Deuteronomy 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.
Original Language Analysis
הַה֡וּא
H1931
הַה֡וּא
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
2 of 32
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
א֣וֹ
H176
א֣וֹ
Strong's:
H176
Word #:
3 of 32
desire (and so probably in proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if
חֹלֵם֩
or that dreamer
H2492
חֹלֵם֩
or that dreamer
Strong's:
H2492
Word #:
4 of 32
properly, to bind firmly, i.e., (through the figurative sense of dumbness) to dream
הַה֜וּא
H1931
הַה֜וּא
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
6 of 32
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
יוּמָ֗ת
shall be put to death
H4191
יוּמָ֗ת
shall be put to death
Strong's:
H4191
Word #:
7 of 32
to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
כִּ֣י
H3588
כִּ֣י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
8 of 32
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
דִבֶּר
because he hath spoken
H1696
דִבֶּר
because he hath spoken
Strong's:
H1696
Word #:
9 of 32
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
11 of 32
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
יְהוָ֥ה
which the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֥ה
which the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
12 of 32
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ
thy God
H430
אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ
thy God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
13 of 32
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
הַמּוֹצִ֥יא
which brought you out
H3318
הַמּוֹצִ֥יא
which brought you out
Strong's:
H3318
Word #:
14 of 32
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
אֶתְכֶ֣ם׀
H853
אֶתְכֶ֣ם׀
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
15 of 32
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
וְהַפֹּֽדְךָ֙
and redeemed
H6299
וְהַפֹּֽדְךָ֙
and redeemed
Strong's:
H6299
Word #:
18 of 32
to sever, i.e., ransom; generally to release, preserve
מִבֵּ֣ית
you out of the house
H1004
מִבֵּ֣ית
you out of the house
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
19 of 32
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
לְהַדִּֽיחֲךָ֙
to thrust
H5080
לְהַדִּֽיחֲךָ֙
to thrust
Strong's:
H5080
Word #:
21 of 32
to push off; used in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively (to expel, mislead, strike, inflict, etc.)
מִן
H4480
מִן
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
22 of 32
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
הַדֶּ֔רֶךְ
thee out of the way
H1870
הַדֶּ֔רֶךְ
thee out of the way
Strong's:
H1870
Word #:
23 of 32
a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
אֲשֶׁ֧ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֧ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
24 of 32
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
יְהוָ֥ה
which the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֥ה
which the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
26 of 32
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ
thy God
H430
אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ
thy God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
27 of 32
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
לָלֶ֣כֶת
thee to walk in
H3212
לָלֶ֣כֶת
thee to walk in
Strong's:
H3212
Word #:
28 of 32
to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses)
Cross References
1 Corinthians 5:13But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.Jeremiah 14:15Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that prophesy in my name, and I sent them not, yet they say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land; By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed.Deuteronomy 22:21Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father's house: so shalt thou put evil away from among you.Deuteronomy 17:7The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put the evil away from among you.Deuteronomy 24:7If a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and maketh merchandise of him, or selleth him; then that thief shall die; and thou shalt put evil away from among you.Deuteronomy 18:20But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.Deuteronomy 19:19Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you.Deuteronomy 13:10And 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.
Historical 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.
Questions for Reflection
- How seriously do we take false teaching's danger compared to God's assessment in this passage?
- What is appropriate church response to teachers who lead people away from biblical truth?
- How do we balance grace toward erring believers with protection of the flock from destructive heresies?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & 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.