Deuteronomy 13:6-11

6 If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you embrace, ^[a] or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, “Let us go and worship other gods” (which neither you nor your fathers have known,

7 the gods of the peoples around you, whether near or far, whether from one end of the earth or the other),

8 you must not yield to him or listen to him. Show him no pity, and do not spare him or shield him.

9 Instead, you must surely kill him. Your hand must be the first against him to put him to death, and then the hands of all the people.

10 Stone him to death for trying to turn you away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

11 Then all Israel will hear and be afraid, and will never again do such a wicked thing among you.

Deuteronomy 13:6-11 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 13

In this chapter the Israelites are taught how to discern a false prophet, shun and punish him, De 13:1-5, what to do with enticers to idolatry, not only not to consent to them, but, without favour and affection to them, endeavour to bring them to just punishment, and be the first that should inflict it on them, De 13:6-11 and how to behave towards a city drawn into idolatry, as to inquire the truth of it; then make war against it; destroy all in it, men, women, children, and cattle; and burn the spoil of it, and suffer not anything at all belonging to it to cleave unto them, De 13:12-18.

Footnotes

• [a] Hebrew the wife of your bosom