False Prophets and Apostasy
Deuteronomy 13
Moses warns Israel not to follow any prophet, dreamer, or even a close family member who entices them to worship other gods, even if a sign or wonder accompanies the enticement, and such a one is to be put to death. He also commands that a city found to have turned to idolatry be thoroughly investigated and, if guilty, utterly destroyed.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonBe careful to do everything which I this day command you. Thou shalt not add to it, nor diminish from it.
BrentonEvery word that I command you this day, it shalt thou observe to do: thou shalt not add to it, nor diminish from it.
GreekΠᾶν ῥῆμα ὃ ἐγὼ ἐντλλομαι ὑμῖν σήμερον, τοῦτο φυλάξῃ ποιεῖν· οὐ προσθήσεις ἐπʼ αὐτό, οὐδὲ ἀφελεῖς ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ.
KJVWhat thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.
JPSAll this word which I command you, that shall ye observe to do; thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.
2
ThomsonIF a prophet should start up among you, or a dreamer of dreams, and give thee a sign or a wonder,
BrentonAnd if there arise within thee a prophet, or one who dreams a dream, and he gives thee a sign or a wonder,
GreekἘὰν δὲ ἀναστῇ ἐν σοὶ προφήτης ἢ ἐνυπνιαζόμενος τὸ ἐνύπνιον, καὶ δῷ σοι σημεῖον ἢ τέρας,
KJVIf there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,
JPSIf there arise in the midst of thee a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams—and he give thee a sign or a wonder,
3
Thomsonand the sign or the wonder should come to pass, which he mentioned to thee saying, Let us go and worship other gods which you do not know;
Brentonand the sign or the wonder come to pass which he spoke to thee, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye know not;
Greekκαὶ ἔλθῃ τὸ σημεῖον ἢ τὸ τέρας ὃ ἐλάλησε πρὸς σὲ, λέγων, πορευθῶμεν καὶ λατρεύσωμεν θεοῖς ἑτέροις οὓς οὐκ οἴδατε,
KJVAnd the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;
JPSand the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spoke unto thee—saying: ‘Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them’;
4
Thomsonyou shall not hearken to the words of that prophet, or of that dreamer of dreams; for the Lord thy God trieth you, to know whether you love your God with your whole heart, and with your whole soul.
Brentonye shall not hearken to the words of that prophet, or the dreamer of that dream, because the Lord thy God tries you, to know whether ye love your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
Greekοὐκ ἀκούσεσθε τῶν λόγων τοῦ προφήτου ἐκείνου ἢ τοῦ ἐνυπνιαζομένου τὸ ἐνύπνιον ἐκεῖνο· ὅτι πειράζει Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου ὑμᾶς, εἰδέναι εἰ ἀγαπᾶτε τὸν Θεὸν ὑμῶν ἐξ ὅλης τῆς καρδίας ὑμῶν, καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ψυχῆς ὑμῶν.
KJVThou 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.
JPSthou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or unto that dreamer of dreams; for the LORD your God putteth you to proof, to know whether ye do love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
5
ThomsonYou shall follow the Lord your God, and fear Him, and hearken to His voice, and cleave to Him.
BrentonYe shall follow the Lord your God, and fear him, and ye shall hear his voice, and attach yourselves to him.
GreekὈπίσω Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ ὑμῶν πορεύεσθε, καὶ τοῦτον φοβηθήσεσθε, καὶ τῆς φωνῆς αὐτοῦ ἀκούσεσθε, καὶ αὐτῷ προστεθήσεσθε.
KJVYe 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.
JPSAfter the LORD your God shall ye walk, and Him shall ye fear, and His commandments shall ye keep, and unto His voice shall ye hearken, and Him shall ye serve, and unto Him shall ye cleave.
6
ThomsonAnd that prophet, or that dreamer, shall be put to death; for he hath spoken to lead thee astray from the Lord thy God, Who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, who redeemed thee from bondage—to put thee out of the way in which the Lord thy God commanded thee to walk. So thou shalt remove evil from among you.
