Deuteronomy 18:21-22
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The verse isn't just asking how to tell a true prophet from a false one, but it’s acknowledging the honest, internal struggle of even asking, "How do we even know if this word is truly from God?" It highlights that discerning God's voice requires a constant, thoughtful engagement with what we hear, not just passive reception.
And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the LORD has not spoken?’— 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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Just before this, God promised to raise up a prophet like Moses for Israel, and told them to listen to him. This verse anticipates Israel’s practical question: how can we tell if a prophet is really speaking for God, or just making things up? The answer, explored in the following verses, involves testing their words against God's established truth and observing whether their predictions come true.
Ever wondered how ancient Israelites knew if a message was truly from God? The answer lies in a practical, foolproof test.
Moses lays out a clear way to test prophetic claims. If a prophet speaks in the LORD's name and makes a prediction, pay attention to whether it comes true.
The Crucial Test
If a prophet's words don't happen, they haven't spoken for the LORD. This wasn't just about seeing if they could guess the future; it was about identifying those who were speaking with divine authority.
This test guards against false prophets who might use impressive words or claims, but lack the genuine backing of God's truth. It’s a call to discernment, not just passive listening.
What if a prophet's prediction comes true, but their message goes against God's character? This verse hints at a deeper truth.
While the fulfillment of a prediction is a key sign, it's not the only factor. The context of Deuteronomy, especially chapters 13, warns us that even if a sign or prediction occurs, we must reject any message that contradicts God's established word or leads to disobedience.
The Foundation of Truth
God's character and His revealed will are the ultimate standard. A prophecy might come to pass, but if it encourages idolatry, sin, or undermines God's commandments, it's not from Him. True prophecy will always align with God's nature and His ongoing covenant with His people.
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Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The supreme, covenantal, and personal name of the one true God of Israel, signifying His eternal self-existence, holiness, and faithfulness to His people.
nabiy' · Hebrew Noun
A spokesperson for God, chosen and empowered by the Holy Spirit to communicate divine messages, reveal future events, or call the people to repentance and obedience.
zadon · Hebrew Adverb/Noun (in root form)
To speak or act with arrogant insolence, prideful audacity, or reckless disregard for the authority and commands of God.
yagor · Hebrew Verb
A state of emotional distress or alarm, often resulting from the anticipation of harm, which is contrasted here with the proper, reverential fear (awe) due only to God.
This passage shows a prophet directly challenging someone who is seeking confirmation for false prophecy, highlighting the tension between true and false words that Deuteronomy 18 addresses.
Jeremiah 23:25This verse speaks to prophets who claim to speak God's word but are actually delivering their own imaginations, directly paralleling the concern in Deuteronomy about discerning the true word of the Lord.
John 10:27Jesus explains that His sheep 'hear my voice,' drawing a connection between true spiritual guidance and recognizing the voice of the authentic Shepherd, much like God's people are called to discern His spoken word.
1 John 4:1This passage instructs believers to test the spirits to see if they are from God, providing a New Testament principle for discerning truth from falsehood that resonates with the Old Testament question in Deuteronomy.
gillDeuteronomy 18:21: "And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?"
And if thou say in thine heart, &c. Such a thought arises in the mind, and it appears to be a difficulty, and a query is made upon it: how shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken? What marks, signs, and criterions are those by which it may be known that it is not a word that comes from the Lord?
pooleDeuteronomy 18:21: "And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?"
No text from Poole on this verse.
The verse isn't just asking how to tell a true prophet from a false one, but it’s acknowledging the honest, internal struggle of even asking, "How do we even know if this word is truly from God?" It highlights that discerning God's voice requires a constant, thoughtful engagement with what we hear, not just passive reception.
Just before this, God promised to raise up a prophet like Moses for Israel, and told them to listen to him. This verse anticipates Israel’s practical question: how can we tell if a prophet is really speaking for God, or just making things up? The answer, explored in the following verses, involves testing their words against God's established truth and observing whether their predictions come true.
Just before this, God promised to raise up a prophet like Moses for Israel, and told them to listen to him. This verse anticipates Israel’s practical question: how can we tell if a prophet is really speaking for God, or just making things up? The answer, explored in the following verses, involves testing their words against God's established truth and observing whether their predictions come true.
"And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the LORD has not spoken?’— 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…" — The verse isn't just asking how to tell a true prophet from a false one, but it’s acknowledging the honest, internal struggle of even asking, "How do we even know if this word is truly from God?" I…
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Last reviewed October 2026
