Deuteronomy 13:10 kjv
And thou shalt stone him with stones, that he die; because he hath sought to thrust thee away from the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
Deuteronomy 13:10 nkjv
And you shall stone him with stones until he dies, because he sought to entice you away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
Deuteronomy 13:10 niv
Stone them to death, because they tried to turn you away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
Deuteronomy 13:10 esv
You shall stone him to death with stones, because he sought to draw you away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
Deuteronomy 13:10 nlt
Stone the guilty ones to death because they have tried to draw you away from the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of slavery.
Deuteronomy 13 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 20:2 | "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt..." | God's identity as Redeemer and basis for loyalty |
| Ex 20:3 | "You shall have no other gods before me." | First Commandment, exclusive worship |
| Deut 4:23-24 | "...for the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God." | God's jealous nature concerning worship |
| Deut 6:4-5 | "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one... love the Lord your God." | Shema: command to love and serve God exclusively |
| Deut 6:12 | "then beware lest you forget the Lord who brought you out of Egypt..." | Warning against forgetting their Deliverer |
| Deut 7:4 | "...then the anger of the Lord would be kindled against you..." | Consequences of turning to other gods |
| Deut 13:5 | "So you shall purge the evil from your midst." | The purpose of the severe punishment |
| Deut 13:1-5 | Full context of punishing false prophets and idolaters | The immediate context of chapter's theme |
| Deut 17:2-5 | Instructions for executing idolaters who go after other gods | Expounds on the public stoning act |
| Deut 17:7 | "The hand of the witnesses shall be the first against him to put him to death..." | Communal participation in justice |
| Lev 20:2 | "Whoever of the people of Israel or of the strangers who sojourn in Israel gives any of his children to Molech shall surely be put to death..." | Capital punishment for pagan practices |
| Lev 24:16 | "...whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death..." | Stoning for blasphemy against God |
| Num 15:35-36 | Man gathering sticks on Sabbath stoned by community | Example of stoning for serious religious violation |
| Josh 24:17-18 | Joshua's reminder of Exodus and call for exclusive worship | Affirmation of covenant loyalty based on Exodus |
| 1 Kin 18:21 | Elijah challenges Israel: "How long will you waver between two opinions?" | Call to choose between Lord and Baal |
| Jer 14:14 | "The prophets are prophesying lies in my name..." | Warning against false prophets |
| Jer 23:32 | "Behold, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams..." | God's judgment against deceivers |
| Matt 7:15 | "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing..." | New Testament warning against false teachers |
| Gal 1:8-9 | "...if anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed." | Warning against perverting the Gospel |
| 2 Cor 11:13-15 | False apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ | Apostolic warning against spiritual deception |
| 2 Pet 2:1-3 | "But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you..." | New Testament warnings against spiritual seduction |
| Rev 2:20-23 | Christ's rebuke of the church tolerating "Jezebel" teaching | Warnings against spiritual harlotry in the church |
Deuteronomy 13 verses
Deuteronomy 13 10 Meaning
Deuteronomy 13:10 prescribes that anyone who attempts to lure God's people away from worshipping the Lord their God into idolatry must be executed by stoning. This severe punishment is mandated because such a person directly undermines the covenant relationship with God, who redeemed Israel from bondage in Egypt.
Deuteronomy 13 10 Context
Deuteronomy chapter 13 immediately precedes this verse and sets out stringent laws concerning any attempt to lead the Israelites away from exclusive worship of YHWH. Moses, on the plains of Moab, addresses a new generation about to enter Canaan, a land teeming with idolatrous practices. The purpose of this chapter is to safeguard Israel's unique covenant with God, emphasizing absolute loyalty and guarding against spiritual corruption from within their ranks. This law underscores that a call to worship other gods, whether by a prophet, a close relative, or a friend, is the gravest possible offense, constituting treason against their Divine King and jeopardizing the nation's spiritual and physical well-being. The severity of the punishment reflects the absolute necessity of preserving Israel's pure devotion to the One True God, the God who dramatically delivered them from Egypt.
Deuteronomy 13 10 Word analysis
- You shall stone him to death with stones:
- You: Refers to the community of Israel. This was not a private act but a communal execution, emphasizing the corporate responsibility of the nation to uphold God's law.
- Stone him to death with stones: The method of capital punishment. The Hebrew term for stoning, saqal (סָקַל), indicates a public, deliberate, and final act of execution. It served as a stark deterrent and a visible purging of evil from the community. It signified that the individual was completely cast out and removed.
- because he sought to draw you away:
- sought to draw you away: The motivation and crime. The Hebrew verb nādaḥ (נָדַח) means to thrust out, to drive, to allure, or to entice away. It implies a deliberate and active attempt to lead someone astray or alienate them from their rightful allegiance. This is not passive deviation but active subversion.
- from the Lord your God:
- Lord your God: YHWH Elohim, the covenant name of God. This specifies the singular object of their loyalty. The offense is a betrayal of the unique relationship between God and Israel, challenging His sole claim over them.
- who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery:
- who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery: This phrase, deeply embedded in Israel's theology, serves as the ultimate theological ground for their exclusive loyalty. It recalls the defining historical event of God's redemptive power and covenant initiation. To seek other gods is to deny the deliverer who freed them from actual slavery and oppression, implying an unforgivable ingratitude and a complete betrayal of the very foundation of their national existence and identity. It signifies that God alone has the right to command their worship and allegiance, having earned it through salvation.
Deuteronomy 13 10 Bonus section
The law in Deuteronomy 13 underscores the theocratic nature of ancient Israel, where allegiance to God was inseparable from civic loyalty. Offenses against God were considered treason against the nation itself, justifying extreme measures for societal purification. This chapter highlights God's "jealousy" (Deut 4:24), not in a humanly flawed sense, but as an ardent and protective zeal for the exclusive relationship He desires with His covenant people. In the New Testament, while physical stoning is not prescribed, the principles of spiritual vigilance and firm rejection of those who propagate false teachings remain vital (2 Pet 2, Gal 1), protecting the body of Christ from spiritual compromise and preserving the purity of the Gospel.
Deuteronomy 13 10 Commentary
Deuteronomy 13:10 lays down an uncompromising law demanding the absolute execution of anyone attempting to corrupt Israel's unique monotheistic faith by seducing them towards idolatry. This mandate is rooted in the covenant established at the Exodus, an event that demonstrated God's singular power, love, and authority over His people. The severity of stoning reflects the theological gravity of spiritual treason, equating it with an existential threat to the nation's spiritual purity and corporate relationship with God. It was not merely a matter of differing religious opinions but a deliberate act that attacked the very core of Israel's identity and jeopardized their divine blessing and existence as God's chosen people. The law safeguarded against the spiritual contagion that could lead to widespread apostasy and God's judgment, serving as a protective boundary for the integrity of their covenant.