Deuteronomy 18:15 kjv
The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;
Deuteronomy 18:15 nkjv
"The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear,
Deuteronomy 18:15 niv
The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.
Deuteronomy 18:15 esv
"The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers ? it is to him you shall listen ?
Deuteronomy 18:15 nlt
Moses continued, "The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.
Deuteronomy 18 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 3:22-23 | "Moses said, 'The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers...' Every soul who does not listen to that prophet will be destroyed..." | Peter identifies Jesus as the prophet. |
| Acts 7:37 | "This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, 'God will raise up for you a prophet from your brothers as he raised me up.'" | Stephen applies the prophecy to Jesus. |
| John 1:21 | They asked him, "Are you the Prophet?" And he answered, "No." | People expected 'the Prophet.' |
| John 6:14 | When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, "This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!" | Recognition of Jesus' prophetic nature. |
| John 7:40 | When they heard these words, some of the people said, "This really is the Prophet." | Further recognition by the crowds. |
| John 5:46 | "For had you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote of Me." | Jesus states Moses wrote about Him. |
| Lk 24:27 | And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. | Jesus' teaching on OT prophecy fulfillment. |
| Lk 24:44 | He said to them, "These are My words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled." | Fulfillment in the Scriptures. |
| Matt 17:5 | While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him." | God the Father confirms Jesus' authority. |
| Heb 1:1-2 | Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son. | Ultimate divine revelation through Jesus. |
| Heb 3:1-6 | For He has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. | Jesus' superiority to Moses. |
| Deut 34:10 | "And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face." | Moses' uniqueness highlights the significance of "like Moses." |
| Num 12:6-8 | If there is a prophet among you, I the LORD make myself known to him in a vision... but with My servant Moses, I speak mouth to mouth, clearly. | God's unique communication with Moses. |
| 1 Pet 1:10-12 | Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully. | Prophets foretold the coming of Christ. |
| Dt 13:1-5 | If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you... you shall not listen to the words of that prophet... | Warns against false prophets; reinforces importance of testing. |
| Dt 18:20-22 | "But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak... that prophet shall die." | Consequence for false prophecy. |
| Jer 23:21 | "I did not send the prophets, yet they ran; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied." | Warning against prophets without divine sending. |
| Mal 4:5 | "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes." | Anticipation of a significant prophetic figure. |
| Isa 9:6 | For to us a child is born, to us a son is given... and his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. | Prophecy of the Messiah's multifaceted role. |
| Joel 2:28 | "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy." | Spirit empowering widespread prophecy. |
| Jer 1:4-9 | Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations. | God appointing Jeremiah as a prophet. |
| Ez 2:7 | And you shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house. | The prophet's duty to speak God's word. |
| 1 Cor 14:3-4 | On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. | Role of New Testament prophecy. |
Deuteronomy 18 verses
Deuteronomy 18 15 Meaning
Deuteronomy 18:15 speaks of God's promise to Israel: He will raise up a prophet "like Moses" from among their own people. This future prophet will be the authentic channel of God's communication, in contrast to the detestable practices of divination and sorcery that Israel was commanded to shun. The imperative to "listen to him" underscores the authority of this promised figure and the vital importance of obedience to his message from God.
Deuteronomy 18 15 Context
Deuteronomy chapter 18 primarily outlines the provisions for the Levitical priests and sets boundaries for the nation of Israel regarding pagan practices. Verses 9-14 explicitly forbid abominable Canaanite practices such as child sacrifice, divination, soothsaying, necromancy, and consulting the dead. In direct contrast to these forbidden methods of seeking supernatural knowledge or power, verse 15 offers God's true and legitimate alternative: a divinely appointed prophet. This promise ensures Israel will always have a genuine way to hear God's voice, safeguarding them from spiritual deception and foreign religious corruption as they enter the Promised Land. This prophetic promise functions both as an immediate source of guidance for generations to come and, critically, points forward to a climactic figure who would ultimately fulfill this prophetic office in a singular way.
Deuteronomy 18 15 Word analysis
- The LORD your God: Refers to Yahweh Elohim (יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ). "LORD" (Yahweh) is the personal covenant name of God, emphasizing His faithfulness and unique relationship with Israel. "Your God" reinforces His claim over Israel as His chosen people, implying a specific covenant relationship.
