Deuteronomy 18:21-22
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)
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This question isn't just about spotting a fake prophet; it’s about the genuine struggle within our own hearts to discern God’s voice from all the noise. It’s easy to dismiss prophets, but here, the question is about our own inner doubts and the very real difficulty of knowing if a word truly comes from the LORD or if it's just our own wishful thinking or a dangerous delusion.
Just before this, God promises to raise up a prophet like Moses through whom His people should listen. This verse anticipates the natural question that arises: how can we be sure a prophet is truly from God and not speaking their own ideas? It sets up the criteria God will provide to discern between His message and false prophecy.
Have you ever felt unsure if a thought or idea was truly from God, or just your own wishful thinking? This verse dives into that very struggle.
Moses acknowledges a real human dilemma: how do we tell the difference between a divine message and a human fabrication?
The Internal Struggle
The question isn't asked out loud to a crowd, but "in thine heart." This points to the internal wrestling we often do when seeking God's will. It’s a sign of sincerity, a desire to honor God by only following what He truly says.
The Weight of Truth
This question carries immense weight because lives and nations depend on discerning God's word. False prophets could lead people astray, causing immense harm. Recognizing this, the text doesn't dismiss the question but prepares to answer it.
God doesn't leave us guessing! He provides clear ways to test the messages we receive, even those that sound convincing.
The passage immediately sets up a way to evaluate prophetic messages.
Prediction and Fulfillment
The primary test given here is the outcome of the prophecy. If a prophet speaks in the Lord's name, and what they predict doesn't happen, then they have spoken presumptuously – it wasn't from the Lord.
Consistency with God's Character
While the immediate context focuses on the fulfillment of predictions, we also know from other passages (like Deuteronomy 13) that any message contradicting God's established character or commands is also false. God's truth is always consistent.
Not All Signs Are Equal
It’s crucial to remember that signs and wonders alone aren't the ultimate test. Even a false prophet might perform miracles or make correct predictions to deceive. The message must align with God's revealed will and nature.
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 directly echoes the question of allegiance raised in Deuteronomy, asking 'How long will you go limping between two opinions?' This highlights the heart's struggle to discern truth when faced with competing claims, mirroring the uncertainty about whether a prophet's word is from God or not.
Jeremiah 23:16Jeremiah rails against false prophets who speak 'out of their own heart,' not 'from the mouth of the LORD.' This directly addresses the core issue in Deuteronomy 18:21, pointing out that the true test of a prophetic word is its divine origin, not merely human reasoning or desire.
John 10:27Jesus says, 'My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.' This connects to Deuteronomy by showing that those who belong to God have an inner discernment for His voice and truth, a capacity that helps distinguish His word from deceptive claims.
1 John 4:1John urges believers to 'test the spirits to see whether they are from God,' because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This provides a New Testament parallel to the Old Testament concern, emphasizing the ongoing need for discernment in identifying God's messengers and messages.
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.
This question isn't just about spotting a fake prophet; it’s about the genuine struggle within our own hearts to discern God’s voice from all the noise. It’s easy to dismiss prophets, but here, the question is about our own inner doubts and the very real difficulty of knowing if a word truly comes from the LORD or if it's just our own wishful thinking or a dangerous delusion.
Just before this, God promises to raise up a prophet like Moses through whom His people should listen. This verse anticipates the natural question that arises: how can we be sure a prophet is truly from God and not speaking their own ideas? It sets up the criteria God will provide to discern between His message and false prophecy.
Just before this, God promises to raise up a prophet like Moses through whom His people should listen. This verse anticipates the natural question that arises: how can we be sure a prophet is truly from God and not speaking their own ideas? It sets up the criteria God will provide to discern between His message and false prophecy.
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"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…" — This question isn't just about spotting a fake prophet; it’s about the genuine struggle within our own hearts to discern God’s voice from all the noise. It’s easy to dismiss prophets, but here, the q…
