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Book of Deuteronomy - Chapter 13 - Verse 5

13:5
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.

Meaning

In this verse, the importance of staying faithful to God and following His commandments is highlighted. The verse emphasizes the severity of false prophets or dreamers who try to lead people away from the path that God has set for them. These individuals are considered a threat to the community because they can turn people away from the true God who liberated them from slavery in Egypt. The consequences for such actions are severe, as these false prophets are to be put to death in order to remove evil from the community. The verse serves as a warning to the Israelites to be vigilant and discerning when it comes to accepting spiritual guidance, ensuring that they do not stray from the righteous path that God has laid out for them. By eliminating these false prophets, the community can remain faithful to God and continue to walk in His ways.

Theological Overview

In this verse, the command is given to put to death any prophet or dreamer of dreams who leads the people astray from worshipping the Lord God who brought them out of Egypt and redeemed them from bondage. This severe punishment underscores the seriousness with which the Israelites were to treat false prophets and those who sought to turn them away from the true worship of God. The theological interpretation of this verse highlights the importance of faithfulness and obedience to the one true God who had delivered them from slavery. It serves as a reminder that God demands exclusive devotion and will not tolerate any form of idolatry or false teaching. This passage also serves as a warning to the people to remain steadfast in following the commandments and teachings of the Lord, lest they be led astray by false prophets and deceitful dreams. By putting away evil from their midst, the Israelites were to maintain their purity and faithfulness to God.

American Standard Version

And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death, because he hath spoken rebellion against Jehovah 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 Jehovah thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put away the evil from the midst of thee.
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