Deuteronomy 13 5

Deuteronomy 13:5 kjv

And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.

Deuteronomy 13:5 nkjv

But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has spoken in order to turn you away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of bondage, to entice you from the way in which the LORD your God commanded you to walk. So you shall put away the evil from your midst.

Deuteronomy 13:5 niv

That prophet or dreamer must be put to death for inciting rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. That prophet or dreamer tried to turn you from the way the LORD your God commanded you to follow. You must purge the evil from among you.

Deuteronomy 13:5 esv

But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has taught rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you out of the house of slavery, to make you leave the way in which the LORD your God commanded you to walk. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.

Deuteronomy 13:5 nlt

The false prophets or visionaries who try to lead you astray must be put to death, for they encourage rebellion against the LORD your God, who redeemed you from slavery and brought you out of the land of Egypt. Since they try to lead you astray from the way the LORD your God commanded you to live, you must put them to death. In this way you will purge the evil from among you.

Deuteronomy 13 verses

Deuteronomy 13 5 Meaning

Deuteronomy 13:5 mandates the execution of any prophet or dreamer who incites the Israelites to abandon the worship of the LORD their God. The reason given is their attempt to divert the people from their covenant fidelity to the God who delivered them from Egypt, thereby safeguarding the community's spiritual purity and adherence to God's commanded path.

Deuteronomy 13 5 Context

Deuteronomy Chapter 13 focuses entirely on testing Israel's fidelity to the LORD. It addresses three scenarios where the nation's loyalty might be compromised: the emergence of a false prophet or dreamer (vv. 1-5), the private seduction by family or friends (vv. 6-11), and the public apostasy of an entire city (vv. 12-18). The core issue is preventing idolatry and maintaining the covenant relationship with the one true God.

Historically, ancient Near Eastern societies were characterized by diverse religious practices, including divination, omens, and prophecy. True prophecy in Israel was unique, serving as a direct communication from YHWH, whose sovereignty was demonstrated supremely in the Exodus from Egypt. This chapter underscores the vital importance of preserving the distinct monotheistic worship of the LORD against any attempts to revert to pagan practices or follow other gods, which were an existential threat to Israel's national and spiritual identity established through the Sinai covenant. The severity of the penalty reflects the ultimate nature of this sin: spiritual treason against their divine King and Redeemer.

Deuteronomy 13 5 Word analysis

• And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams,

  • prophet (נָבִיא - navi): A divinely appointed spokesperson, one who speaks forth for God. This indicates that even someone previously considered legitimate, or operating under the guise of prophecy, falls under this judgment.
  • dreamer of dreams (חֹלֵם חֲלֹום - cholem chalom): Someone who receives messages or guidance through dreams. Dreams were a recognized mode of divine revelation (Gen 20:3, Gen 37:5-9, Num 12:6, Jb 33:15), emphasizing the potential for perversion of even legitimate channels. The problem is not the medium, but the message that diverts from YHWH.

• shall be put to death;

  • put to death: This indicates a severe, divinely ordained judicial execution. It highlights the ultimate nature of the transgression, akin to treason against the divine sovereign. It removes the active threat from the community.

• because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God,

  • spoken (דִּבֶּר - dibber): To speak, declare. The active role of persuasion through communication is emphasized.
  • turn you away (הִדִּיחַ - hiddiyaḥ): To cast out, drive away, incite, tempt, entice, seduce. This describes an active, deceptive, and subversive attempt to alienate the people's loyalty and affection from YHWH. It implies intentional subversion.
  • from the LORD your God: Establishes the exclusive nature of Israel's relationship with YHWH, highlighting His unique covenantal name and their intimate connection to Him as "your God." Any deviation challenges the core of their national identity.

• which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage,

  • brought you out (הוֹצִיא - hotzi): To cause to come forth, lead out. A direct reference to the foundational event of Israel's history – the Exodus.
  • land of Egypt...house of bondage: These phrases explicitly link YHWH's authority to His unparalleled act of redemption. It reminds Israel of the unparalleled power and grace of God. To turn from this God is to betray the very act that secured their freedom and nationhood.
  • redeemed (פָּדָה - padah): To ransom, deliver, free. This emphasizes YHWH's proprietorship over Israel due to His costly act of liberation, making any disloyalty even more egregious.

