Focused Passage

Deuteronomy 13:12-18

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

12If, regarding one of the cities the LORD your God is giving you to inhabit, you hear it said

13that wicked men have arisen from among you and have led the people of their city astray, saying, “Let us go and serve other gods” (which you have not known),

14then you must inquire, investigate, and interrogate thoroughly. And if it is established with certainty that this abomination has been committed among you,

15you must surely put the inhabitants of that city to the sword. Devote to destruction all its people and livestock.

16And you are to gather all its plunder in the middle of the public square, and completely burn the city and all its plunder as a whole burnt offering to the LORD your God. The city must remain a mound of ruins forever, never to be rebuilt.

17Nothing devoted to destruction shall cling to your hands, so that the LORD will turn from His fierce anger, grant you mercy, show you compassion, and multiply you as He swore to your fathers,

18because you obey the LORD your God, keeping all His commandments I am giving you today and doing what is right in the eyes of the LORD your God.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 12

Cross-references

Joshua 22:11Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 17:4Classic cross-references

Original words

Ifכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionregarding oneבְּאַחַ֣תH259Preposition-b | Number - feminine singular constructof the citiesעָרֶ֗יךָH5892Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine singular-אֲשֶׁר֩H834Pronoun - relativethe LORDיְהוָ֨הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularyour Godאֱלֹהֶ֜יךָH430Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularis givingנֹתֵ֥ןH5414Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularyouלְךָ֛Preposition | second person masculine singularto inhabitלָשֶׁ֥בֶתH3427Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct. . .שָׁ֖םH8033Adverbyou hearתִשְׁמַ֞עH8085Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularit saidלֵאמֹֽר׃H559Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct

Verse 13

Cross-references

1 Samuel 10:27Classic cross-references 1 John 2:19Classic cross-references 1 Samuel 25:17Classic cross-references 2 Corinthians 6:15Classic cross-references 2 Samuel 23:6Classic cross-references

Original words

that wickedבְלִיַּ֙עַל֙H1100Noun - masculine singularmenאֲנָשִׁ֤יםH376Noun - masculine plural. . .בְּנֵֽי־H1121Noun - masculine plural constructhave arisenיָצְא֞וּH3318Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralfrom among youמִקִּרְבֶּ֔ךָH7130Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularand have led the peopleיֹשְׁבֵ֥יH3427Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural constructof their cityעִירָ֖םH5892Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine pluralastrayוַיַּדִּ֛יחוּH5080Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markersayingלֵאמֹ֑רH559Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructLet us goנֵלְכָ֗הH1980Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common pluraland serveוְנַעַבְדָ֛הH5647Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common pluralotherאֲחֵרִ֖יםH312Adjective - masculine pluralgodsאֱלֹהִ֥יםH430Noun - masculine pluralwhichאֲשֶׁ֥רH834Pronoun - relativeyou have notלֹא־H3808Adverb - Negative particleknownיְדַעְתֶּֽם׃H3045Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural

Verse 14

Cross-references

Proverbs 18:13Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 17:4Classic cross-references 1 Timothy 5:19Classic cross-references Isaiah 11:3Classic cross-references John 7:24Classic cross-references

Original words

then you must inquireוְדָרַשְׁתָּ֧H1875Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singularinvestigateוְחָקַרְתָּ֧H2713Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singularand interrogateוְשָׁאַלְתָּ֖H7592Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singularthoroughlyהֵיטֵ֑בH3190Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absoluteAnd ifוְהִנֵּ֤הH2009Conjunctive waw | Interjectionit is established with certaintyאֱמֶת֙H571Noun - feminine singular. . .נָכ֣וֹןH3559Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular. . .הַדָּבָ֔רH1697Article | Noun - masculine singularthat thisהַזֹּ֖אתH2063Article | Pronoun - feminine singularabominationהַתּוֹעֵבָ֥הH8441Article | Noun - feminine singularhas been committedנֶעֶשְׂתָ֛הH6213Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singularamong youבְּקִרְבֶּֽךָ׃H7130Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular

Verse 15

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 7:2Classic cross-references Exodus 22:20Classic cross-references Joshua 7:15Classic cross-references Judges 20:48Classic cross-references Leviticus 27:28Classic cross-references

Original words

you must surely putהַכֵּ֣הH5221Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute. . .תַכֶּ֗הH5221Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe inhabitantsיֹֽשְׁבֵ֛יH3427Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural constructof thatהַהוּאH1931Article | Pronoun - third person feminine singularcityהָעִ֥ירH5892Article | Noun - feminine singularvvvלְפִי־H6310Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular constructto the swordחָ֑רֶבH2719Noun - feminine singularDevote to destructionהַחֲרֵ֨םH2763Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular-לְפִי־H6310Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct-חָֽרֶב׃H2719Noun - feminine singular-אֹתָ֧הּH853Direct object marker | third person feminine singular-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerall [its people]כָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular construct-אֲשֶׁר־H834Pronoun - relative-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerand livestockבְּהֶמְתָּ֖הּH929Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singular

BSB notes

Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons to the LORD, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering; similarly in verse 17.

