Deuteronomy 13:6

Authorized King James Version

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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;

Original Language Analysis

כִּ֣י H3588
כִּ֣י
Strong's: H3588
Word #: 1 of 27
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
יְסִֽיתְךָ֡ entice H5496
יְסִֽיתְךָ֡ entice
Strong's: H5496
Word #: 2 of 27
properly, to prick, i.e., (figuratively) stimulate; by implication, to seduce
אָחִ֣יךָ If thy brother H251
אָחִ֣יךָ If thy brother
Strong's: H251
Word #: 3 of 27
a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance [like h0001])
בִנְךָ֙ or thy son H1121
בִנְךָ֙ or thy son
Strong's: H1121
Word #: 4 of 27
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
אִ֠מֶּךָ of thy mother H517
אִ֠מֶּךָ of thy mother
Strong's: H517
Word #: 5 of 27
a mother (as the bond of the family); in a wide sense (both literally and figuratively [like father])
אֽוֹ H176
אֽוֹ
Strong's: H176
Word #: 6 of 27
desire (and so probably in proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if
בִנְךָ֙ or thy son H1121
בִנְךָ֙ or thy son
Strong's: H1121
Word #: 7 of 27
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
אֽוֹ H176
אֽוֹ
Strong's: H176
Word #: 8 of 27
desire (and so probably in proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if
בִתְּךָ֜ or thy daughter H1323
בִתְּךָ֜ or thy daughter
Strong's: H1323
Word #: 9 of 27
a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
א֣וֹ׀ H176
א֣וֹ׀
Strong's: H176
Word #: 10 of 27
desire (and so probably in proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if
אֵ֣שֶׁת or the wife H802
אֵ֣שֶׁת or the wife
Strong's: H802
Word #: 11 of 27
a woman
חֵיקֶ֗ךָ of thy bosom H2436
חֵיקֶ֗ךָ of thy bosom
Strong's: H2436
Word #: 12 of 27
the bosom (literally or figuratively)
א֧וֹ H176
א֧וֹ
Strong's: H176
Word #: 13 of 27
desire (and so probably in proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if
רֵֽעֲךָ֛ or thy friend H7453
רֵֽעֲךָ֛ or thy friend
Strong's: H7453
Word #: 14 of 27
an associate (more or less close)
אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 15 of 27
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
כְּנַפְשְׁךָ֖ which is as thine own soul H5315
כְּנַפְשְׁךָ֖ which is as thine own soul
Strong's: H5315
Word #: 16 of 27
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
בַּסֵּ֣תֶר thee secretly H5643
בַּסֵּ֣תֶר thee secretly
Strong's: H5643
Word #: 17 of 27
a cover (in a good or a bad, a literal or a figurative sense)
לֵאמֹ֑ר saying H559
לֵאמֹ֑ר saying
Strong's: H559
Word #: 18 of 27
to say (used with great latitude)
נֵֽלְכָ֗ה H1980
נֵֽלְכָ֗ה
Strong's: H1980
Word #: 19 of 27
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
וְנַֽעַבְדָה֙ and serve H5647
וְנַֽעַבְדָה֙ and serve
Strong's: H5647
Word #: 20 of 27
to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc
אֱלֹהִ֣ים gods H430
אֱלֹהִ֣ים gods
Strong's: H430
Word #: 21 of 27
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
אֲחֵרִ֔ים other H312
אֲחֵרִ֔ים other
Strong's: H312
Word #: 22 of 27
properly, hinder; generally, next, other, etc
אֲשֶׁר֙ H834
אֲשֶׁר֙
Strong's: H834
Word #: 23 of 27
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
לֹ֣א H3808
לֹ֣א
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 24 of 27
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יָדַ֔עְתָּ which thou hast not known H3045
יָדַ֔עְתָּ which thou hast not known
Strong's: H3045
Word #: 25 of 27
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o
אַתָּ֖ה H859
אַתָּ֖ה
Strong's: H859
Word #: 26 of 27
thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you
וַֽאֲבֹתֶֽיךָ׃ thou nor thy fathers H1
וַֽאֲבֹתֶֽיךָ׃ thou nor thy fathers
Strong's: H1
Word #: 27 of 27
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application

Cross References

2 Peter 2:1But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.Ephesians 4:14That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;Proverbs 18:24A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.Revelation 12:9And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.Revelation 20:3And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.Deuteronomy 28:54So that the man that is tender among you, and very delicate, his eye shall be evil toward his brother, and toward the wife of his bosom, and toward the remnant of his children which he shall leave:Deuteronomy 29:18Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood;1 Samuel 20:17And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul.1 Samuel 18:3Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.1 Samuel 18:1And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

Analysis & 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.

Historical 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.

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