Deuteronomy 18:21 kjv
And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?
Deuteronomy 18:21 nkjv
And if you say in your heart, 'How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?'?
Deuteronomy 18:21 niv
You may say to yourselves, "How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LORD?"
Deuteronomy 18:21 esv
And if you say in your heart, 'How may we know the word that the LORD has not spoken?' ?
Deuteronomy 18:21 nlt
"But you may wonder, 'How will we know whether or not a prophecy is from the LORD?'
Deuteronomy 18 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 13:1-5 | If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises... and the sign comes true, saying, 'Let us follow other gods'... you shall not listen. | Discernment based on doctrinal purity |
| Deut 18:15 | The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you... you shall listen to him. | Promise of a true prophet |
| Deut 18:20 | But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded... that prophet shall die. | Warning against false prophets |
| Deut 18:22 | When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen... that is a word the LORD has not spoken. | The primary test of a true prophet (fulfillment) |
| Jer 14:14 | The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them... | False prophets speaking on their own |
| Jer 23:25-32 | I have heard what the prophets have said... who prophesy lies in my name... They speak lies... | God condemns false prophecies/dreams |
| Jer 28:1-17 | Confrontation between Jeremiah and Hananiah regarding prophetic truth. | Historical example of false prophecy test |
| Ezek 13:1-16 | Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit... I am against the prophets... | Denunciation of false prophets |
| Matt 7:15-20 | Beware of false prophets... You will recognize them by their fruits. | Discernment in the New Testament |
| Matt 24:11 | And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. | Future warning about false prophets |
| John 7:40 | When they heard these words, some of the people said, "This really is the Prophet!" | Jesus as "the Prophet" anticipated |
| Acts 3:22-23 | Moses said, 'The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me...' | Peter identifies Jesus as the promised Prophet |
| Acts 7:37 | This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, 'God will raise up for you a prophet...' | Stephen identifies Jesus as the promised Prophet |
| Num 23:19 | God is not a man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. | God's word is truth and trustworthy |
| Isa 41:22-23 | Let them bring them and declare to us what is to happen... tell us things to come. | Challenge to pagan gods regarding prophecy |
| Isa 44:26 | I confirm the word of my servant and fulfill the counsel of my messengers... | God validates His messengers by fulfilling words |
| Isa 48:3 | The former things I declared long ago; they went out from my mouth, and I proclaimed them... | God reveals and fulfills His own prophecies |
| 1 John 4:1 | Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God... | Imperative to test spiritual claims |
| 2 Pet 2:1 | But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. | Warning about false teachers in the church |
| Psa 33:4 | For the word of the LORD is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness. | The integrity of God's word |
| Heb 1:1-2 | Long ago, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets... but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son. | God's progressive revelation |
Deuteronomy 18 verses
Deuteronomy 18 21 Meaning
Deuteronomy 18:21 presents a crucial question arising in the hearts of the Israelite community: how are they to discern whether a prophetic message truly originates from the LORD or if it is a fabrication? This verse anticipates the Israelites' natural and vital need for a reliable criterion to distinguish between genuine divine communication and deceitful pronouncements, given the dire consequences of following false prophets and the necessity of adhering only to God's authoritative word. It sets the stage for the definitive test provided in the subsequent verse.
Deuteronomy 18 21 Context
Deuteronomy 18:21 is nested within Moses' final discourses to Israel before entering the Promised Land. The preceding verses (Deut 18:9-20) lay out clear distinctions between Israel's conduct and that of the surrounding nations, particularly concerning occult practices. While foreign nations consulted diviners, enchanters, necromancers, and other illicit means of seeking guidance, Israel was commanded not to participate in such abominations (Deut 18:9-14). Instead, the LORD promised to raise up a prophet like Moses from among them, to whom they were to listen (Deut 18:15-18). This section then warns severely against prophets who speak presumptuously in God's name or in the name of other gods (Deut 18:19-20), explicitly stating such a prophet should die. Verse 21 then directly addresses the practical question the people would naturally pose: how will they know if a word is truly from the LORD, or not? It introduces the criterion given in verse 22 for identifying genuine prophetic messages and differentiating them from false ones, safeguarding Israel's unique relationship with the true God. The overarching context is Israel's purity of worship and obedience to Yahweh alone, avoiding pagan influences.
