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Tuesday, June 17th, 2025
the Week of Proper 6 / Ordinary 11
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Easy-to-Read Version

Deuteronomy 18:20

"But a prophet might say something that I did not tell him to say. And he might tell people that he is speaking for me. If this happens, that prophet must be killed. Also a prophet might come that speaks for other gods. That prophet must also be killed.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Minister, Christian;   Prophets;   Thompson Chain Reference - Presumption;   Prudence-Rashness;   The Topic Concordance - Prophecy and Prophets;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Idolatry;   Prophecy;   Prophets;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Name;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Discipline;   False Prophet;   Hear, Hearing;   Holy Spirit, Gifts of;   Prophet, Prophetess, Prophecy;   Punishment;   Urim and Thummim;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Alms;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Elijah;   Law;   Prophet;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Capital Punishment;   Crimes and Punishments;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Deuteronomy;   Ethics;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Trial of Jesus;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Christ, Offices of;   Gods;   Messiah;   Nathan (1);   Presume;   Punishments;   Revelation;   Teach;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Capital Punishment;   Commandments, the 613;   Prophet, False;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
But the prophet who presumes to speak a message in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods—that prophet must die.’
Hebrew Names Version
But the prophet, who shall speak a word presumptuously in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who shall speak in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.
King James Version
But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.
Lexham English Bible
However, the prophet that behaves presumptuously by speaking a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, and who speaks in the name of other gods, then that prophet shall die.'
English Standard Version
But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.'
New Century Version
But if a prophet says something I did not tell him to say as though he were speaking for me, or if a prophet speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet must be killed."
New English Translation
"But if any prophet presumes to speak anything in my name that I have not authorized him to speak, or speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet must die.
Amplified Bible
'But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he speaks in the name of other gods—that prophet shall die.'
New American Standard Bible
'But the prophet who speaks a word presumptuously in My name, a word which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.'
Geneva Bible (1587)
But the prophet yt shall presume to speake a worde in my name, which I haue not commanded him to speake, or that speaketh in the name of other gods, euen the same prophet shall die.
Legacy Standard Bible
But the prophet who speaks a word presumptuously in My name which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.'
Contemporary English Version
But if I haven't spoken, and a prophet claims to have a message from me, you must kill that prophet, and you must also kill any prophet who claims to have a message from another god.
Complete Jewish Bible
"‘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.'
Darby Translation
But the prophet who shall presume to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.
George Lamsa Translation
But the prophet who shall presume to speak a word in my name which I have not commanded him to speak, or who shall speak in the name of other gods, that prophet shall be put to death.
Good News Translation
But if any prophet dares to speak a message in my name when I did not command him to do so, he must die for it, and so must any prophet who speaks in the name of other gods.'
Literal Translation
But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, that which I have not commanded him to speak, and who speaks in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But yf a prophete presume to speake ought in my name, which I haue not comauded him to speake: and he that speaketh in ye name of other goddes, yt same prophete shal dye.
American Standard Version
But the prophet, that shall speak a word presumptuously in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.
Bible in Basic English
But the prophet who takes it on himself to say words in my name which I have not given him orders to say, or who says anything in the name of other gods, will come to his death.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
But the prophete which shall presume to speake a worde in my name, which I haue not comaunded hym to speake, or that speaketh in the name of strauge gods, the same prophete shall dye.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
But the prophet, that shall speak a word presumptuously in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.'
King James Version (1611)
But the prophet which shall presume to speake a word in my name, which I haue not commanded him to speake, or that shall speake in the name of other gods, euen that prophet shall die.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
But the prophet whosoever shall impiously speak in my name a word which I have not commanded him to speak, and whosoever shall speak in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.
English Revised Version
But the prophet, which shall speak a word presumptuously in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.
Berean Standard Bible
But if any prophet dares to speak a message in My name that I have not commanded him to speak, or to speak in the name of other gods, that prophet must be put to death."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
`Sotheli a prophete `schal be slayn, which is bischrewid with pride, and wole speke in my name tho thingis, whiche Y comaundide not to hym, that he schulde seie, ethir bi the name of alien goddis.
Young's Literal Translation
`Only, the prophet who presumeth to speak a word in My name -- that which I have not commanded him to speak -- and who speaketh in the name of other gods -- even that prophet hath died.
Update Bible Version
But the prophet, that shall speak a word presumptuously in my name, which I haven't commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.
Webster's Bible Translation
But the prophet, who shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.
World English Bible
But the prophet, who shall speak a word presumptuously in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who shall speak in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.
New King James Version
But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.'
New Living Translation
But any prophet who falsely claims to speak in my name or who speaks in the name of another god must die.'
New Life Bible
But that man of God will die who is not careful and speaks in My name what I did not tell him to speak, or speaks in the name of other gods.'
New Revised Standard
But any prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, or who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded the prophet to speak—that prophet shall die."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Howbeit the prophet who shall presume to speak a word in my name which I have not commanded him to speak, or who shah speak in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.
Douay-Rheims Bible
But the prophet, who being corrupted with pride, shall speak in my name things that I did not command him to say, or in the name of strange gods, shall be slain.
Revised Standard Version
But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.'
THE MESSAGE
"But any prophet who fakes it, who claims to speak in my name something I haven't commanded him to say, or speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet must die."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
'But the prophet who speaks a word presumptuously in My name which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.'