• to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in.

  • thrust thee out (לְהַדִּיחֲךָ - lehaddiyakha): The same root as "turn away," but with a strong sense of actively pushing or driving someone off course. The intention of the false prophet is to derail Israel's path of obedience.
  • the way (הַדֶּרֶךְ - haddekre): Refers to the prescribed path of life, conduct, and obedience according to God's commandments. This way is integral to God's covenant with Israel. The false prophet seeks to distort their divinely ordained purpose.

• So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.

  • put the evil away (וּבִעַרְתָּ הָרָע - uvi'arta hara'): To destroy, burn, purge, eliminate the wickedness/evil. This is a communal injunction. The severity of the punishment is tied to the preservation of national holiness and covenant integrity. The "evil" (רָעָה - ra'ah) here is not merely an act but the wicked presence that contaminates the community. It protects the integrity of the covenant community by removing sources of apostasy.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God": This opening defines the perpetrator, the immediate penalty, and the fundamental reason: attempting to cause apostasy. The emphasis is on active, verbal incitement away from the established worship of YHWH.
  • "which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage,": This crucial historical anchor establishes YHWH's exclusive authority and proprietary claim over Israel based on His unique act of salvation. It defines the "LORD your God" in terms of His actions and character, making disloyalty inexcusable.
  • "to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in.": This phrase elaborates on the effect and goal of the false prophet's words: to divert Israel from the righteous path of obedience outlined in the Torah. It highlights the strategic damage false teaching inflicts on divine revelation.
  • "So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.": This final command concludes the verse, stating the communal responsibility and justification for the extreme penalty. It ensures the holiness and survival of the covenant community by decisively removing spiritual malignancy.

Deuteronomy 13 5 Bonus section

• The command in Deut 13:5 signifies a spiritual "immune response" for the covenant community. Just as a physical body expels harmful elements, so too must the nation rigorously remove anything that could lead to spiritual death and apostasy.
• The emphasis on YHWH as the one who "brought you out of Egypt" acts as a recurring theological and historical "litmus test" throughout Deuteronomy. Any prophet whose message contradicts this historical redemptive truth, or incites people away from this God, is immediately suspect, regardless of any accompanying signs or wonders (vv. 1-2).
• While capital punishment for spiritual offenses is specific to the Mosaic covenant context of ancient Israel as a theocracy, the underlying principle of zealously guarding divine truth and confronting destructive heresies remains crucial for believers and the Church (1 Jn 4:1; 2 Pet 2:1-3; Gal 1:8-9). The Church today removes evil through excommunication rather than execution.
• This verse highlights that spiritual deception is a matter of life and death, both communally and individually, regarding one's relationship with God. The danger is not merely wrong ideas, but the active undermining of true faith and obedience.

Deuteronomy 13 5 Commentary

Deuteronomy 13:5 serves as a potent guardian of Israel's spiritual distinctiveness and covenant fidelity. It establishes that attempts to draw the people away from the LORD, whether through prophecy or dreams, are acts of treason punishable by death. The severity of this decree stems from the fact that YHWH is not merely a deity, but the God who uniquely delivered Israel from Egyptian bondage, forging an exclusive covenant with them. To follow other gods, or to incite others to do so, is to deny this foundational act of redemption and the very identity of the nation. The "way" Israel was commanded to walk in encompassed all aspects of their life guided by divine law. False prophets directly assaulted this path by replacing God's truth with lies, thus contaminating the entire community. Therefore, the imperative to "put the evil away" is a command for judicial and communal purgation, a radical measure necessary to preserve the nation's spiritual health and integrity. This principle underscores that protecting the purity of true worship is paramount to God, preventing the corruption of His people and their unique relationship with Him. In a broader sense, it teaches the gravity of spiritual deception that aims to turn believers from their covenant with God and His truth.