Deuteronomy 18:20-22

20 'But the prophet who speaks a word 1presumptuously in My name which I have not commanded him to speak, or 2which he speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.'
21 "You may say in your heart, 'How will we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?'
22 "3When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it 4presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.

Deuteronomy 18:20-22 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 18

This chapter gives an account of the provision made for the priests and Levites, with the reason of it, De 18:1-5, of allowance of a country Levite to minister at Jerusalem, and take his portion with the rest, De 18:6-8, and of several persons of bad practices not to be suffered among the people of Israel, De 18:9-14, and of an extraordinary prophet that should be raised up among them, to whom they should hearken, or it would be the worse for them, De 18:15-19, but a false prophet was to be put to death, of whom a sign is given by which he might be known, De 18:20-22.

Cross References 4

  • 1. Deuteronomy 13:5; Deuteronomy 17:12
  • 2. Deuteronomy 13:1, 2; Jeremiah 14:14; Zechariah 13:3
  • 3. Jeremiah 28:9
  • 4. Deuteronomy 18:20

Footnotes 2

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