Verse 16

Cross-references

Jeremiah 49:2Classic cross-references Joshua 8:28Classic cross-references Isaiah 17:1Classic cross-references Isaiah 25:2Classic cross-references Joshua 6:24Classic cross-references

Original words

Andוְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markeryou are to gatherתִּקְבֹּץ֮H6908Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularallכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructits plunderשְׁלָלָ֗הּH7998Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singularinאֶל־H413Prepositionthe middleתּ֣וֹךְH8432Noun - masculine singular constructof the public squareרְחֹבָהּ֒H7339Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singularand completely burnוְשָׂרַפְתָּ֨H8313Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular. . .בָאֵ֜שׁH784Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe cityהָעִ֤ירH5892Article | Noun - feminine singular-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerand allכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructits plunderשְׁלָלָהּ֙H7998Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singularas a whole burnt offeringכָּלִ֔ילH3632Noun - masculine singularto the LORDלַיהוָ֖הH3068Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singularyour Godאֱלֹהֶ֑יךָH430Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular[The city] must remainוְהָיְתָה֙H1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singulara mound of ruinsתֵּ֣לH8510Noun - masculine singular constructforeverעוֹלָ֔םH5769Noun - masculine singularneverלֹ֥אH3808Adverb - Negative particleto be rebuiltתִבָּנֶ֖הH1129Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular. . .עֽוֹד׃H5750Adverb

Verse 17

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 28:9Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 7:26Classic cross-references Psalms 85:3Classic cross-references Numbers 25:4Classic cross-references Genesis 26:24Classic cross-references

Original words

Nothingוְלֹֽא־H3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle. . .מְא֖וּמָהH3972Noun - masculine singulardevoted to destructionהַחֵ֑רֶםH2764Article | Noun - masculine singularshall clingיִדְבַּ֧קH1692Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularto your handsבְּיָדְךָ֛H3027Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singularso thatלְמַעַן֩H4616Conjunctionthe LORDיְהוָ֜הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularwill turnיָשׁ֨וּבH7725Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularfromמִן־H4480PrepositionHis fierce angerמֵחֲר֣וֹןH2740Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct. . .אַפּ֗וֹH639Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singulargrantוְנָֽתַן־H5414Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularyouלְךָ֤Preposition | second person masculine singularmercyרַחֲמִים֙H7356Noun - masculine pluralshow you compassionוְרִֽחַמְךָ֣H7355Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singularand multiply youוְהִרְבֶּ֔ךָH7235Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singularasכַּאֲשֶׁ֥רH834Preposition-k | Pronoun - relativeHe sworeנִשְׁבַּ֖עH7650Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singularto your fathersלַאֲבֹתֶֽיךָ׃H1Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular

Verse 18

Cross-references

Exodus 15:26Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 12:32Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 12:28Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 12:25Classic cross-references Matthew 7:21Classic cross-references

Original words

becauseכִּ֣יH3588Conjunctionyou obeyתִשְׁמַ֗עH8085Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular. . .בְּקוֹל֙H6963Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructthe LORDיְהוָ֣הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularyour Godאֱלֹהֶ֔יךָH430Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularkeepingלִשְׁמֹר֙H8104Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct-אֶת־H853Direct object markerallכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructHis commandmentsמִצְוֺתָ֔יוH4687Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular-אֲשֶׁ֛רH834Pronoun - relativeIאָנֹכִ֥יH595Pronoun - first person common singularam giving you todayמְצַוְּךָ֖H6680Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular. . .הַיּ֑וֹםH3117Article | Noun - masculine singular[and] doingלַעֲשׂוֹת֙H6213Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructwhat is rightהַיָּשָׁ֔רH3477Article | Adjective - masculine singularin the eyesבְּעֵינֵ֖יH5869Preposition-b | Noun - cdcof the LORDיְהוָ֥הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularyour Godאֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃סH430Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular

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