BrentonAnd that prophet or that dreamer of a dream, shall die; for he has spoken to make thee err from the Lord thy God who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, who redeemed thee from bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the Lord thy God commanded thee to walk in: so shalt thou abolish the evil from among you.
GreekΚαὶ ὁ προφήτης ἐκεῖνος ἢ ὁ τὸ ἐνύπνιον ἐνυπνιαζόμενος ἐκεῖνος, ἀποθανεῖται· ἐλάλησε γὰρ πλανῆσαί σε ἀπὸ Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ σου ἐξαγαγόντος σε ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου, τοῦ λυτρωσαμένου σε ἐκ τῆς δουλείας, ἐξῶσαί σε ἀπὸ τῆς ὁδοῦ, ἧς ἐνετείλατό σοι Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου πορεύεσθαι ἐν αὐτῇ· καὶ ἀφανιεῖς τὸν πονηρὸν ἐξ ὑμῶν αὐτῶν.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken perversion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of bondage, to draw thee aside out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put away the evil from the midst of thee.
7
ThomsonAnd if thy brother, the son of thy father, or of thy mother, or thine own son, or daughter, or the wife in thy bosom, or a friend who is as thine own soul, speak privately to thee saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known—
BrentonAnd if thy brother by thy father or mother, or thy son, or daughter, or thy wife in thy bosom, or friend who is equal to thine own soul, entreat thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known,
GreekἘὰν δὲ παρακαλέσῃ σε ὁ ἀδελφός σου ἐκ πατρός σου ἢ ἐκ μητρός σου, ἢ ὁ υἱός σου, ἢ ἡ θυγάτηρ, ἢ ἡ γυνή σου ἡ ἐν κόλπῳ σου, ἢ φίλος ἴσος τῇ ψυχῇς σου λάθρα, λέγων, βαδίσωμεν καὶ λατρεύσωμεν θεοῖς ἑτέροις, οὓς οὐκ ᾔδεις σὺ καὶ οἱ πατέρες σου,
KJVIf 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;
JPSIf thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, that 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;
8
Thomsonany of the gods of the nations around you, of those near thee, or those far distant from thee, from one end of the earth to the other;
Brentonof the gods of the nations that are round about you, who are near thee or at a distance from thee, from one end of the earth to the other;
Greekἀπὸ τῶν θεῶν τῶν ἐθνῶν τῶν περὶ κύκλῳ ὑμῶν, τῶν ἐγγιζόντων σοι ἢ τῶν μακρὰν ἀπὸ σοῦ, ἀπʼ ἄκρου τῆς γῆς ἕως ἄκρου τῆς γῆς,
KJVNamely, 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;
JPSof the gods of the peoples that 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;
9
Thomsonthou shalt not consent, nor hearken to him; neither shall thine eye pity him, nor shalt thou spare him, nor conceal him.
Brentonthou shalt not consent to him, neither shalt thou hearken to him; and thine eye shall not spare him, thou shalt feel no regret for him, neither shalt thou at all protect him:
Greekοὐ συνθελήσεις αὐτῷ, καὶ οὐκ εἰσακούσῃ αὐτοῦ, καὶ οὐ φείσεται ὁ ὀφθαλμός σου ἐπʼ αὐτῷ, οὐκ ἐπιποθήσεις ἐπʼ αὐτῷ, οὐδʼ οὐ μὴ σκεπάσῃς αὐτόν·
KJVThou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him:
JPSthou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him;
10
ThomsonThou shalt surely inform against him, and thy hands shall be upon him, among the foremost, to kill him, and afterwards the hands of the whole people.
Brentonthou shalt surely report concerning him, and thy hands shall be upon him among the first to slay him, and the hands of all the people at the last.
Greekἀναγγέλλων ἀναγγελεῖς περὶ αὐτοῦ, καὶ αἱ χεῖρές σου ἔσονται ἐπʼ αὐτὸν ἐν πρώτοις ἀποκτεῖναι αὐτὸν, καὶ αἱ χεῖρες παντὸς τοῦ λαοῦ ἐπʼ ἐσχάτῳ.
