֶ֖יךָ H413 Preposition | second person masculine singular comes about וּבָ֤א H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular but he says לֵאמֹ֑ר H559 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Let us follow נֵֽלְכָ֞ה H1980 Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common plural . . . אַחֲרֵ֨י H310 Preposition other אֲחֵרִ֛ים H312 Adjective - masculine plural - אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative gods אֱלֹהִ֧ים H430 Noun - masculine plural which you have not לֹֽא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle known יְדַעְתָּ֖ם H3045 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine plural and let us worship them וְנָֽעָבְדֵֽם׃ H5647 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hofal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common plural | third person masculine plural

Verse 3

Cross-references

James 1:12 Classic cross-references Exodus 20:20 Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 11:19 Classic cross-references John 6:6 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 8:2 Classic cross-references

Original words

you must not לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle listen תִשְׁמַ֗ע H8085 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition the words דִּבְרֵי֙ H1697 Noun - masculine plural construct of that הַה֔וּא H1931 Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singular prophet הַנָּבִ֣יא H5030 Article | Noun - masculine singular or א֛וֹ H176 Conjunction - אֶל־ H413 Preposition - הַה֑וּא H1931 Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singular dreamer חוֹלֵ֥ם H2492 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct . . . הַחֲל֖וֹם H2472 Article | Noun - masculine singular For כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction the LORD יְהוָ֤ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶם֙ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural - אֶתְכֶ֔ם H853 Direct object marker | second person masculine plural is testing you מְנַסֶּ֞ה H5254 Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular to find out לָדַ֗עַת H3045 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct whether הֲיִשְׁכֶ֤ם H3426 Adverb | second person masculine plural you love אֹֽהֲבִים֙ H157 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker [Him] יְהוָ֣ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular . . . אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֔ם H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural with all בְּכָל־ H3605 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct your heart לְבַבְכֶ֖ם H3824 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural and with all וּבְכָל־ H3605 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct your soul נַפְשְׁכֶֽם׃ H5315 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine plural

Verse 4

Cross-references

1 Samuel 7:3 Classic cross-references Colossians 1:10 Classic cross-references Exodus 23:25 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 10:20 Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 6:17 Classic cross-references

Original words

- אַחֲרֵ֨י H310 Preposition You are to follow תֵּלֵ֖כוּ H1980 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural the LORD יְהוָ֧ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֛ם H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural and וְאֹת֣וֹ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker | third person masculine singular fear Him תִירָ֑אוּ H3372 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker Keep תִּשְׁמֹ֙רוּ֙ H8104 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural His commandments מִצְוֺתָ֤יו H4687 Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular and listen תִשְׁמָ֔עוּ H8085 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural - וְאֹת֥וֹ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker | third person masculine singular to His voice וּבְקֹל֣וֹ H6963 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular serve Him תַעֲבֹ֖דוּ H5647 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural and hold fast תִדְבָּקֽוּן׃ H1692 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nun to Him וּב֥וֹ Conjunctive waw | Preposition | third person masculine singular

Verse 5

Cross-references

1 Corinthians 5:13 Classic cross-references Exodus 13:3 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 22:21 Classic cross-references 1 Kings 18:40 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 17:12 Classic cross-references

Original words

Such a הַה֡וּא H1931 Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singular prophet וְהַנָּבִ֣יא H5030 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular or א֣וֹ H176 Conjunction dreamer חֹלֵם֩ H2492 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct . . . הַחֲל֨וֹם H2472 Article | Noun - masculine singular . . . הַה֜וּא H1931 Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singular must be put to death יוּמָ֗ת H4191 Verb - Hofal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular because כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction he has advocated דִבֶּר־ H1696 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular rebellion סָ֠רָה H5627 Noun - feminine singular against עַל־ H5921 Preposition the LORD יְהוָ֨ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֜ם H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural who brought you out הַמּוֹצִ֥יא H3318 Article | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular - אֶתְכֶ֣ם׀ H853 Direct object marker | second person masculine plural of the land מֵאֶ֣רֶץ H776 Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct of Egypt מִצְרַ֗יִם H4714 Noun - proper - feminine singular and redeemed you וְהַפֹּֽדְךָ֙ H6299 Conjunctive waw, Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular from the house מִבֵּ֣ית H1004 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct of slavery עֲבָדִ֔ים H5650 Noun - masculine plural he has tried to turn you לְהַדִּֽיחֲךָ֙ H5080 Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular from מִן־ H4480 Preposition the way הַדֶּ֔רֶךְ H1870 Article | Noun - common singular in which אֲשֶׁ֧ר H834 Pronoun - relative the LORD יְהוָ֥ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular has commanded you צִוְּךָ֛ H6680 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular to walk לָלֶ֣כֶת H1980 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct So you must purge וּבִֽעַרְתָּ֥ H1197 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular the evil הָרָ֖ע H7451 Article | Adjective - masculine singular from among you מִקִּרְבֶּֽךָ׃ H7130 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular

BSB notes

Cited in 1 Corinthians 5:13

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