- will raise up: From the Hebrew verb qūm (קוּם), which means to stand up, establish, arise, appoint, or cause to appear. It denotes God's active, intentional initiation and divine appointment of this prophet. This is not a spontaneous emergence but a sovereign act.
- for you: Indicates that this prophet is specifically for the benefit and guidance of Israel, meeting their need for divine communication.
- a prophet: From Hebrew nābî’ (נָבִיא). This term refers to a divinely called spokesperson, one who delivers a message directly from God. A nābî’ is distinguished from pagan soothsayers by receiving messages directly from the LORD and by speaking truth alone (Dt 18:21-22).
- like me: Refers to Moses himself. This is a profound and weighty comparison. Moses was unique: God spoke to him face to face (Num 12:8; Dt 34:10), he was the mediator of the Old Covenant, a lawgiver, and a leader of great power and authority. For God to promise a prophet like Moses implies extraordinary spiritual stature, direct divine communion, unparalleled authority, and the bringing of a new, foundational revelation.
- from among you: From the Hebrew miqqirbekā (מִקִּרְבְּךָ), meaning "from your midst" or "from your very heart." This assures Israel that the prophet will be an Israelite, one of their own, making him identifiable and relatable, as opposed to foreign religious leaders or idols.
- from your brothers: Reinforces the idea of shared kinship and identity within the covenant community. This further contrasts with foreign practices and emphasizes that this legitimate divine messenger will be a fellow Israelite, validating his connection to their heritage and God.
- you shall listen to him: This is an imperative command, ʾelāyw tišməʿūn (אֵלָיו תִּשְׁמָעוּן), indicating that obedience is not optional but divinely mandated. It signifies the prophet's supreme authority, derived directly from God. To not listen is to defy God Himself, with severe consequences (Acts 3:23).
Deuteronomy 18 15 Bonus Section
- Typology: The promise of "a prophet like me" establishes a profound Old Testament typology. Moses serves as a type (a prefiguring figure or event) of Christ. The parallels between Moses and Jesus are extensive: both were miraculous deliverers, mediators, law-givers, intercessors, and suffered rejection by their own people.
- Testing True Prophets: The context immediately following Dt 18:15-19 addresses how to discern a true prophet from a false one (Dt 18:20-22). A true prophet's words come true, and they speak in the name of the Lord. A false prophet speaks presumptuously or in the name of other gods, and their words do not come to pass. This provides Israel with the necessary discernment tools.
- Severity of Disobedience: Acts 3:23 quotes Dt 18:19 directly ("whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him") and adds, "Every soul who does not listen to that prophet will be destroyed from the people." This highlights the immense importance of listening to God's chosen messenger, especially Christ, as rejection means destruction.
Deuteronomy 18 15 Commentary
Deuteronomy 18:15 is a pivotal prophecy that establishes the future trajectory of God's interaction with Israel through true divine spokespersons, differentiating them sharply from pagan diviners. It serves as both a comfort and a warning. The immediate fulfillment came in the line of faithful prophets whom God continually raised up throughout Israel's history (e.g., Samuel, Elijah, Isaiah, Jeremiah) to speak His word, guide His people, and call them to repentance. These prophets often acted in roles similar to Moses, challenging kings, delivering laws, and interpreting God's will for their generation.
However, the definitive and ultimate fulfillment of "a prophet like me" is found in Jesus Christ. This is emphatically stated in the New Testament by Peter (Acts 3:22-23) and Stephen (Acts 7:37). Jesus stands as the unique "prophet" far exceeding any other because of His unparalleled direct communication with the Father, His supreme authority, His role as the Law-giver (establishing a New Covenant), and His ultimate identity as God Incarnate. Just as Moses led Israel out of physical bondage, Jesus leads His people out of spiritual bondage to sin and death. Just as Moses mediated the old covenant, Jesus mediates the new and better covenant. God Himself, at the Transfiguration, commanded the disciples, "Listen to Him!" (Matt 17:5), echoing the imperative of Dt 18:15. This verse thus lays foundational stones for understanding both the prophetic office in the Old Testament and its consummation in the person and work of Christ, to whom all should obediently listen.