“Suppose there are prophets among you or those who dream dreams about the future, and they promise you signs or miracles,
Parallel translations
- WEB If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you, and he gives you a sign or a wonder,
- KJV If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,
- BSB If a prophet or dreamer of dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you,
- NKJV “If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder,
- NASB “If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder,
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Even a prophet or dreamer who offers a genuine sign or wonder must be tested. Miraculous power alone does not authenticate a message.
Overview
Moses introduces the case of a prophet whose predicted sign actually comes true, raising the hardest test of discernment. Supernatural confirmation is not by itself proof of divine authority. This warns God's people that signs must be judged by fidelity to revealed truth, a principle Jesus and the apostles affirm against false miracle-workers who lead people astray.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 20
- Jer 23:25–28“I have heard what the prophets have said, who prophesy lies in my name, saying, ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’
- 1 Jn 4:1Beloved, don’t believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
- Jer 29:8For Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel says: “Don’t let your prophets who are among you, and your diviners, deceive you; neither listen to your dreams which you cause to be dreamed.
- Jer 27:9But as for you, don’t you listen to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreams, nor to your soothsayers, nor to your sorcerers, who speak to you, saying, “You shall not serve the king of Babylon;”
- 1 Kgs 13:18He said to him, “I also am a prophet as you are; and an angel spoke to me by Yahweh’s word, saying, ‘Bring him back with you into your house, that he may eat bread and drink water.’” He lied to him.
- Isa 9:15The elder and the honorable man is the head, and the prophet who teaches lies is the tail.
- Luke 6:26Woe, when men speak well of you, for their fathers did the same thing to the false prophets.
- 2 Th 2:9even he whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
- Mark 13:22For there will arise false christs and false prophets, and will show signs and wonders, that they may lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.
- Jer 23:11for both prophet and priest are profane; yes, in my house I have found their wickedness,” says Yahweh.
- Zech 13:4It will happen in that day, that the prophets will each be ashamed of his vision, when he prophesies; neither will they wear a hairy mantle to deceive:
- Zech 10:2For the teraphim have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie; and they have told false dreams. They comfort in vain. Therefore they go their way like sheep. They are oppressed, because there is no shepherd.
- Ezek 13:2–3“Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those who prophesy out of their own heart, ‘Hear Yahweh’s word:
- Ezek 13:23Therefore you shall no more see false visions, nor practice divination. I will deliver my people out of your hand. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.’”
- Matt 24:11Many false prophets will arise, and will lead many astray.
- Jer 6:13“For from their least even to their greatest, everyone is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even to the priest, everyone deals falsely.
- Matt 7:15“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.
- 2 Pet 2:1But false prophets also arose among the people, as false teachers will also be among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master who bought them, bringing on themselves swift destruction.
- Matt 24:24For there will arise false christs, and false prophets, and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.
- Jer 29:24Concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite you shall speak, saying,
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Christ at the center
Moses promised a Prophet like himself to whom Israel must listen (18:15); Jesus is that Prophet, the one who keeps the covenant we broke and becomes the curse for us by hanging on a tree (Gal 3:13).
How Deuteronomy 13:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.