Deuteronomy 18:18 kjv
I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
Deuteronomy 18:18 nkjv
I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him.
Deuteronomy 18:18 niv
I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him.
Deuteronomy 18:18 esv
I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.
Deuteronomy 18:18 nlt
I will raise up a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites. I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell the people everything I command him.
Deuteronomy 18 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Dt 18:15 | "The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet from among you... | Foreshadows the prophet mentioned here. |
| Dt 5:23-28 | Israelites request Moses to mediate God's words, fearing direct speech. | Background for the need of such a prophet. |
| Num 12:6-8 | God affirms His unique direct communication with Moses, "mouth to mouth." | Highlights Moses' unparalleled prophetic status. |
| Acts 3:22 | Peter quotes Dt 18:15, 18 directly applying it to Jesus Christ. | Direct New Testament fulfillment. |
| Acts 7:37 | Stephen reiterates Moses' prophecy, pointing to Jesus. | Reinforces the Christological application. |
| Jn 1:21 | "Are you the Prophet?" John the Baptist questioned. | Jewish expectation of 'the Prophet'. |
| Jn 6:14 | After feeding 5,000, people exclaimed, "This is indeed the Prophet!" | Public identification of Jesus as the Prophet. |
| Jn 7:40 | Many in the crowd, on hearing Jesus' words, said, "This really is the Prophet." | Continuing recognition of Jesus. |
| Jn 14:10 | Jesus: "The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority...". | Jesus fulfills "My words in his mouth." |
| Jn 12:49-50 | Jesus: "For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father...gave me a command..." | Jesus' absolute obedience to God's command. |
| Mt 17:5 | At Transfiguration, God's voice: "This is My beloved Son...Listen to Him!" | Divine command to heed Jesus' authority. |
| Heb 1:1-2 | God spoke "at many times and in various ways...but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son." | Jesus is God's ultimate Word. |
| 2 Pet 1:20-21 | Prophecy never produced by man’s will, but moved by the Holy Spirit. | Nature of true divine prophecy. |
| Dt 13:1-5 | Test for a true prophet: their predictions come true, they do not lead away from God. | Criteria for validating God's prophet. |
| Isa 9:6 | "For to us a Child is born...and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor..." | Foreshadows the coming of Christ, the Prophet-King. |
| Isa 53:7 | "He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth..." | Contrast: the suffering servant who is silent vs. the speaking prophet. |
| Ex 4:10-12 | Moses felt inadequate to speak, God promises to teach him what to say. | God equipping His chosen spokesperson. |
| Dt 34:10-12 | "And there has not arisen in Israel since a prophet like Moses..." | Underscores Moses' uniqueness and prepares for the future prophet. |
| Ps 2:7 | "You are My Son; today I have begotten You." | Connects to Jesus' unique sonship and authority. |
| Jer 23:5-6 | "Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch..." | Broader messianic prophecy of a righteous King-Prophet. |
| Mic 5:2 | Bethlehem for the ruler whose origins are "from of old." | Prophet-King to be raised. |
| Zec 6:12 | "Behold, the Man whose name is the Branch: for He shall grow up... and build the temple of the LORD." | The Branch also points to the Christ, combining roles. |
Deuteronomy 18 verses
Deuteronomy 18 18 Meaning
Deuteronomy 18:18 is a pivotal prophecy from God to Moses, assuring Israel that a future Prophet, uniquely similar to Moses in role and authority, would be raised from among them. This Prophet would be endowed with God's direct words, speaking only what God commands, thereby serving as a faithful and ultimate revelation of divine truth to the people, unlike the forbidden divination practices of surrounding nations.
Deuteronomy 18 18 Context
Deuteronomy chapter 18 functions within Moses' farewell speeches to the second generation of Israelites before they enter the Promised Land. The chapter outlines regulations for priests and Levites, but significantly shifts to warn against pagan practices (Dt 18:9-14) common among the surrounding nations, such as divination, sorcery, and necromancy. In direct contrast to these illicit methods of seeking divine guidance, God promises a legitimate and righteous means: the raising of a Prophet (Dt 18:15-18). This promise not only satisfies the people's earlier request at Mount Horeb (Dt 5:23-28) to not hear God's voice directly, but also establishes a clear and exclusive channel for future divine communication through God-ordained revelation, thereby establishing boundaries and condemning reliance on occult arts. The verse sets the standard for distinguishing true prophecy from false.
