God’s Word Translation
Deuteronomy 18:22
22If a prophet speaks in the Lord’s name and what he says doesn’t happen or come true, then it didn’t come from the Lord. That prophet has spoken on his own authority. Never be afraid of him.
Deuteronomy 18:22 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.
- New International Version (NIV)If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed.
- English Standard Version (ESV)when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.
- New King James Version (NKJV)when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.
Context of Deuteronomy 18:22
20But any prophet who dares to say something in my name that I didn’t command him to say or who speaks in the name of other gods must die.” 21You may be wondering, “How can we recognize that the Lord didn’t speak this message?” If a prophet speaks in the Lord’s name and what he says doesn’t happen or come true, then it didn’t come from the Lord. That prophet has spoken on his own authority. Never be afraid of him.
Read all of Deuteronomy 18Deuteronomy 18:22 word by word
אֲשֶׁר֩ יְדַבֵּ֨ר הַנָּבִ֜יא בְּשֵׁ֣ם יְהוָ֗ה וְלֹֽא־יִהְיֶ֤ה הַדָּבָר֙ וְלֹ֣א יָב֔וֹא ה֣וּא הַדָּבָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־דִבְּר֖וֹ יְהוָ֑ה בְּזָדוֹן֙ דִּבְּר֣וֹ הַנָּבִ֔יא לֹ֥א תָג֖וּר מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- When a prophetנָבִיאnâbîy' · prophetH5030
- speakethדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
- in the nameשֵׁםshêm · nameH8034
- of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- if the thingדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
- follow not, nor come to passבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- it presumptuouslyזָדוֹןzâdôn · arroganceH2087
- thou shalt not be afraidגּוּרgûr · to dreadH1481
Cross-references for Deuteronomy 18:22
- Isaiah 41:22“Bring ⌞your idols⌟ so they can tell us what’s going to happen. Explain past events that your idols told you about so that we may consider them and know what their outcome will be. Tell us about future events.
- Jeremiah 28:1In that same year, early in the rule of King Zedekiah of Judah, in the fifth month of his fourth year as king, the prophet Hananiah, son of Azzur, from Gibeon, spoke to me in the Lord’s temple. He said to me in front of the priests and all the people,
- Deuteronomy 13:2What he predicts may even take place. But don’t listen to that prophet or dreamer if he says, “Let’s worship and serve other gods.” (Those gods may be gods you’ve never heard of.)
- 2 Kings 20:1In those days Hezekiah became sick and was about to die. The prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz, came to him and said, “This is what the Lord says: Give final instructions to your household, because you’re about to die. You won’t get well.”
- Jonah 3:4Jonah entered the city and walked for about a day. Then he said, “In forty days Nineveh will be destroyed.”
- Jonah 4:2So he prayed to the Lord, “Lord, isn’t this what I said would happen when I was still in my own country? That’s why I tried to run to Tarshish in the first place. I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, patient, and always ready to forgive and to reconsider your threats of destruction.
- Zechariah 1:5Your ancestors—where are they now? And the prophets—are they still alive?
- Deuteronomy 18:20But any prophet who dares to say something in my name that I didn’t command him to say or who speaks in the name of other gods must die.”
- Jeremiah 28:15Then Jeremiah told the prophet Hananiah, “Now listen, Hananiah, the Lord hasn’t sent you. You have made these people believe a lie.
- Proverbs 26:2Like a fluttering sparrow, like a darting swallow, so a hastily spoken curse does not come to rest.
Commentaries on Deuteronomy 18:22
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 22If the thing follow not - It is worthy of remark that the prophets in general predicted those things which were shortly to come to pass, that the people might have the fullest proof of their Divine mission, and of the existence of God's providence in the administration of the affairs of men. The promise contained in the Deuteronomy 18:15; and Deuteronomy 18:18; verses of this chapter has long been considered of the first importance in the controversies…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-22Verses 15-22 It is here promised concerning Christ, that there should come a Prophet, great above all the prophets; by whom God would make known himself and his will to the children of men, more fully and clearly than he had ever done before. He is the Light of the world, Joh 8:12. He is the World by whom God speaks to us, Joh 1:1; He 1:2. In his birth he should be one of their nation. In his resurrection he should be raised up at Jerusalem, and from…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 22Any prophet whose prediction does not come true must be identified as false, even if that person says he speaks for God. A claim alone is not enough. If the message does not happen as promised, the prophet is not from God.Read the comment
Topics related to Deuteronomy 18:22
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Deuteronomy 18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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