Deuteronomy 13 2

Deuteronomy 13:2 kjv

And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;

Deuteronomy 13:2 nkjv

and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, 'Let us go after other gods'?which you have not known?'and let us serve them,'

Deuteronomy 13:2 niv

and if the sign or wonder spoken of takes place, and the prophet says, "Let us follow other gods" (gods you have not known) "and let us worship them,"

Deuteronomy 13:2 esv

and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, 'Let us go after other gods,' which you have not known, 'and let us serve them,'

Deuteronomy 13:2 nlt

and the predicted signs or miracles occur. If they then say, 'Come, let us worship other gods' ? gods you have not known before ?

Deuteronomy 13 verses

Deuteronomy 13 2 Meaning

Deuteronomy 13:2 describes a critical test for discerning true from false prophets. It states that even if a sign or wonder prophesied by a individual comes to pass, their message is to be rejected if it subsequently urges people to follow and worship other gods—deities previously unknown or forbidden by God. The passage establishes that predictive accuracy alone is not a sufficient validator of a prophet's divine authenticity; theological purity and allegiance to the One True God are the paramount criteria.

Deuteronomy 13 2 Context

Deuteronomy 13 serves as a strong warning against apostasy, particularly through the influence of false prophets and family members who would promote idolatry. This chapter immediately follows Moses' recapitulation of the Ten Commandments and the "Shema" (Deut 6:4-5), which emphasize the singular, undivided worship of Yahweh. The verse fits within the Deuteronomic Code, laying down principles for Israel's faithfulness once they enter the promised land, where they would be surrounded by pagan cultures and their religious practices. The historical context is that of a newly established nation, bound by covenant to God, entering a land teeming with polytheistic worship, fertility cults, and diverse divination practices. Thus, preventing theological drift was paramount for their survival and relationship with God.

Deuteronomy 13 2 Word analysis

• And if the sign (אוֹת, oth) or wonder (מוֹפֵת, mophet):

  • אוֹת (oth): Refers to a marker, token, miracle, or sign. It can be a divinely given proof or a symbol. In other contexts, it denotes God's authentic miracles (e.g., Exod 7:3; 10:1).
  • מוֹפֵת (mophet): Refers to a wonder, portent, or miraculous display. It often carries the sense of something extraordinary that causes amazement or serves as a prophetic sign. Like oth, it's often associated with divine action.
  • The conjunction "and if" indicates a conditional clause, positing a real scenario where a verifiable sign or wonder does occur. This highlights the challenging nature of the deception.

• spoken of (דִּבֵּר, dibber): Implies an intentional and public pronouncement or prophecy made by the individual.

• takes place (בּוֹא, bo): Literally "comes" or "enters." Here, it means to "come to pass" or "be fulfilled." This is the critical deceptive element: the prediction's accuracy lends false credibility.

• and he says: Indicates the spoken command or enticement that immediately follows the fulfilled prediction.

• 'Let us follow (נֵלְכָה, nelkhah):

  • From הָלַךְ (halak), meaning "to go, walk, proceed." Here, it signifies active allegiance, adopting practices, or going after as in devotion. It implies a departure from previous loyalty.

• other gods (אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים, elohim acherim)':

  • This is the core idolatrous deviation. אֱלֹהִים (elohim) refers to gods or deities, and אֲחֵרִים (acherim) means "other" or "foreign." It points to any deity outside of the covenant relationship with YHWH.
  • The command to follow "other gods" directly violates the First Commandment (Exod 20:3; Deut 5:7), making the message immediately identifiable as false, regardless of any preceding miracles.

• (gods you have not known)':

  • לֹא יְדַעְתָּם (lo yada'tem): "You have not known them." This emphasizes their foreignness and implies that these are not the God who delivered Israel from Egypt and made a covenant with them. It speaks to a lack of covenantal relationship and authentic revelation. These are not part of Israel's inherited faith or experience.

• 'and let us worship them (וְנַעַבְדֵם, venaa'bdem)':

  • From עָבַד (avad), meaning "to serve, work, worship." This highlights the practical act of devotion, including ritual practices, sacrifices, or acts of homage. It's the behavioral manifestation of the new allegiance.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "And if the sign or wonder...takes place, and he says...": This sequence is crucial. The verse describes a prophet who gains credibility through a supernatural validation, only to exploit it for illicit spiritual purposes. It exposes the potential for deceptive signs, serving as a warning against equating power with divine approval.
  • "'Let us follow other gods...and let us worship them'": This phrase defines the specific spiritual treason. The proposed action involves not merely acknowledging, but actively pledging allegiance ("follow") and offering service/devotion ("worship") to false deities. This demonstrates that the true test of a prophet lies not in their ability to perform wonders, but in their fidelity to God's exclusive covenantal demands and the purity of their theological message. The phrase highlights a direct affront to the fundamental principle of monotheism.

Deuteronomy 13 2 Bonus section

The severe punishment for promoting idolatry (death, as described later in Deut 13) underscores the immense threat perceived by God towards any attempt to dilute or corrupt Israel's exclusive covenant with Him. This principle extends beyond ancient prophets to all forms of spiritual guidance: any teaching, no matter how outwardly impressive or compelling, that subtly or overtly diverts one's devotion away from the Triune God, as revealed in Scripture, or encourages worship of anything other than Him, is a deceptive message. This chapter establishes the boundaries of orthodoxy for God's people, making strict adherence to monotheism a foundational tenet of their faith and survival.

Deuteronomy 13 2 Commentary

Deuteronomy 13:2 presents a profound truth: the ultimate criterion for evaluating a spiritual claim or prophet is not their ability to perform extraordinary feats, but the faithfulness of their message to God's established truth. Even if a predictive sign or wonder comes true, if the individual promotes following or serving "other gods"—any deities distinct from the God of Israel who revealed Himself in the covenant—then that individual and their message must be immediately rejected as false and dangerous. This test bypasses the miraculous, striking directly at the core of monotheism and loyalty to God's exclusive demand for worship. God permits such scenarios to occur as a test of the people's love and unwavering devotion (Deut 13:3), revealing whether their heart truly cleaves to Him or is susceptible to any persuasive voice, even one backed by power. The principle is clear: miracles confirm truth, but only when that "truth" aligns with God's revealed character and commands.