Deuteronomy 18 18 Word analysis
- "I will raise up" (אָקִים, aqim): This Hebrew word signifies God's sovereign initiative and power in bringing someone into existence or prominence. It emphasizes that this Prophet will not be self-appointed or arise through human means but is chosen and established by divine appointment. This underscores the authenticity and authority of the coming Prophet.
- "for them": Refers to the Israelites, the specific audience and beneficiaries of this divine provision. It highlights God's continuing care and provision for His covenant people.
- "a Prophet" (נָבִיא, navi'): This term refers to an authorized messenger or spokesperson for God. A navi' receives direct revelation and faithfully proclaims it. This office contrasts sharply with the charlatans and false spiritual guides mentioned in previous verses (Dt 18:9-14).
- "from among their brothers": This phrase specifies the ethnic origin of the Prophet – an Israelite, distinguishing him from foreign prophets or cultic figures. It means the Prophet would be fully human and identifiable with the people, not some ethereal or distant entity, thus making him approachable and relatable, much like Moses was.
- "like you" (כָּמ֫וֹךָ, kāmoḵā): This crucial phrase directly compares the future Prophet to Moses. Moses was unique as God's mediator, lawgiver, deliverer, intercessor, and prophet with whom God spoke "mouth to mouth" (Num 12:8). No prophet after Moses in the Old Testament entirely fulfilled this "like you" criterion. This suggests the future Prophet would hold an unparalleled position of authority and direct communication with God, acting as a primary instrument of divine revelation, delivering foundational law, leading God’s people, and interceding for them, just as Moses did. This sets a high and singular standard for the awaited one.
- "and I will put My words": This signifies divine inspiration and content. The message originates directly from God, ensuring absolute truth and authority. The Prophet is not speaking his own thoughts or interpretations, but God’s direct revelation.
- "in his mouth": This indicates direct divine impartation and accurate transmission. The Prophet serves as a perfect conduit, speaking verbatim or with perfect fidelity the very utterances of God. This removes any ambiguity regarding the source or purity of the message.
- "and he shall speak to them all that I command him": This emphasizes the Prophet's complete faithfulness and obedience in relaying God's full and precise message without addition, subtraction, or alteration. It ensures the integrity of the divine communication, reaffirming the Prophet's role as a wholly trustworthy divine mouthpiece.
Deuteronomy 18 18 Bonus section
This verse hints at a progression in divine revelation. After a period of direct, awe-inspiring communication at Sinai, and then through Moses, God promised a continuous, yet specialized, channel for His word. The immediate fulfillment after Moses was through judges and various prophets (e.g., Samuel, Elijah), but none possessed the full Mosaic authority. The consistent application of Dt 18:18-19 in the New Testament to Jesus demonstrates that this prophecy was not exhausted by a line of ordinary prophets but specifically awaited a singular figure, the Christ, who would perfectly fulfill all aspects of Moses' unique leadership, bringing not just a new law but embodying its very essence, mediating a new covenant, and delivering His people from the ultimate bondage of sin and death. This "Prophet" serves as the culminating voice of God, rendering all prior revelations preparatory and finding their sum in Him.
Deuteronomy 18 18 Commentary
Deuteronomy 18:18 stands as one of the most significant messianic prophecies in the Old Testament, forming the foundation for Israel's expectation of an ultimate Prophet. God promises a Navi, a true spokesman, to bridge the gap between divine revelation and human comprehension, replacing the terrifying direct voice from Sinai. The crucial descriptor "like you" sets Moses as the benchmark: the future Prophet would share his unique roles as lawgiver, mediator, and one who knew God face-to-face. While a line of prophets indeed followed Moses, none fully met this criterion, a point underscored in Deuteronomy 34:10. The specific promises that God would put His words directly "in his mouth" and that he would speak "all that I command him" underscore this Prophet's perfect fidelity, divine authority, and comprehensive revelation, sharply contrasting with false prophets who spoke from their own imaginations. This prophecy finds its climactic fulfillment in Jesus Christ, as unequivocally affirmed by Peter (Acts 3:22) and Stephen (Acts 7:37), who recognized Jesus as the ultimate divine Word, the only Prophet to perfectly embody and surpass the likeness of Moses, speaking the Father's exact commands. He not only brought God's word but was the living Word.