Deuteronomy 13 1

Deuteronomy 13:1 kjv

If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,

Deuteronomy 13:1 nkjv

"If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder,

Deuteronomy 13:1 niv

If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a sign or wonder,

Deuteronomy 13:1 esv

"If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder,

Deuteronomy 13:1 nlt

"Suppose there are prophets among you or those who dream dreams about the future, and they promise you signs or miracles,

Deuteronomy 13 verses

Deuteronomy 13 1 Meaning

Deuteronomy 13:1 introduces the critical challenge of distinguishing between a true prophet of God and a false one, specifically when the latter presents seemingly genuine signs or wonders. This verse lays the groundwork for testing the authenticity of prophetic claims, asserting that miraculous phenomena alone are insufficient proof of a divine messenger’s truthfulness if their message leads away from God's commands. It highlights that God permits such displays, sometimes as a test for His people, emphasizing that the allegiance of Israel must remain exclusively with YHWH, regardless of extraordinary events.

Deuteronomy 13 1 Context

Deuteronomy 13 is a crucial chapter in the Deuteronomic Code, immediately following the emphasis on centralized worship in chapter 12. Its primary concern is safeguarding Israel’s exclusive loyalty to YHWH, specifically by addressing internal threats that might lead them to idolatry. The historical context is Israel on the cusp of entering the promised land, facing various temptations to assimilate pagan practices. Chapter 13 focuses on religious deception originating within the community—prophets, dreamers, friends, or even family members who advocate worship of other gods. Verse 1 sets the scene by presenting a hypothetical, yet common, scenario of someone claiming divine inspiration through visible demonstrations. It then systematically dismantles the validity of such claims if they lead away from YHWH, culminating in severe warnings and penalties for seduction to idolatry. The chapter serves as a stark warning against syncretism and stresses uncompromising devotion to God's covenant.

Deuteronomy 13 1 Word analysis

• If there arise (כִּי יָקוּם - ki yaqum):

  • ki: "if, when, that." Here it initiates a conditional clause.
  • yaqum: from qum meaning "to rise, stand up, appear." It suggests someone becoming prominent or taking a stand, often with authority. It indicates a possibility, "should there arise."
  • Significance: Implies that the emergence of such individuals is not just a theoretical possibility but a recurring threat that Israel must be prepared to face.

• among you (בְּקִרְבְּךָ - b'qirbekha):

  • b': "in, among."
  • qirbekha: "your midst, in your inner parts, within you (singular)."
  • Significance: Crucially indicates that the danger comes from within Israel's own community, not solely from outside pagan nations. This makes the threat more insidious and requires vigilance.

• a prophet (נָבִיא - navi):

  • navi: One who speaks for God; an inspired messenger or mouthpiece. The standard term for a divinely called speaker.
  • Significance: The verse assumes the public recognition of a "prophet" as a channel for divine communication, hence the gravity of a false one. This sets up a profound test of discernment for Israel.

• or a dreamer of dreams (אוֹ חֹלֵם חֲלוֹם - o kholem chalom):

  • o: "or."
  • kholem: Participle from chalam "to dream."
  • chalom: "a dream."
  • Significance: Dreams were a recognized means of divine revelation in the ancient Near East and in Israel (e.g., Gen 20:3, Num 12:6, Dan 7:1). This phrase broadens the scope of potential deceivers beyond formal "prophets" to anyone claiming special divine insight through dreams. The repetition of the root chlm emphasizes the act and its product.

• and giveth thee (וְנָתַן אֵלֶיךָ - v'natan eleikha):

  • v'natan: "and he gives." From natan, "to give, place, present."
  • eleikha: "to you (singular)."
  • Significance: Indicates the prophet or dreamer will present or perform something for the people, an act meant to validate their message. This "giving" suggests an outward, observable phenomenon.

• a sign (אוֹת - ot):

  • ot: "sign, token, portent, miracle." A visible, often miraculous, indication of divine presence or authentication.
  • Significance: It's a demonstration, often supernatural, intended to confirm authority or convey a message (e.g., Moses' staff turning into a serpent, Ex 4:8). The passage reveals that an "ot" is not always from God, challenging Israel's conventional understanding.

• or a wonder (אוֹ מוֹפֵת - o mofet):

  • o: "or."
  • mofet: "wonder, miracle, omen, portent." Often coupled with ot (as "signs and wonders"). Refers to something extraordinary, striking, or awe-inspiring, which can also carry an ominous or prophetic connotation.
  • Significance: Emphasizes an unusual, extraordinary event. The pairing of ot and mofet covers a wide range of miraculous or astonishing occurrences. The core warning is that even genuine supernatural power doesn't equate to divine approval if the message contradicts YHWH's established law.

Deuteronomy 13 1 Bonus section

The pairing of "sign" (אוֹת - ot) and "wonder" (מוֹפֵת - mofet) is a consistent idiom in the Old Testament, commonly used to describe the miraculous acts of YHWH that delivered Israel from Egypt (e.g., Ex 7:3, Deut 6:22). By applying these terms to potentially deceptive figures, Deuteronomy 13 redefines the parameters for interpreting divine action and supernatural phenomena. It warns Israel against uncritically accepting all "miracles" as divine authorization, forcing them to move beyond mere spectacle and critically assess the source and content of the message behind the wonder. This serves as an immediate counter-polemic against the common pagan belief systems of the day where diviners, sorcerers, and false prophets frequently used signs, omens, and deceptive acts to establish their authority and lead people into idolatry. God is teaching His people that true revelation is measured by its conformity to His already revealed word and His nature, not by raw power.

Deuteronomy 13 1 Commentary

Deuteronomy 13:1 lays the critical groundwork for a comprehensive test of spiritual discernment within Israel. It presents a radical idea in the ancient world: that even a person demonstrating genuine supernatural signs and wonders may not be speaking for God. This challenges the widespread belief that miraculous displays inherently validate the source. The verse acknowledges that individuals, whether established prophets or mere dreamers, might emerge from within the community, performing acts that appear genuinely supernatural. The critical insight here is that God, for His own sovereign purposes, permits such extraordinary phenomena, sometimes even using them as a test for His people's loyalty. The true test of any messenger, as elaborated in subsequent verses, is not their power to perform miracles, but the content of their message: does it uphold and call Israel back to exclusive allegiance to YHWH alone, or does it subtly, or overtly, entice them to worship other gods? This foundational warning underscores that even authentic-looking displays of power are secondary to absolute obedience and exclusive devotion to the one true God, protecting Israel from the pervasive influence of pagan practices which often relied on omens and divination.