King James Version

What Does Deuteronomy 13:5 Mean?

Deuteronomy 13:5 in the King James Version says “And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LOR... — study this verse from Deuteronomy chapter 13 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee. to turn: Heb. revolt against the LORD

Deuteronomy 13:5 · KJV


Context

3

Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

4

Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.

5

And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee. to turn: Heb. revolt against the LORD

6

If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers;

7

Namely, of the gods of the people which are round about you, nigh unto thee, or far off from thee, from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth;


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The judgment on false prophets: 'And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God...to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in.' Capital punishment for doctrinal heresy seems extreme but reflects false prophecy's gravity. Leading people away from God (sarah, סָרָה, turn aside) merits death because spiritual destruction is worse than physical death. The phrase 'thrust thee out of the way' (nadach, נָדַח, drive away, seduce) indicates active seduction, not passive error. False teaching actively murders souls. The concluding 'so shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee' shows this protects covenant community from corruption.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Old Testament capital punishment for false prophecy reflected theocracy—civil and spiritual authority united. Elijah executed 450 Baal prophets (1 Kings 18:40). Jeremiah faced death threats for true prophecy (Jeremiah 26:11). After Pentecost, church discipline rather than civil execution addresses heresy (Matthew 18:15-17; 1 Corinthians 5:11-13; Titus 3:10-11). However, Paul invokes divine judgment on false teachers (Galatians 1:8-9), showing God's hatred of soul-destroying lies persists. Church history's tragic errors (Inquisition, burning heretics) misapplied Old Testament theocratic law to New Testament church age.

Reflection Questions

  1. How seriously do we take false teaching's danger compared to God's assessment in this passage?
  2. What is appropriate church response to teachers who lead people away from biblical truth?
  3. How do we balance grace toward erring believers with protection of the flock from destructive heresies?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 32 words
וְהַנָּבִ֣יא1 of 32

And that prophet

H5030

a prophet or (generally) inspired man

הַה֡וּא2 of 32
H1931

he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo

א֣וֹ3 of 32
H176

desire (and so probably in proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if

חֹלֵם֩4 of 32

or that dreamer

H2492

properly, to bind firmly, i.e., (through the figurative sense of dumbness) to dream

הַֽחֲל֨וֹם5 of 32

of dreams

H2472

a dream

הַה֜וּא6 of 32
H1931

he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo

יוּמָ֗ת7 of 32

shall be put to death

H4191

to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill

כִּ֣י8 of 32
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

דִבֶּר9 of 32

because he hath spoken

H1696

perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue

סָ֠רָה10 of 32

to turn

H5627

apostasy, crime; figuratively, remission

עַל11 of 32
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

יְהוָ֥ה12 of 32

which the LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ13 of 32

thy God

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

הַמּוֹצִ֥יא14 of 32

which brought you out

H3318

to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim

אֶתְכֶ֣ם׀15 of 32
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

מֵאֶ֣רֶץ16 of 32

of the land

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

מִצְרַ֗יִם17 of 32

of Egypt

H4714

mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt

וְהַפֹּֽדְךָ֙18 of 32

and redeemed

H6299

to sever, i.e., ransom; generally to release, preserve

מִבֵּ֣ית19 of 32

you out of the house

H1004

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

עֲבָדִ֔ים20 of 32

of bondage

H5650

a servant

לְהַדִּֽיחֲךָ֙21 of 32

to thrust

H5080

to push off; used in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively (to expel, mislead, strike, inflict, etc.)

מִן22 of 32
H4480

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

הַדֶּ֔רֶךְ23 of 32

thee out of the way

H1870

a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb

אֲשֶׁ֧ר24 of 32
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

צִוְּךָ֛25 of 32

commanded

H6680

(intensively) to constitute, enjoin

יְהוָ֥ה26 of 32

which the LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ27 of 32

thy God

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

לָלֶ֣כֶת28 of 32

thee to walk in

H3212

to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses)

בָּ֑הּ29 of 32
H0
וּבִֽעַרְתָּ֥30 of 32

So shalt thou put

H1197

to be(-come) brutish

הָרָ֖ע31 of 32

the evil

H7451

bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)

מִקִּרְבֶּֽךָ׃32 of 32

from the midst

H7130

properly, the nearest part, i.e., the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial (especially with preposition)


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Deuteronomy. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Deuteronomy 13:5 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Deuteronomy 13:5 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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