KJVBut thou shalt surely kill him; thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people.
JPSbut thou shalt surely kill him; thy hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people.
11
ThomsonAnd they shall stone him with stones, and he shall be put to death, because he sought to make thee apostatise from the Lord thy God, Who brought thee out of the land of Egypt—out of the house of bondage.
BrentonAnd they shall stone him with stones, and he shall die, because he sought to draw thee away from the Lord thy God who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
GreekΚαὶ λιθοβολήσουσιν αὐτὸν ἐν λίθοις, καὶ ἀποθανεῖται, ὅτι ἐζήτησεν ἀποστῆσαί σε ἀπὸ Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ σου τοῦ ἐξαγαγόντος σε ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου, ἐξ οἴκου δουλείας.
KJVAnd thou shalt stone him with stones, that he die; because he hath sought to thrust thee away from the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
JPSAnd thou shalt stone him with stones, that he die; because he hath sought to draw thee away from the LORD thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
12
ThomsonSo all Israel will hear, and be afraid, and no more proceed to do any such wickedness as this among you.
BrentonAnd all Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall not again do according to this evil thing among you.
GreekΚαὶ πᾶς Ἰσραὴλ ἀκούσας φοβηθήσεται, καὶ οὐ προσθήσει ποιῆσαι ἔτι κατὰ τὸ ῥῆμα τὸ πονηρὸν τοῦτο ἐν ὑμῖν.
KJVAnd all Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall do no more any such wickedness as this is among you.
JPSAnd all Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall do no more any such wickedness as this is in the midst of thee.
13
ThomsonAnd if thou shalt hear it said, that in one of the cities, which the Lord thy God giveth thee to dwell in,
BrentonAnd if in one of thy cities which the Lord God gives thee to dwell therein, thou shalt hear men saying,
GreekἘὰν δὲ ἀκούσῃς ἐν μιᾷ τῶν πόλεών σου, ὧν Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου δίδωσί σοι κατοικεῖν σε ἐκεῖ, λεγόντων,
KJVIf thou shalt hear say in one of thy cities, which the LORD thy God hath given thee to dwell there, saying,
JPSIf thou shalt hear tell concerning one of thy cities, which the LORD thy God giveth thee to dwell there, saying:
14
Thomsonthere are wicked men gone forth among you, who have seduced all the inhabitants of their land, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which you know not;
BrentonEvil men have gone out from you, and have caused all the inhabitants of their land to fall away, saying, Let us go and worship other gods, whom ye knew not,
Greekἐξήλθοσαν ἄνδρες παράνομοι ἐξ ὑμῶν, καὶ ἀπέστησαν πάντας τοὺς κατοικοῦντας τὴν γῆν αὐτῶν, λέγοντες, πορευθῶμεν καὶ λατρεύσωμεν θεοῖς ἑτέροις, οὓς οὐκ ᾔδειτε,
KJVCertain men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you, and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known;
JPS’Certain base fellows are gone out from the midst of thee, and have drawn away the inhabitants of their city, saying: Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known’;
15
Thomsonthou shalt examine, and make inquiry, and search diligently: And behold, if the report is evidently true, and such abomination hath been committed among you;
Brentonthen thou shalt enquire and ask, and search diligently, and behold, if the thing is clearly true, and this abomination has taken place among you,
Greekκαὶ ἐτάσεις καὶ ἐρωτήσεις, καὶ ἐρευνήσεις σφόδρα, καὶ ἰδοὺ ἀληθὴς σαφῶς ὁ λόγος, γεγένηται τὸ βδέλυγμα τοῦτο ἐν ὑμῖν·
KJVThen shalt thou enquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and, behold, if it be truth, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought among you;
JPSthen shalt thou inquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and, behold, if it be truth, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in the midst of thee;
16
Thomsonthou shalt surely destroy all the inhabitants of that land, with the slaughter of the sword.
Brentonthou shalt utterly destroy all the dwellers in that land with the edge of the sword; ye shall solemnly curse it, and all things in it.
