Deuteronomy 13:12 kjv
If thou shalt hear say in one of thy cities, which the LORD thy God hath given thee to dwell there, saying,
Deuteronomy 13:12 nkjv
"If you hear someone in one of your cities, which the LORD your God gives you to dwell in, saying,
Deuteronomy 13:12 niv
If you hear it said about one of the towns the LORD your God is giving you to live in
Deuteronomy 13:12 esv
"If you hear in one of your cities, which the LORD your God is giving you to dwell there,
Deuteronomy 13:12 nlt
"When you begin living in the towns the LORD your God is giving you, you may hear
Deuteronomy 13 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 17:4 | "...you hear about it, then you must investigate it thoroughly..." | Requires diligent investigation after hearing |
| Deut 19:18 | "...the judges shall inquire diligently..." | Emphasis on thorough inquiry in legal matters |
| Num 35:30 | "On the testimony of two or three witnesses a person shall be put to death..." | Requirement for multiple testimonies |
| Matt 7:15 | "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing..." | Warning against spiritual deception |
| Acts 20:29-30 | "...savage wolves will come in among you...men will arise, speaking twisted things..." | Alertness to internal threats to the community |
| 1 Tim 5:19 | "Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses." | Protocol for hearing accusations |
| Deut 1:8 | "See, I have set the land before you. Go in and take possession..." | God giving the land as inheritance |
| Deut 6:10 | "When the LORD your God brings you into the land that he swore..." | God's active role in providing dwelling |
| Josh 21:43-45 | "Thus the LORD gave to Israel all the land that he swore..." | Fulfillment of God's promise of the land |
| Neh 9:24 | "The descendants went in and took possession of the land..." | Historical reality of occupying the land God gave |
| Ps 78:55 | "He drove out nations before them...and allotted their inheritance by measure." | God's sovereign hand in establishing Israel |
| Ex 20:3-5 | "You shall have no other gods before me...I the LORD your God am a jealous God." | First Commandment against idolatry |
| Deut 4:19-20 | "Beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven...which the LORD your God has allotted to all the peoples..." | Warning against worshipping other deities |
| Deut 5:6-7 | "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out...You shall have no other gods before me." | Basis of the covenant: exclusive devotion to God |
| Deut 6:14 | "You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you..." | Direct prohibition against following other gods |
| Jer 2:13 | "My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me...and hewed out cisterns..." | Rebuke for abandoning God for false gods |
| Ezek 20:28-29 | "When I brought them into the land...they saw every high hill...there they offered their sacrifices..." | History of Israel's tendency to idolatry |
| Lev 19:17 | "You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor..." | Brotherly responsibility to address sin |
| Prov 24:11-12 | "Rescue those who are being taken away to death...if you say, 'Behold, we did not know this!'" | Obligation to act upon knowledge of wrongdoing |
| Ezek 3:17-19 | "...If you do not speak to warn the wicked...their blood I will require from your hand." | Watchman's responsibility for warnings |
| Rom 13:4 | "...for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid..." | Civil authority's role in enforcing justice |
| Heb 12:15 | "See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no 'root of bitterness' springs up..." | Collective responsibility for spiritual health |
Deuteronomy 13 verses
Deuteronomy 13 12 Meaning
Deuteronomy 13:12 initiates the legal procedure for handling communal apostasy within ancient Israel. It sets the foundational condition: the receipt of a credible report or rumor regarding an entire city that might have departed from the covenant loyalty to the Lord. This verse emphasizes the initial awareness or notification that triggers further investigation, underscoring the serious obligation to preserve the purity of Israel's worship in the land given by God.
Deuteronomy 13 12 Context
Deuteronomy 13 sets out stringent laws concerning fidelity to the Lord, Israel's covenant God. It follows directly from the solemn call to wholeheartedly love and serve the Lord (Deut 11:13-17) and the command to utterly destroy all foreign places of worship (Deut 12). Chapter 13 begins by addressing individual temptations to idolatry, first through false prophets (vv. 1-5) and then through family members or close friends who entice one to worship other gods (vv. 6-11). Verse 12 then transitions to the corporate level, detailing the severe measures to be taken if an entire city deviates into apostasy. This escalation shows the increasingly serious threat idolatry poses, from an individual to a communal level, ultimately imperiling the entire nation's covenant relationship with God and their continued dwelling in the Promised Land. The verse establishes the critical first step: detection and reporting, setting the stage for judicial investigation before any action is taken against a whole community.