Contextual Overview

15 The Lord your God will send to you a prophet. This prophet will come from among your own people, and he will be like me. You must listen to him. 16 God will send you this prophet because that is what you asked him to do. When you were gathered together at Mount Horeb, you became frightened and said, ‘Don't let us hear the voice of the Lord our God again! Don't let us see that great fire or we will die!' 17 "The Lord said to me, ‘What they ask for is good. 18 I will send them a prophet like you. This prophet will be one of their own people. I will tell him what he must say, and he will tell the people everything I command. 19 This prophet will speak for me, and I will punish anyone who refuses to listen to my commands.' 20 "But a prophet might say something that I did not tell him to say. And he might tell people that he is speaking for me. If this happens, that prophet must be killed. Also a prophet might come that speaks for other gods. That prophet must also be killed. 21 You might be thinking, ‘How can we know if something a prophet says is not from the Lord ?' 22 If a prophet says he is speaking for the Lord , but what he says does not happen, you will know that the Lord did not say it. You will know that this prophet was speaking his own ideas. You don't need to be afraid of him.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the prophet: Deuteronomy 13:1-5, Jeremiah 14:14, Jeremiah 14:15, Jeremiah 23:13-15, Jeremiah 23:31, Jeremiah 27:15, Ezekiel 13:6, Matthew 7:15, 2 Peter 2:12

in the name: Deuteronomy 13:1, Deuteronomy 13:2, 1 Kings 18:19, 1 Kings 18:27, 1 Kings 18:40, Jeremiah 2:8, Jeremiah 28:15-17, Zechariah 13:3, Revelation 19:20

Reciprocal: Exodus 22:20 - sacrificeth Deuteronomy 13:5 - prophet Deuteronomy 18:22 - presumptuously 1 Kings 13:19 - General 1 Kings 22:28 - If thou return Jeremiah 23:30 - General Jeremiah 23:32 - to err Jeremiah 26:11 - saying Ezekiel 13:23 - ye shall see John 19:7 - We have

Cross-References

Genesis 4:10
Then the Lord said, "What have you done? You killed your brother and the ground opened up to take his blood from your hands. Now his blood is shouting to me from the ground. So you will be cursed from this ground.
Genesis 13:13
The Lord knew that the people of Sodom were very evil sinners.
Genesis 19:13
We are going to destroy this city. The Lord heard how evil this city is, so he sent us to destroy it."
Isaiah 3:9
The look on their faces shows that they are guilty. They are like the people of Sodom; they don't care who sees their sin. But it will be very bad for them. They will get what they deserve.
Isaiah 5:7
The vineyard that belongs to the Lord All-Powerful is the house of Israel. The grapevine, the plant he loves, is the man of Judah. The Lord hoped for justice, but there was only killing. He hoped for fairness, but there were only cries from people being treated badly.
Jeremiah 14:7
"We know that this is our fault. We are now suffering because of our sins. Lord , do something to help us for the good of your name. We admit that we have left you many times. We have sinned against you.
James 5:4
People worked in your fields, but you did not pay them. They are crying out against you. They harvested your crops. Now the Lord All-Powerful has heard their cries.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

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 q generally interpret it of strangling.

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

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Compare the marginal references.


 
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