Deuteronomy 18 21 Word analysis
- And if you say: This phrase (w'kiy tōmĕr) often introduces a hypothetical question or a common dilemma the audience might face, suggesting a thought already stirring within them or one that would inevitably arise.
- in your heart: Hebrew בִּלְבָבֶךָ (bil'vav'ekha). The "heart" (לֵב/לֵבָב, lev/levav) in biblical Hebrew refers not merely to the emotional center but broadly to the inner self—the seat of intellect, will, reason, conscience, and moral character. Saying "in your heart" signifies deep internal questioning, reflection, or perhaps a collective communal question pondered inwardly by the people. It emphasizes the genuine, thoughtful nature of the concern.
- How may we know: Hebrew בַּמֶּה נֵדָע (bam-meh nei'da). This expresses a practical concern for a reliable method or criterion. The verb "know" (יָדַע, yada') implies gaining certain, experiential, and verifiable knowledge, not just theoretical understanding. The people are seeking an objective means of discernment.
- the word: Hebrew הַדָּבָר (had-davar). "Davar" can mean "word," "speech," "matter," or "thing." In this prophetic context, it specifically refers to the pronouncement or message spoken by the prophet claiming divine origin. It denotes the content of the prophecy.
- that the LORD has not spoken?: Hebrew אֲשֶׁר לֹא דִבְּרוֹ יְהוָה (asher lo dib'ro YHVH). This clarifies the core challenge: identifying what is not God's word, as distinct from His genuine message. The name "LORD" (יְהוָה, YHVH) is God's covenant name, signifying His personal, immutable, and sovereign nature. The question seeks to expose any utterance that is not aligned with or sanctioned by the divine will and character of YHVH. It underlines the danger of words wrongly attributed to the Holy God.
Deuteronomy 18 21 Bonus section
The test introduced by Deuteronomy 18:21-22 highlights God's expectation for His people to be discerning and responsible in evaluating claims of divine communication. It reveals that the Lord does not expect blind faith but provides criteria for verification. This established precedent became crucial throughout Israelite history, particularly during periods when false prophets (e.g., in the time of Jeremiah) contended with true prophets. Ultimately, this passage points forward to Jesus Christ, identified in the New Testament (Acts 3:22-23, 7:37) as "the Prophet like Moses," who perfectly fulfilled all prophecies and whose teachings align flawlessly with the will of God, providing the ultimate standard for all truth.
Deuteronomy 18 21 Commentary
Deuteronomy 18:21 crystallizes the practical problem Israel faced in an age rampant with spiritual deception. While God strictly forbade divination and communication with the dead (Deut 18:9-12), and promised to raise up legitimate prophets (Deut 18:15-18), the very real challenge remained: how would an ordinary Israelite discern true from false prophets? This verse reflects that fundamental question asked in the inner thoughts of the people, emphasizing the deep importance of reliable divine guidance. It implicitly recognizes that false prophets would arise (as seen in v. 20) and that confusion would be detrimental to their covenant relationship with God.
The answer provided in the next verse (18:22) gives a primary objective test: the prophetic word must come to pass. This provides a clear, empirical method for verifying a prophet's claim. However, it's crucial to understand this test in conjunction with Deuteronomy 13:1-5, which states that even if a sign or wonder predicted by a prophet comes true, if that prophet attempts to lead Israel away from the LORD to serve other gods, he is still a false prophet. Thus, God established a two-fold test for true prophecy: it must be factually verifiable and doctrinally pure, always upholding the worship of YHVH alone. This foundational principle was vital for Israel's spiritual integrity and continues to be relevant for discerning spiritual truth.