Deuteronomy 13:1
in Deuteronomy 13If a prophet or dreamer of dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
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,
KJV
If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,
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This verse in Deuteronomy 13
Commentary
7 notes on this verseIf there arise among you a prophet,.... A false prophet, a lying prophet, as the Targum of Jonathan; one that pretends to be a true prophet, and to be sent of God, and to come from him with a message from him, a new revelation or doctrine, or in his name, to foretell things to come; the former is chiefly meant.
This site's exposition
If there arise among you a prophet
on Deuteronomy 13:1-2
The test given here runs opposite to the one at 18:22, where a word that fails to come to pass marks a prophet the Lord did not send. Here the sign or the wonder does come to pass and the prophet is still refused, on the ground of what he says next, let us go after other gods. Barnes sets the two cases beside each other and states the rule that follows, that the revelation already given judges the sign rather than the sign judging the revelation. A dreamer of dreams is a separate claim from a prophet's, since Numbers 12:6 has God speaking by vision and by dream, and the phrase falls three times in this chapter.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
8 , If we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you --which does not prove it possible that an angel should preach another gospel, but strongly expresses the certainty and perpetuity of that which we have received. So here, (2.) It is to fortify them against the danger of impostures and lying wonders ( 2 Thess. ii.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
A dreamer of dreams - One that pretends God hath revealed himself to him by visions or dreams. Giveth a sign or wonder - That is, shall foretell some strange and wonderful thing.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
A prophet, or a dreamer of dreams - Compare Num 12:6. The “prophet” received his revelations by vision or direct oral communication Num 24:16; 2Sa 7:4; 2Co 12:2; “the dreamer of dreams” through the medium of a dream 1Ki 3:5; Mat 2:13.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
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.
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.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
Everything that I am commanding you—be careful to fulfill it; do not add to it and do not subtract from it.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 5 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
12 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כִּֽי־ | ki- | if | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| יָק֤וּם | yakum | he will arise | H6965 → | 628 times |
| בְּקִרְבְּךָ֙ | bekirbecha | in midst your | H7130 → | 227 times |
| נָבִ֔יא | navi' | a prophet | H5030 → | 314 times |
| א֖וֹ | ʾo | or | H176 → | 321 times |
| חֹלֵ֣ם | cholem | a dreamer of | H2492 → | 29 times |
| חֲל֑וֹם | chalom | a dream | H2472 → | 65 times |
| וְנָתַ֥ן | venatan | and he will give | H5414 → | 2011 times |
| אֵלֶ֛יךָ | ʾeleikha | to you | H413 → | 5510 times |
| א֖וֹת | ʾot | a sign | H226 → | 80 times |
| א֥וֹ | ʾo | or | H176 → | 321 times |
| מוֹפֵֽת׃ | mofet | a wonder | H4159 → | 36 times |
כִּֽי־if
ki-H3588 →4482 times
יָק֤וּםhe will arise
yakumH6965 →628 times
בְּקִרְבְּךָ֙in midst your
bekirbechaH7130 →227 times
נָבִ֔יאa prophet
navi'H5030 →314 times
א֖וֹor
ʾoH176 →321 times
חֹלֵ֣םa dreamer of
cholemH2492 →29 times
חֲל֑וֹםa dream
chalomH2472 →65 times
וְנָתַ֥ןand he will give
venatanH5414 →2011 times
אֵלֶ֛יךָto you
ʾeleikhaH413 →5510 times
א֖וֹתa sign
ʾotH226 →80 times
א֥וֹor
ʾoH176 →321 times
מוֹפֵֽת׃a wonder
mofetH4159 →36 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 John 4:1Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.
it leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 5:21
but test all things. Hold fast to what is good.
- 2 Peter 2:1
Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on…
- 1 Timothy 4:1
Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons,
- Proverbs 14:15
The simple man believes every word, but the prudent man watches his steps.
- 2 John 1:7
For many deceivers have gone out into the world, refusing to confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:21
Through
Jeremiah 29:8For this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “Do not be deceived by the prophets and diviners among you, and do not listen to the dreams you elicit from…
it leads to
- Ephesians 5:6
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:9–11
The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the working of Satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder,
- Ephesians 5:6
Through
Jeremiah 27:9But as for you, do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your interpreters of dreams, your mediums, or your sorcerers who declare, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon.’
it leads to
- Jeremiah 14:14
“The prophets are prophesying lies in My name,” replied the LORD. “I did not send them or appoint them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a false vision, a worthless divination,…
- Jeremiah 14:14
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Deuteronomy
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament: The Pentateuch and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.