Deuteronomy 13 6

Deuteronomy 13:6 kjv

If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers;

Deuteronomy 13:6 nkjv

"If your brother, the son of your mother, your son or your daughter, the wife of your bosom, or your friend who is as your own soul, secretly entices you, saying, 'Let us go and serve other gods,' which you have not known, neither you nor your fathers,

Deuteronomy 13:6 niv

If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you love, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, "Let us go and worship other gods" (gods that neither you nor your ancestors have known,

Deuteronomy 13:6 esv

"If your brother, the son of your mother, or your son or your daughter or the wife you embrace or your friend who is as your own soul entices you secretly, saying, 'Let us go and serve other gods,' which neither you nor your fathers have known,

Deuteronomy 13:6 nlt

"Suppose someone secretly entices you ? even your brother, your son or daughter, your beloved wife, or your closest friend ? and says, 'Let us go worship other gods' ? gods that neither you nor your ancestors have known.

Deuteronomy 13 verses

Deuteronomy 13 6 Meaning

Deuteronomy 13:6 warns the Israelites against the profound danger of idolatry when enticement comes from their most intimate relations: a sibling, child, spouse, or dearest friend. It underscores the insidiousness of such temptation, occurring "secretly," and explicitly identifies its aim as leading God's people to worship "other gods" whom neither they nor their ancestors have known. The verse sets the stage for God's radical demand for exclusive devotion, testing loyalty to Him above even the strongest human bonds.

Deuteronomy 13 6 Context

Deuteronomy 13 outlines crucial instructions concerning the purity of Israel's worship, immediately following the demand for exclusive devotion to Yahweh (Deut 12). The chapter primarily addresses three scenarios where the temptation to idolatry might arise: through a false prophet (vv. 1-5), from an intimate family member or friend (vv. 6-11), and from an entire city gone astray (vv. 12-18). Verse 6 specifically focuses on the second and perhaps most insidious threat – enticement from within one's most trusted circle. Historically, Moses is delivering these laws to the new generation of Israelites on the plains of Moab, just before they enter Canaan, a land saturated with polytheistic worship and diverse pagan cults (e.g., Baal, Asherah). This law serves as a prophylactic, preparing them for the intense spiritual battle they will face to maintain their distinct identity and covenant faithfulness in a foreign environment. It underscores the radical nature of their covenant with Yahweh, demanding absolute and exclusive loyalty even at the cost of cherished human relationships.

Deuteronomy 13 6 Word analysis

• If your brother, the son of your mother (Hebrew: akhikha ben-imnekha): This phrase emphasizes the closest possible familial bond, indicating not merely a half-brother but a full brother sharing the same mother. In a patriarchal society where multiple wives were common, this highlights an extremely intimate relationship, signifying deep affection and shared experience from childhood. It intensifies the gravity of the betrayal of leading one to apostasy.
• or your son or your daughter (Hebrew: benekha o bittakha): Refers to one's direct offspring. This further demonstrates the profound and often sacrificial love parents have for their children. The command here tests whether allegiance to God supersedes even this foundational human bond and natural parental affection.
• or the wife of your bosom (Hebrew: eshet cheykha): An idiom referring to one's dearly beloved and intimate wife, implying shared personal life, confidences, and deep marital affection. This term portrays the closest of all human relationships outside parent-child, making the temptation exceptionally poignant as it comes from a partner meant to share all aspects of life, including faith.
• or your friend who is as your own soul (Hebrew: u-re'acha asher ke-nafshekha): Describes a friend whose bond is so deep it is likened to one's own self, a true confidant and soulmate (compare 1 Sam 18:1 regarding David and Jonathan). Such a friend is implicitly trusted and their counsel valued. The enticement from such a person is a supreme test of fidelity, demanding one to choose between cherished personal loyalty and loyalty to God's exclusive claim.
• entices you secretly (Hebrew: yasitekha ba-seter): The verb yasit means 'to entice', 'incite', or 'lead astray', often with a manipulative or deceptive connotation. Ba-seter means 'in secret' or 'privately', indicating that the temptation is insidious, subtle, and perhaps initially disguised. This highlights the hidden, personal nature of such a spiritual test; it is not a public challenge but a quiet, internal subversion of faith, demanding strong personal discernment and integrity.
• saying, ‘Let us go after other gods’ (Hebrew: nelekhah aharay elohim acherim): The phrase "go after" (halakh aharey) is a common biblical idiom denoting following, serving, or worshipping. "Other gods" (elohim acherim) is a standard phrase in Deuteronomy emphasizing deities other than Yahweh, explicitly forbidding syncretism or polytheistic worship. This specifies the purpose of the enticement: a direct call to apostasy from the one true God, Israel's covenant Lord, to embrace foreign and illicit deities.
• which neither you nor your fathers have known (Hebrew: asher lo yada'ta atta va-avoteykha): "Known" here implies a personal, experiential, and covenantal relationship with YHWH, the God who revealed Himself to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and through the Exodus and Sinai covenant. In contrast, these "other gods" are foreign, unfamiliar, and outside the sphere of divine revelation and covenant loyalty. This highlights the fundamental difference between Israel's unique relationship with Yahweh and the alien nature of the false gods being proposed. It acts as a polemic against the new, strange deities of Canaan in favor of the established, revealed God of their forefathers.

Deuteronomy 13 6 Bonus section

This verse foreshadows a recurring struggle in Israel's history, where familial and social pressures frequently led to syncretism or outright idolatry (e.g., Solomon's reign, the pervasive Baal worship throughout the Divided Kingdom). It sets a divine boundary: while family and friendship are blessings, they are never to supersede absolute loyalty and exclusive worship of God. The severity of the law outlined in the subsequent verses (the command to put such a person to death, despite their intimate relationship) underscores the ultimate priority God places on the purity of worship and the preservation of His covenant community from spiritual corruption. This profound call for ultimate allegiance to God resonates throughout Scripture, culminating in New Testament teachings where allegiance to Christ is paramount, even demanding a reordering of familial loyalties (e.g., Matt 10:37, Luke 14:26). The "testing" nature of this enticement reveals true spiritual allegiance.

Deuteronomy 13 6 Commentary

Deuteronomy 13:6 serves as a stark warning, unveiling the most potent form of spiritual temptation: that which emanates from one's innermost circle – brother, child, spouse, or dearest friend. God's demand for exclusive devotion is so radical that it supersedes even the most profound human affections. This verse demonstrates that loyalty to Yahweh is not just a public profession but a deep-seated commitment that must withstand insidious, private attacks on faith. The emphasis on "secretly" enticement highlights that the path to apostasy is often subtle, persuasive, and concealed, rather than overt. It demands acute spiritual vigilance, not merely against external adversaries, but against the hidden influence of trusted loved ones. The call to "other gods" directly challenges the core covenant of Israel's monotheistic identity, demanding a choice between preserving familial/social harmony and maintaining absolute fidelity to the God who delivered them and entered into covenant with them. It implies that true faith sometimes necessitates choosing God over the most cherished human relationships, illustrating the radical nature of following Yahweh completely.