Deuteronomy 13:1
If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,
Deuteronomy 13:1 in other translations
| BSB | If a prophet or dreamer of dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you, |
|---|---|
| WEB | If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, |
| ASV | If there arise in the midst of thee a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and he give thee a sign or a wonder, |
| YLT | ‘When there ariseth in your midst a prophet, or a dreamer of a dream, and he hath given unto thee a sign or wonder, |
| DARBY | If there arise among you a prophet, or one that dreameth dreams, and he give thee a sign or a wonder, |
| BBE | If ever you have among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams and he gives you a sign or a wonder, |
| Webster | If there shall arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and give thee a sign or a wonder. |
What does Deuteronomy 13:1 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
De 13:1-5. Enticers to Idolatry to Be Put to Death.
1. If there arise among you a prophet--The special counsels which follow arose out of the general precept contained in De 12:32; and the purport of them is, that every attempt to seduce others from the course of duty which that divine standard of faith and worship prescribes must not only be strenuously resisted, but the seducer punished by the law of the land. This is exemplified in three cases of enticement to idolatry. a prophet--that is, some notable person laying claim to the character and authority of the prophetic office (Nu 12:6; 1Sa 10:6), performing feats of dexterity or power in support of his pretensions, or even predicting events which occurred as he foretold; as, for instance, an eclipse which a knowledge of natural science might enable him to anticipate (or, as Caiaphas, Joh 18:14). Should the aim of such a one be to seduce the people from the worship of the true God, he is an impostor and must be put to death. No prodigy, however wonderful, no human authority, however great, should be allowed to shake their belief in the divine character and truth of a religion so solemnly taught and so awfully attested (compare Ga 1:8). The modern Jews appeal to this passage as justifying their rejection of Jesus Christ. But He possessed all the characteristics of a true prophet, and He was so far from alienating the people from God and His worship that the grand object of His ministry was to lead to a purer, more spiritual and perfect observance of the law.Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Introduction
Of false prophets and their lying signs, Deu 13:1-6. Of those who endeavor to entice and seduce people to idolatry, Deu 13:7-8. The punishment of such, Deu 13:9-11. Of cities perverted from the pure worship of God, Deu 13:12-14. How that city is to be treated, Deu 13:15. All the spoil of it to be destroyed, Deu 13:16. Promises to them who obey these directions, Deu 13:17, Deu 13:18. Verse 1 If there arise among you a prophet - Any pretending to have a Divine influence, so as to be able perfectly to direct others in the way of salvation; or a dreamer of dreams - one who pretends that some deity has spoken to him in the night-season; and giveth thee a sign, אות oth, what appears to be a miraculous proof of his mission; or a wonder, מופת mopheth, some type or representation of what he wishes to bring you over to: as some have pretended to have received a consecrated image from heaven; hence the origin of the Palladium, Numa's Shields, and many of the deities among the Hindoos. But here the word seems to mean some portentous sign, such as an eclipse, which he who knew when it would take place might predict to the people who knew nothing of the matter, and thereby accredit his pretensions.Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Deuteronomy 13:1-5
Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain
Deuteronomy 13:1 in the original Hebrew
Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.
Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for Deuteronomy 13:1
- 1 John 4:1
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
- Jeremiah 23:25-28
I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart; Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal. The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the Lord.
- Jeremiah 29:8
For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed.
- 1 Kings 13:18
He said unto him, I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the Lord, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him.
- Jeremiah 27:9
Therefore hearken not ye to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreamers, nor to your enchanters, nor to your sorcerers, which speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon:
- Isaiah 9:15
The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:9
Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
- Luke 6:26
Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
- Mark 13:22
For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
- Matthew 7:15
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
- Zechariah 10:2
For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd.
- Jeremiah 6:13
For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
6 how near soever unto thee;
9 are to be stoned to death.
12 Idolatrous cities are not to be spared.
a prophet.That is, one pretending to the divine inspiration and authority of the prophetic office, or a dreamer of dreams, one who pretends that some deity has spoken to him in the night season, and giveth thee a sign, {oth,} what appears to be a miraculous proof of his mission, or a wonder, {mopheth,} some portentous sign, such as an eclipse, which he, who knew when it would happen, might predict to the people, who knew nothing of the matter, and thereby accredit his pretensions. But no pretended miracles must be admitted as a proof that the people might violate the first and great commandment.
1Ki 13:18; Isa 9:15; Jer 6:13; 23:11; Eze 13:2,3,23; Zec 13:4
Mt 7:15; 24:11; Lu 6:26; 2Pe 2:1; 1Jo 4:1
a dreamer.
Jer 23:25-28; 27:9; 29:8,24; *marg:
Zec 10:2
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain
Context
- Deuteronomy 13:1
If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,
- Deuteronomy 13:2
And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;
Deuteronomy 13:1 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | CUANDO se levantare en medio de ti profeta, ó soñador de sueños, y te diere señal ó prodigio, |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Toutes les choses que je vous commande, vous prendrez garde à les pratiquer. Tu n’y ajouteras rien, et tu n’en retrancheras rien. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Wenn in deiner Mitte ein Prophet aufsteht, oder einer, der Träume hat, und er gibt dir ein Zeichen oder ein Wunder; |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Si surrexerit in medio tui prophetes, aut qui somnium vidisse se dicat, et prædixerit signum atque portentum, |