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

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

2and 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,”

3you 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.

4You 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.

5Such 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 7:15Classic cross-references 2 Peter 2:1Classic cross-references 1 John 4:1Classic cross-references Matthew 24:24Classic cross-references Jeremiah 23:25Classic cross-references

Original words

Ifכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctiona prophetנָבִ֔יאH5030Noun - masculine singularorא֖וֹH176Conjunctiondreamerחֹלֵ֣םH2492Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular constructof dreamsחֲל֑וֹםH2472Noun - masculine singulararisesיָק֤וּםH6965Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularamong youבְּקִרְבְּךָ֙H7130Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularand proclaimsוְנָתַ֥ןH5414Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singulara signא֖וֹתH226Noun - common singularorא֥וֹH176Conjunctionwonderמוֹפֵֽת׃H4159Noun - masculine singularto youאֵלֶ֛יךָH413Preposition | second person masculine singular

Verse 2

Cross-references

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

Original words

and if the signהָאוֹת֙H226Article | Noun - common singularor wonderוְהַמּוֹפֵ֔תH4159Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular-אֲשֶׁר־H834Pronoun - relativehe has spokenדִּבֶּ֥רH1696Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singularto youאֵלֶ֖יךָH413Preposition | second person masculine singularcomes aboutוּבָ֤אH935Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularbut he saysלֵאמֹ֑רH559Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructLet us followנֵֽלְכָ֞הH1980Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common plural. . .אַחֲרֵ֨יH310Prepositionotherאֲחֵרִ֛יםH312Adjective - masculine plural-אֲשֶׁ֥רH834Pronoun - relativegodsאֱלֹהִ֧יםH430Noun - masculine pluralwhich you have notלֹֽא־H3808Adverb - Negative particleknownיְדַעְתָּ֖םH3045Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine pluraland let us worship themוְנָֽעָבְדֵֽם׃H5647Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hofal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common plural | third person masculine plural

Verse 3

Cross-references

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

Original words

you must notלֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particlelistenתִשְׁמַ֗עH8085Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singulartoאֶל־H413Prepositionthe wordsדִּבְרֵי֙H1697Noun - masculine plural constructof thatהַה֔וּאH1931Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singularprophetהַנָּבִ֣יאH5030Article | Noun - masculine singularorא֛וֹH176Conjunction-אֶל־H413Preposition-הַה֑וּאH1931Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singulardreamerחוֹלֵ֥םH2492Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct. . .הַחֲל֖וֹםH2472Article | Noun - masculine singularForכִּ֣יH3588Conjunctionthe LORDיְהוָ֤הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularyour Godאֱלֹֽהֵיכֶם֙H430Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural-אֶתְכֶ֔םH853Direct object marker | second person masculine pluralis testing youמְנַסֶּ֞הH5254Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singularto find outלָדַ֗עַתH3045Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructwhetherהֲיִשְׁכֶ֤םH3426Adverb | second person masculine pluralyou loveאֹֽהֲבִים֙H157Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural-אֶת־H853Direct object marker[Him]יְהוָ֣הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singular. . .אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֔םH430Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine pluralwith allבְּכָל־H3605Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructyour heartלְבַבְכֶ֖םH3824Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine pluraland with allוּבְכָל־H3605Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructyour soulנַפְשְׁכֶֽם׃H5315Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine plural

Verse 4

Cross-references

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

Original words

-אַחֲרֵ֨יH310PrepositionYou are to followתֵּלֵ֖כוּH1980Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralthe LORDיְהוָ֧הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularyour Godאֱלֹהֵיכֶ֛םH430Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine pluralandוְאֹת֣וֹH853Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker | third person masculine singularfear Himתִירָ֑אוּH3372Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerKeepתִּשְׁמֹ֙רוּ֙H8104Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralHis commandmentsמִצְוֺתָ֤יוH4687Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singularand listenתִשְׁמָ֔עוּH8085Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural-וְאֹת֥וֹH853Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker | third person masculine singularto His voiceוּבְקֹל֣וֹH6963Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularserve Himתַעֲבֹ֖דוּH5647Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluraland hold fastתִדְבָּקֽוּן׃H1692Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nunto Himוּב֥וֹConjunctive waw | Preposition | third person masculine singular

Verse 5

Cross-references

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

Original words

Such aהַה֡וּאH1931Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singularprophetוְהַנָּבִ֣יאH5030Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singularorא֣וֹH176Conjunctiondreamerחֹלֵם֩H2492Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct. . .הַחֲל֨וֹםH2472Article | Noun - masculine singular. . .הַה֜וּאH1931Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singularmust be put to deathיוּמָ֗תH4191Verb - Hofal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularbecauseכִּ֣יH3588Conjunctionhe has advocatedדִבֶּר־H1696Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singularrebellionסָ֠רָהH5627Noun - feminine singularagainstעַל־H5921Prepositionthe LORDיְהוָ֨הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularyour Godאֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֜םH430Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine pluralwho brought you outהַמּוֹצִ֥יאH3318Article | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular-אֶתְכֶ֣ם׀H853Direct object marker | second person masculine pluralof the landמֵאֶ֣רֶץH776Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular constructof Egyptמִצְרַ֗יִםH4714Noun - proper - feminine singularand redeemed youוְהַפֹּֽדְךָ֙H6299Conjunctive waw, Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularfrom the houseמִבֵּ֣יתH1004Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular constructof slaveryעֲבָדִ֔יםH5650Noun - masculine pluralhe has tried to turn youלְהַדִּֽיחֲךָ֙H5080Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singularfromמִן־H4480Prepositionthe wayהַדֶּ֔רֶךְH1870Article | Noun - common singularin whichאֲשֶׁ֧רH834Pronoun - relativethe LORDיְהוָ֥הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularyour Godאֱלֹהֶ֖יךָH430Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularhas commanded youצִוְּךָ֛H6680Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singularto walkלָלֶ֣כֶתH1980Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructSo you must purgeוּבִֽעַרְתָּ֥H1197Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singularthe evilהָרָ֖עH7451Article | Adjective - masculine singularfrom among youמִקִּרְבֶּֽךָ׃H7130Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular

BSB notes

Cited in 1 Corinthians 5:13

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