Greekἀναιρῶν ἀνελεῖς πάντας τοὺς κατοικοῦντας ἐν τῇ γῇ ἐκείνῃ ἐν φόνῳ μαχαίρας, ἀναθέματι ἀναθεματιεῖτε αὐτὴν, καὶ πάντα τὰ ἐν αὐτῇ.
KJVThou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein, and the cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword.
JPSthou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein and the cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword.
17
ThomsonWith an Anathema thou shalt devote to destruction, it and all that are in it. And thou shalt collect all the spoils of it into the streets thereof, and burn with fire the city, and all the spoils thereof, with all the inhabitants, in the sight of the Lord thy God. And it shall be uninhabited forever. It shall never be rebuilt any more;
BrentonAnd all its spoils thou shalt gather into its public ways, and thou shalt burn the city with fire, and all its spoils publicly before the Lord thy God; and it shall be uninhabited for ever, it shall not be built again.
GreekΚαὶ πάντα τὰ σκῦλα αὐτῆς συνάξεις εἰς τὰς διόδους αὐτῆς, καὶ ἐμπρήσεις τὴν πόλιν ἐν πυρὶ, καὶ πάντα τὰ σκῦλα αὐτῆς πανδημεὶ ἐναντίον Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ σου· καὶ ἔσται ἀοίκητος εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, οὐκ ἀνοικοδομηθήσεται ἔτι.
KJVAnd thou shalt gather all the spoil of it into the midst of the street thereof, and shalt burn with fire the city, and all the spoil thereof every whit, for the LORD thy God: and it shall be an heap for ever; it shall not be built again.
JPSAnd thou shalt gather all the spoil of it into the midst of the broad place thereof, and shall burn with fire the city, and all the spoil thereof every whit, unto the LORD thy God; and it shall be a heap for ever; it shall not be built again.
18
Thomsonnor shall any thing of what is devoted to destruction cleave to thy hand, that the Lord may turn from the fierceness of His wrath, and shew thee mercy, and have compassion on thee, and multiply thee, in the manner He solemnly promised thy fathers,
BrentonAnd there shall nothing of the cursed thing cleave to thy hand, that the Lord may turn from his fierce anger, and shew thee mercy, and pity thee, and multiply thee, as he sware to thy fathers;
GreekΚαὶ οὐ προσκολληθήσεται οὐδὲν ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀναθέματος ἐν τῇ χειρί σου, ἵνα ἀποστραφῇ Κύριος ἀπὸ θυμοῦ τῆς ὀργῆς αὐτοῦ, καὶ δώσῃ σοι ἔλεος, καὶ ἐλεήσῇ σε, καὶ πληθύνῃ σε, ὃν τρόπον ὤμοσε τοῖς πατράσι σου,
KJVAnd there shall cleave nought of the cursed thing to thine hand: that the LORD may turn from the fierceness of his anger, and shew thee mercy, and have compassion upon thee, and multiply thee, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers;
JPSAnd there shall cleave nought of the devoted thing to thy hand, that the LORD may turn from the fierceness of His anger, and show thee mercy, and have compassion upon thee, and multiply thee, as He hath sworn unto thy fathers;
19
Thomsonif thou wilt hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep His commandments which I this day command you—to do what is comely and well pleasing in the sight of the Lord thy God.
Brentonif thou wilt hear the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep his commandments, all that I charge thee this day, to do that which is good and pleasing before the Lord thy God.
Greekἐὰν ἀκούσῃς τῆς φωνῆς Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ σου, φυλάσσειν τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ, ὅσας ἐγὼ ἐντέλλομαί σοι σήμερον, ποιεῖν τὸ καλὸν καὶ τὸ ἀρεστὸν ἐναντίον Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ σου.
KJVWhen thou shalt hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep all his commandments which I command thee this day, to do that which is right in the eyes of the LORD thy God.
JPSwhen thou shalt hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep all His commandments which I command thee this day, to do that which is right in the eyes of the LORD thy God.