Deuteronomy 18:20

KJV1611 – Modern English

But the prophet, who shall presume to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who shall speak in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

אַ֣ךְ הַנָּבִ֡יא אֲשֶׁ֣ר יָזִיד֩ לְדַבֵּ֨ר דָּבָ֜ר בִּשְׁמִ֗י אֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹֽא־צִוִּיתִיו֙ לְדַבֵּ֔ר וַאֲשֶׁ֣ר יְדַבֵּ֔ר בְּשֵׁ֖ם אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֑ים וּמֵ֖ת הַנָּבִ֥יא הַהֽוּא׃

Transliteration

But the-navi who yazid to-ledabber davar in-shemi et which not-tzivitiv to-ledabber, and-which yedabber in-shem elohim acherim; and-met the-navi the-that.

Grammar Details

• *navi*: noun, masculine, singular - prophet
• *yazid*: imperfect, 3rd masculine singular, hiphil - he presumes
• *ledabber*: infinitive construct, piel - to speak
• *davar*: noun, masculine, singular - word
• *shemi*: noun, masculine, singular + 1st singular suffix - my name
• *et*: direct object marker
• *tzivitiv*: perfect, 1st singular, piel + 3rd masculine singular suffix - I commanded him
• *yedabber*: imperfect, 3rd masculine singular, piel - he speaks
• *shem*: noun, masculine, singular construct - name of
• *elohim*: noun, masculine, plural - gods
• *acherim*: adjective, masculine, plural - other
• *met*: perfect, 3rd masculine singular, qal - he shall die

Word Meanings

• *yazid*: presumes/acts presumptuously/is insolent
• *davar*: word/thing/matter
• *elohim acherim*: other gods/foreign deities

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded, or who speaks in the name of other gods, is to be put to death.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not command him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  But the prophet,{H5030} that shall speak{H1696} a word{H1697} presumptuously{H2102} in my name,{H8034} which I have not commanded{H6680} him to speak,{H1696} or that shall speak{H1696} in the name{H8034} of other{H312} gods,{H430} that same prophet{H5030} shall die.{H4191}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  But the prophet{H5030}, which shall presume{H2102}{(H8686)} to speak{H1696}{(H8763)} a word{H1697} in my name{H8034}, which I have not commanded{H6680}{(H8765)} him to speak{H1696}{(H8763)}, or that shall speak{H1696}{(H8762)} in the name{H8034} of other{H312} gods{H430}, even that prophet{H5030} shall die{H4191}{(H8804)}.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  But the prophete which shall presume to speake ought in my name which I commaunded him not to speake, and he that speaketh in the name of straunge Goddes, the same prophete shall dye.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  But yf a prophete presume to speake ought in my name, which I haue not comauded him to speake: and he that speaketh in ye name of other goddes, yt same prophete shal dye.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  But the prophet that shall presume to speake a worde in my name, which I haue not commanded him to speake, or that speaketh in the name of other gods, euen the same prophet shall die.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  But the prophete which shall presume to speake a worde in my name, which I haue not comaunded hym to speake, or that speaketh in the name of strauge gods, the same prophete shall dye.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  But 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.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  But the prophet, who shall speak a word presumptuously in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who shall speak in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  `Only, the prophet who presumeth to speak a word in My name -- that which I have not commanded him to speak -- and who speaketh in the name of other gods -- even that prophet hath died.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  But the prophet, that shall speak a word presumptuously in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  But the prophet, that shall speak a word presumptuously in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  But the prophet who takes it on himself to say words in my name which I have not given him orders to say, or who says anything in the name of other gods, will come to his death.

• World English Bible (2000)

  But the prophet, who shall speak a word presumptuously in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who shall speak in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die."

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  “But if any prophet presumes to speak anything in my name that I have not authorized him to speak, or speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet must die.

Referenced Verses

• Deut 13:1-5 : 1 If there arises among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and gives you a sign or a wonder, 2 And the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, Let us go after other gods, which you have not known, and let us serve them; 3 You shall not listen to the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God tests you, to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 You shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and you shall serve him, and hold fast to him. 5 And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he has spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to push you out of the way which the LORD your God commanded you to walk in. So you shall put away the evil from among you.
• Jer 23:13-15 : 13 And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria: they prophesied by Baal and caused my people Israel to err. 14 I have also seen a horrible thing in the prophets of Jerusalem: They commit adultery and walk in lies. They also strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that none returns from his wickedness. They are all to me as Sodom, and the inhabitants of it as Gomorrah. 15 Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets: Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall; for from the prophets of Jerusalem profaneness has gone forth into all the land.
• Zech 13:3 : 3 And it shall come to pass that when anyone continues to prophesy, then his father and his mother who gave birth to him shall say to him, You shall not live, for you speak lies in the name of the LORD; and his father and his mother who gave birth to him shall pierce him through when he prophesies.
• Matt 7:15 : 15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
• 2 Pet 2:12 : 12 But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption;
• Rev 19:20 : 20 And the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked miracles before him, with which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast, and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with sulfur.
• Jer 23:31 : 31 Behold, I am against the prophets, says the LORD, who use their tongues and say, 'He says.'
• Jer 27:15 : 15 For I have not sent them, says the LORD, yet they prophesy a lie in my name; that I might drive you out, and that you might perish, you, and the prophets that prophesy to you.
• Jer 28:15-17 : 15 Then said the prophet Jeremiah to Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD has not sent you; but you make this people to trust in a lie. 16 Therefore thus says the LORD; Behold, I will cast you from off the face of the earth: this year you shall die, because you have taught rebellion against the LORD. 17 So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.
• Ezek 13:6 : 6 They have seen falsehood and lying divination, saying, 'The LORD says'; but the LORD has not sent them. And they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word.
• 1 Kgs 18:19 : 19 Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel to mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, who eat at Jezebel's table.
• 1 Kgs 18:27 : 27 And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he sleeps, and must be awakened.
• 1 Kgs 18:40 : 40 And Elijah said to them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.
• Jer 2:8 : 8 The priests did not say, Where is the LORD? and those who handle the law did not know me: the shepherds also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.
• Jer 14:14-15 : 14 Then the LORD said to me, 'The prophets prophesy lies in My name; I have not sent them, nor commanded them, nor spoken to them; they prophesy to you a false vision and divination, a worthless thing, and the deceit of their heart.' 15 Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who prophesy in My name, and I have not sent them, yet they say, 'Sword and famine shall not be in this land'—by sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed.