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Deuteronomy 18 · a question people ask

How was Israel to know a word the LORD had not spoken?

In the text

The chapter asks the question itself: "How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?" (18:21). Its answer is one test: "When a prophet speaks in the LORD’s name, if the thing doesn’t follow, nor happen, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously" (18:22). Chapter 13 gives the other side. There, "the sign or the wonder comes to pass", but the prophet says, "Let’s go after other gods", and still "you shall not listen to the words of that prophet" (13:2-3). So a word that fails is not from the LORD (18:22), and a sign that comes to pass does not make a prophet right if he leads to other gods (13:1-3). 18:20 names both kinds: "the prophet who speaks a word presumptuously in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods". Jeremiah later says it of a prophet who prophesies peace: "when the word of the prophet happens, then the prophet will be known, that the LORD has truly sent him" (Jeremiah 28:9). And the chapter's last words are for the listener: "You shall not be afraid of him" (18:22).

The verses

“But the prophet who speaks a word presumptuously 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.” You may say in your heart, “How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?” When a prophet speaks in the LORD’s name, if the thing doesn’t follow, nor happen, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You shall not be afraid of him.”
Deuteronomy 18:20-22 · World English Bible
“If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, “Let’s go after other gods” (which you have not known) “and let’s serve them,” you shall not listen to the words of that prophet, or to that dreamer of dreams; for the LORD your God is testing you, to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.”
Deuteronomy 13:1-3 · World English Bible
“As for the prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet happens, then the prophet will be known, that the LORD has truly sent him.””
Jeremiah 28:9 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Deuteronomy 18

Deuteronomy 18: A prophet like me

The prophet like Moses was the LORD's answer to the people's own request at Horeb, "Let me not hear again the LORD my God’s voice", and the LORD said, "They have well said" (18:16-17). The nations listen to diviners; Israel was to "listen to him" (18:14-15). Peter quotes this promise (Acts 3:22) and says God raised up "his servant Jesus" (Acts 3:26).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions