Deuteronomy 13:2
New International Version
and if the sign or wonder spoken of takes place, and the prophet says, “Let us follow other gods” (gods you have not known) “and let us worship them,”

New Living Translation
and the predicted signs or miracles occur. If they then say, ‘Come, let us worship other gods’—gods you have not known before—

English Standard Version
and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,’

Berean Standard Bible
and if the sign or wonder he has spoken to you comes about, but he says, “Let us follow other gods (which you have not known) and let us worship them,”

King James Bible
And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;

New King James Version
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,’

New American Standard Bible
and the sign or the wonder comes true, of which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let’s follow other gods (whom you have not known) and let’s serve them,’

NASB 1995
and the sign or the wonder comes true, concerning which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods (whom you have not known) and let us serve them,’

NASB 1977
and the sign or the wonder comes true, concerning which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods (whom you have not known) and let us serve them,’

Legacy Standard Bible
and the sign or the wonder comes true, concerning which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us walk after other gods (whom you have not known) and let us serve them,’

Amplified Bible
and the sign or the wonder which he spoke (foretold) to you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us follow after other gods (whom you have not known) and let us serve and worship them,’

Christian Standard Bible
and that sign or wonder he has promised you comes about, but he says, ‘Let’s follow other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let’s worship them,’

Holman Christian Standard Bible
and that sign or wonder he has promised you comes about, but he says, ‘Let us follow other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us worship them,’

American Standard Version
and the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;

English Revised Version
and the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
What 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.)

Good News Translation
in order to lead you to worship and serve gods that you have not worshiped before. Even if what they promise comes true,

International Standard Version
that takes place, and then he may tell you, 'Let's follow other gods (whom you have not known) and let's serve them.' Even though the sign or portent comes to pass,

Majority Standard Bible
and if the sign or wonder he has spoken to you comes about, but he says, ?Let us follow other gods (which you have not known) and let us worship them,?

NET Bible
and the sign or wonder should come to pass concerning what he said to you, namely, "Let us follow other gods"--gods whom you have not previously known--"and let us serve them."

New Heart English Bible
and the sign or the wonder come 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";

Webster's Bible Translation
And the sign or the wonder shall come to pass, of which he spoke to thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;

World English Bible
and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, “Let’s go after other gods” (which you have not known) “and let’s serve them,”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and the sign and the wonder has come to pass, which he has spoken of to you, saying, Let us go after other gods (which you have not known) and serve them,

Young's Literal Translation
and the sign and the wonder hath come which he hath spoken of unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods (which thou hast not known), and serve them,

Smith's Literal Translation
And the sign or the wonder come which he spake to thee, saying, We will go after other gods which we know not, and we will serve them,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And that come to pass which he spoke, and he say to thee: Let us go and follow strange gods, which thou knowest not, and let us serve them:

Catholic Public Domain Version
and if what he has spoken happens, and he says to you, ‘Let us go and follow strange gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,’

New American Bible
saying, “Let us go after other gods,” whom you have not known, “and let us serve them,” and the sign or wonder foretold to you comes to pass,

New Revised Standard Version
and the omens or the portents declared by them take place, and they say, “Let us follow other gods” (whom you have not known) “and let us serve them,”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the sign or the wonder of which he speaks to you come to pass, and then he shall say to you, Come, let us go after other gods, which you have not known, and let us serve them;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And there shall be a sign or a wonder that he spoke to you and he will say to you, 'Come, let us go after other gods that you do not know and let us serve them';
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
and the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spoke unto thee--saying: 'Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them';

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and the sign or the wonder come to pass which he spoke to thee, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye know not;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Idolaters to Be Put to Death
1If a prophet or dreamer of dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you, 2and if the sign or wonder he has spoken to you comes about, but he says, “Let us follow other gods (which you have not known) and let us worship them,” 3you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. For the LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love Him with all your heart and with all your soul.…

Cross References
Matthew 24:24
For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive even the elect, if that were possible.

2 Thessalonians 2:9-10
The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the working of Satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder, / and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them.

Revelation 13:13-14
And the second beast performed great signs, even causing fire from heaven to come down to earth in the presence of the people. / Because of the signs it was given to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived those who dwell on the earth, telling them to make an image to the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet had lived.

1 John 4:1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Matthew 7:15
Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

2 Peter 2:1
Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.

Mark 13:22
For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive even the elect, if that were possible.

Galatians 1:8
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a curse!

1 Timothy 4:1
Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons,

Acts 20:29-30
I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. / Even from your own number, men will rise up and distort the truth to draw away disciples after them.

