King James Version

What Does Deuteronomy 13:6 Mean?

Deuteronomy 13:6 in the King James Version says “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... — study this verse from Deuteronomy chapter 13 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

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;

Deuteronomy 13:6 · KJV


Context

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;

8

Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him:


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Family enticement: '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.' The intensely personal relationships—brother, son, daughter, beloved wife, close friend—make this test most difficult. The Hebrew sut (סוּת, entice/incite) indicates active seduction. The word 'secretly' (בַּסֵּתֶר, baseter) suggests covert temptation, appealing to loyalty or love. This confronts believers with ultimate choice: family or God? Christ later echoes this: 'He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me' (Matthew 10:37). Covenant loyalty must transcend even deepest human affections.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Family ties were paramount in ancient Near East—tribal identity, inheritance, survival depended on kinship. Demanding believers report and testify against family members for idolatry would have been almost unthinkable. Yet God requires it, showing nothing—not even family—supersedes covenant faithfulness. Israel often failed this test—Ahab tolerated Jezebel's Baalism, Solomon accommodated wives' idolatry, Josiah's sons apostatized despite his faithfulness. The first commandment allows no exceptions for family sentiment.

Reflection Questions

  1. What do you do when family members or close friends try to lead you away from Christ?
  2. How do we maintain love for family while refusing to compromise spiritual truth?
  3. What does Jesus's statement about 'hating father and mother' (Luke 14:26) mean in light of this passage?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 27 words
כִּ֣י1 of 27
H3588

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

יְסִֽיתְךָ֡2 of 27

entice

H5496

properly, to prick, i.e., (figuratively) stimulate; by implication, to seduce

אָחִ֣יךָ3 of 27

If thy brother

H251

a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance [like h0001])

בִנְךָ֙4 of 27

or thy son

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

אִ֠מֶּךָ5 of 27

of thy mother

H517

a mother (as the bond of the family); in a wide sense (both literally and figuratively [like father])

אֽוֹ6 of 27
H176

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

בִנְךָ֙7 of 27

or thy son

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

אֽוֹ8 of 27
H176

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

בִתְּךָ֜9 of 27

or thy daughter

H1323

a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)

א֣וֹ׀10 of 27
H176

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

אֵ֣שֶׁת11 of 27

or the wife

H802

a woman

חֵיקֶ֗ךָ12 of 27

of thy bosom

H2436

the bosom (literally or figuratively)

א֧וֹ13 of 27
H176

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

רֵֽעֲךָ֛14 of 27

or thy friend

H7453

an associate (more or less close)

אֲשֶׁ֥ר15 of 27
H834

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

כְּנַפְשְׁךָ֖16 of 27

which is as thine own soul

H5315

properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment

בַּסֵּ֣תֶר17 of 27

thee secretly

H5643

a cover (in a good or a bad, a literal or a figurative sense)

לֵאמֹ֑ר18 of 27

saying

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

נֵֽלְכָ֗ה19 of 27
H1980

to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

וְנַֽעַבְדָה֙20 of 27

and serve

H5647

to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc

אֱלֹהִ֣ים21 of 27

gods

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

אֲחֵרִ֔ים22 of 27

other

H312

properly, hinder; generally, next, other, etc

אֲשֶׁר֙23 of 27
H834

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

לֹ֣א24 of 27
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

יָדַ֔עְתָּ25 of 27

which thou hast not known

H3045

to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o

אַתָּ֖ה26 of 27
H859

thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you

וַֽאֲבֹתֶֽיךָ׃27 of 27

thou nor thy fathers

H1

father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application


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 13:6 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 13:6 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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