Deuteronomy 13 12 Word analysis
- If (אִם - 'im): A conditional particle, introducing a hypothetical scenario. It implies that this situation is not guaranteed but, should it arise, specific action is required. It points to a clear legal trigger.
- you hear (תִשְׁמַע - tishma'): From the verb shama', meaning "to hear," "to listen," "to obey," or "to understand." In this context, it refers to receiving a report or having knowledge come to one's attention, not necessarily direct personal observation. The choice of shama' often implies attention and consideration, not just passive hearing.
- it said: This part is often inferred or rendered slightly differently in translations. The Hebrew construction simply points to "hearing," with the "it said" reflecting the natural English idiom for receiving information via communication. It implies a report or widespread talk.
- in one of (בְּאַחַת - b'achat): Indicates specificity within a larger group. The problem is localized to a particular city, not generalized across the whole nation without clear evidence.
- your cities (עָרֶיךָ - 'arekha): Refers to the walled towns and settlements where the Israelites would reside. The city was a crucial social, economic, and religious unit. The plural possessive highlights the collective responsibility and threat.
- which (אֲשֶׁר - 'asher): A relative pronoun connecting the cities to their divine source and purpose.
- the LORD your God (יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ - Yahweh Eloheykha): Emphasizes the covenant relationship. "Yahweh" is God's personal name, signifying His unchanging, covenant-keeping nature. "Eloheykha" (your God) underscores the unique bond between God and Israel, distinguishing Him from foreign deities. The responsibility to address apostasy stems from this exclusive relationship.
- is giving you (נֹתֵן לְךָ - notên lekha): The Hebrew participle indicates a continuous or ongoing act. God is continually providing these cities. This highlights His ongoing grace and ownership, which ties directly into the obligation of faithfulness from those dwelling there. The land and cities are not merely conquered territories but divine gifts with conditions.
- to dwell in (לָשֶׁבֶת - lashevet): From yashav, "to sit," "to reside," "to dwell." The purpose of God giving the cities is for His people to live within them. This dwelling implies adherence to the covenant laws governing that habitation.
Words-group analysis:
- "If you hear it said": This phrase establishes the critical first step in a legal process. It is a trigger mechanism, indicating that a serious allegation or report concerning the city's spiritual fidelity has come to light, requiring diligent investigation. It is not an invitation to act on mere whispers, but implies a credible basis for inquiry.
- "in one of your cities, which the LORD your God is giving you to dwell in": This identifies the specific locale and its theological significance. The phrase powerfully connects the land and its settlements directly to God's generous provision and covenant purpose. These cities are not merely Israelite property; they are divinely granted spheres of existence where obedience to Yahweh is paramount. This deep theological grounding makes apostasy in such a city not just a social deviance but a direct affront to God's gracious gift and sovereign will for His chosen people.
Deuteronomy 13 12 Bonus section
The specific focus on "cities" in this chapter underscores the communal aspect of covenant keeping. Unlike personal sins or even individual acts of idolatry (which Deuteronomy also addresses), the apostasy of a city indicates a deep-seated spiritual corruption that could spread like leaven through the entire nation. This highlights the corporate solidarity in Israel and God's standard of purity for the nation He called to be a light to the world. The careful formulation of this introductory verse, requiring "hearing" a report, points to an implied judicial process of evidence gathering and thorough investigation (as further elaborated in Deut 17:4), ensuring that such a grave accusation against an entire city would not be acted upon lightly, despite the severity of the potential judgment. This system served as a stark warning and a powerful deterrent against widespread spiritual defection within the divinely appointed community.
Deuteronomy 13 12 Commentary
Deuteronomy 13:12 is a foundational statement initiating the legal procedure for dealing with collective apostasy in an Israelite city. It highlights the principle of diligence and promptness in investigating reports of disloyalty to the Lord. The focus here is not on the outcome but on the prerequisite—that an accusation or strong suspicion be heard. This "hearing" is not passive; it implies responsible reception of information, sufficient to warrant a serious inquiry. The phrasing underscores that such potential apostasy is a profound threat within a God-given domain. The divine gift of the land and cities to "dwell in" implicitly demands covenant faithfulness. The existence of a city given by "the LORD your God" places a high spiritual stake on its inhabitants' collective adherence to His commands. Thus, any deviation is a direct challenge to the very foundation of Israel's national existence and divine blessing.