Jeremiah 23:16
This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They are filling you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.

Isaiah 8:19-20
When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists who whisper and mutter, shouldn’t a people consult their God instead? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? / To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.

Ezekiel 13:6-9
They see false visions and speak lying divinations. They claim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ when the LORD did not send them; yet they wait for the fulfillment of their message. / Haven’t you seen a false vision and spoken a lying divination when you proclaim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ even though I have not spoken? / Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Because you have uttered vain words and seen false visions, I am against you, declares the Lord GOD. ...

Zechariah 13:2-3
And on that day, declares the LORD of Hosts, I will erase the names of the idols from the land, and they will no longer be remembered. I will also remove the prophets and the spirit of impurity from the land. / And if anyone still prophesies, his father and mother who bore him will say to him, ‘You shall not remain alive, because you have spoken falsely in the name of the LORD.’ When he prophesies, his father and mother who bore him will pierce him through.

Jeremiah 14:14
“The prophets are prophesying lies in My name,” replied the LORD. “I did not send them or appoint them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a false vision, a worthless divination, the futility and delusion of their own minds.


Treasury of Scripture

And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spoke to you, saying, Let us go after other gods, which you have not known, and let us serve them;

Deuteronomy 18:22
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.

Exodus 7:22
And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the LORD had said.

1 Kings 13:3
And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the LORD hath spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.

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Deuteronomy 13
1. Enticers to idolatry
6. however near to oneself
9. are to be stoned to death
12. Idolatrous cities are not to be spared














and if the sign or wonder
The phrase "sign or wonder" in Hebrew is "אוֹת אוֹ מוֹפֵת" (oth o mopheth). In the biblical context, a "sign" (oth) often refers to a miraculous event or symbol that points to a divine message or truth. A "wonder" (mopheth) is an extraordinary event that evokes awe and amazement, often used to demonstrate God's power. Historically, signs and wonders were used by God to validate His messengers, such as Moses in Egypt. However, this verse warns that not all signs and wonders are from God, emphasizing the need for discernment. In a conservative Christian perspective, this serves as a reminder that believers must test the spirits and ensure that any miraculous event aligns with the truth of Scripture.

he has spoken to you
The phrase "he has spoken to you" underscores the act of communication and prophecy. In Hebrew, "דִּבֶּר אֵלֶיךָ" (dibber eleikha) implies a direct and personal communication. This highlights the personal nature of false prophecy, where a false prophet might claim divine authority to lead people astray. Historically, false prophets were a significant concern in Israel, as they could lead the people away from the covenant with God. From a conservative Christian viewpoint, this phrase serves as a caution against those who claim to speak for God but whose messages contradict His revealed Word. It emphasizes the importance of knowing Scripture to discern truth from deception.

comes to pass
The phrase "comes to pass" in Hebrew is "וּבָא הַדָּבָר" (u'va hadavar), which means the event or prediction actually occurs. This is significant because it acknowledges that false prophets can sometimes predict events accurately. However, the fulfillment of a prediction alone is not proof of divine endorsement. In the historical context of Israel, this was a test of faithfulness to God rather than a test of the prophet's accuracy. From a conservative Christian perspective, this phrase teaches that the ultimate test of a prophet is not the occurrence of their predictions but their adherence to God's truth. It reminds believers to evaluate teachings and prophecies against the entirety of Scripture, ensuring they align with God's character and commands.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
and if the sign
הָאוֹת֙ (hā·’ō·wṯ)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 226: A signal, as a, flag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy, evidence

or wonder
וְהַמּוֹפֵ֔ת (wə·ham·mō·w·p̄êṯ)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4159: A miracle, a token, omen

he has spoken
דִּבֶּ֥ר (dib·ber)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

to you
אֵלֶ֖יךָ (’ê·le·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

comes about,
וּבָ֤א (ū·ḇā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

but he says,
לֵאמֹ֑ר (lê·mōr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Let us follow
נֵֽלְכָ֞ה (nê·lə·ḵāh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common plural
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

other
אֲחֵרִ֛ים (’ă·ḥê·rîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 312: Hinder, next, other

gods
אֱלֹהִ֧ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

(which you have not
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

known)
יְדַעְתָּ֖ם (yə·ḏa‘·tām)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3045: To know

and let us worship them,”
וְנָֽעָבְדֵֽם׃ (wə·nā·‘ā·ḇə·ḏêm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hofal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common plural | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5647: To work, to serve, till, enslave


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 13:2 And the sign or the wonder come (Deut. De Du)
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