Deuteronomy 18:20

20 "'But if a prophet presumptuously speaks a word in my name which I didn't order him to say, or if he speaks in the name of other gods, then that prophet must die.'

Deuteronomy 18:20 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 18:20

But the prophet which shall presume to speak in my name
Pretending a mission and commission from God, and yet was never sent by him, like the prophets in ( Jeremiah 23:21 ) ,

which I have not commanded him to speak;
which though true was not to be spoken in a public manner, by assuming a public office, without a divine authority or a commission from God, and much less what was false, and never commanded to be spoken at all by any:

or, that shall speak in the name of other gods;
the idols of the people, as the Targum; as if any should affirm they were sent by Jove, or inspired by Apollo, as some are said to prophesy by Baal, as if they had received their orders and instructions from him, and were inspired by him, ( Jeremiah 2:8 )

even that prophet shall die;
the Targum of Jonathan is, be killed by the sword, but the Jews ^F17 generally interpret it of strangling.

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 Misn. Sanhedrin, c. 10. sect. 1. Bartenora in ib sect. 5. and Jarchi in loc.

Deuteronomy 18:20 In-Context

18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their kinsmen. I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I order him.

19 Whoever doesn't listen to my words, which he will speak in my name, will have to account for himself to me.

20 "'But if a prophet presumptuously speaks a word in my name which I didn't order him to say, or if he speaks in the name of other gods, then that prophet must die.'

21 You may be wondering, 'How are we to know if a word has not been spoken by ADONAI?'

22 When a prophet speaks in the name of ADONAI, and the prediction does not come true -that is, the word is not fulfilled -then ADONAI did not speak that word. The prophet who said it spoke presumptuously; you have nothing to fear from him.