Deuteronomy 13:3
New International Version
you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul.

New Living Translation
do not listen to them. The LORD your God is testing you to see if you truly love him with all your heart and soul.

English Standard Version
you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the LORD your God is testing you, to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

Berean Standard Bible
you 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.

King James Bible
Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

New King James Version
you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the LORD your God is testing you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

New American Standard Bible
you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer of dreams; for the LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

NASB 1995
you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams; for the LORD your God is testing you to find out if you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

NASB 1977
you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams; for the LORD your God is testing you to find out if you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

Legacy Standard Bible
you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams; for Yahweh your God is testing you to find out if you love Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

Amplified Bible
you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams; for the LORD your God is testing you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and mind and all your soul [your entire being].

Christian Standard Bible
do not listen to that prophet’s words or to that dreamer. For the LORD your God is testing you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and all your soul.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
do not listen to that prophet’s words or to that dreamer. For the LORD your God is testing you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and all your soul.

American Standard Version
thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or unto that dreamer of dreams: for Jehovah your God proveth you, to know whether ye love Jehovah your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

Contemporary English Version
If the prophet says this, don't listen! The LORD your God will be watching to find out whether or not you love him with all your heart and soul.

English Revised Version
thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or unto that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The LORD your God is testing you to find out if you really love him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Good News Translation
do not pay any attention to them. The LORD your God is using them to test you, to see if you love the LORD with all your heart.

International Standard Version
you must not listen to the words of that prophet or that diviner of dreams. For the LORD your God is testing you, to make known whether or not you'll continue to love the LORD your God with all your heart and soul.

Majority Standard Bible
you 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.

NET Bible
You must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer, for the LORD your God will be testing you to see if you love him with all your mind and being.

New Heart English Bible
you shall not listen to the words of that prophet, or to that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proves you, to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

Webster's Bible Translation
Thou shalt not hearken to the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

World English Bible
you shall not listen to the words of that prophet, or to that dreamer of dreams; for Yahweh your God is testing you, to know whether you love Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
you do not listen to the words of that prophet or to that dreamer of the dream, for your God YHWH is trying you to know whether you are loving your God YHWH with all your heart and with all your soul;

Young's Literal Translation
thou dost not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or unto that dreamer of the dream, for Jehovah your God is trying you, to know whether ye are loving Jehovah your God with all your heart, and with all your soul;

Smith's Literal Translation
Thou shalt not hear to the words of that prophet or to that dreamer of dreams: for Jehovah thy God tries you to know whether ye are loving Jehovah your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Thou shalt not hear the words of that prophet or dreamer: for the Lord your God trieth you, that it may appear whether you love him with all your heart, and with all your soul, or not.

Catholic Public Domain Version
you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. For the Lord your God is testing you, so that it may become clear whether or not you love him with all your heart and with all your soul.

New American Bible
do not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer; for the LORD, your God, is testing you to know whether you really love the LORD, your God, with all your heart and soul.

New Revised Standard Version
you must not heed the words of those prophets or those who divine by dreams; for the LORD your God is testing you, to know whether you indeed love the LORD your God with all your heart and soul.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
You shall not listen to the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams; for the LORD your God is proving you, to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
You shall not listen to the words of that Prophet or one dreaming that dream because certainly LORD JEHOVAH your God is testing you to know if you love LORD JEHOVAH your God from all your heart and from all your soul.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or unto that dreamer of dreams; for the LORD your God putteth you to proof, to know whether ye do love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
ye shall not hearken to the words of that prophet, or the dreamer of that dream, because the Lord thy God tries you, to know whether ye love your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Idolaters to Be Put to Death
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. 4You are to follow the LORD your God and fear Him. Keep His commandments and listen to His voice; serve Him and hold fast to Him.…

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.

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.

2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
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. / For this reason God will send them a powerful delusion so that they believe the lie, ...

1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it.

James 1:12-14
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him. / When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone. / But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed.

1 Peter 1:6-7
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials / so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 2:10
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer tribulation for ten days. Be faithful even unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

2 Corinthians 11:13-15
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. / And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. / It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions.

Galatians 1:8-9
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! / As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be under a curse!

Matthew 7:15-20
Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. / By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? / Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ...

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,

2 Peter 2:1-3
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. / Many will follow in their depravity, and because of them the way of truth will be defamed. / In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep.

Romans 16:17-18
Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Turn away from them. / For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

John 10:27
My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.

Hebrews 3:8-9
do not harden your hearts, as you did in the rebellion, in the day of testing in the wilderness, / where your fathers tested and tried Me, and for forty years saw My works.


Treasury of Scripture

You shall not listen to the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proves you, to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

hearken

Isaiah 8:20
To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

Acts 17:11
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Ephesians 4:14
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

proveth

Deuteronomy 8:2
And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.

Psalm 66:10
For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.

Psalm 81:7
Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder: I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah.

ye love the Lord your God

Deuteronomy 6:5
And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

2 Corinthians 8:8
I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.

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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














you must not listen
The Hebrew root for "listen" is "שָׁמַע" (shama), which means to hear, listen, or obey. In the ancient Near Eastern context, listening was not merely about auditory reception but involved obedience and adherence to what was heard. This command underscores the importance of discernment and obedience to God's word over any other voice, emphasizing the need for unwavering faithfulness to God's commandments.

the words of that prophet or dreamer
The term "prophet" in Hebrew is "נָבִיא" (navi), and "dreamer" is "חֹלֵם" (cholem). Prophets and dreamers were common in ancient Israel and surrounding cultures, often seen as intermediaries between the divine and human realms. However, this passage warns against those who claim divine revelation but lead people away from God's truth. It highlights the necessity of testing the authenticity of spiritual messages against the established word of God.

For the LORD your God is testing you
The Hebrew word for "testing" is "נָסָה" (nasah), which implies proving or trying. This concept of divine testing is prevalent throughout the Old Testament, where God tests His people to refine their faith and loyalty. It is a reminder that challenges to faith can serve a divine purpose, revealing the depth of one's commitment to God.

to find out whether you love Him
The phrase "to find out" in Hebrew is "לָדַעַת" (lada'at), meaning to know or ascertain. This is not about God needing information, as He is omniscient, but about manifesting the reality of one's love and devotion. Love for God is the central theme of the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-5), and this verse reiterates that true love for God is demonstrated through fidelity and obedience.

with all your heart and with all your soul
The Hebrew words for "heart" (לֵבָב, levav) and "soul" (נֶפֶשׁ, nephesh) encompass the entirety of a person's being—emotions, will, intellect, and life force. This comprehensive love and devotion to God is a recurring theme in Deuteronomy, calling believers to a holistic commitment that permeates every aspect of their lives. It is a call to prioritize God above all else, reflecting a deep, personal relationship with the Creator.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
you must not
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

listen
תִשְׁמַ֗ע (ṯiš·ma‘)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the words
דִּבְרֵי֙ (diḇ·rê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

of that
הַה֔וּא (ha·hū)
Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

prophet
הַנָּבִ֣יא (han·nā·ḇî)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5030: A spokesman, speaker, prophet

or
א֛וֹ (’ōw)
Conjunction
Strong's 176: Desire, if

dreamer.
חוֹלֵ֥ם (ḥō·w·lêm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2492: To bind firmly, to be, plump, to dream

For
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

the LORD
יְהוָ֤ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

your God
אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶם֙ (’ĕ·lō·hê·ḵem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

is testing you
מְנַסֶּ֞ה (mə·nas·seh)
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5254: To test, to attempt

to find out
לָדַ֗עַת (lā·ḏa·‘aṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 3045: To know

whether
הֲיִשְׁכֶ֤ם (hă·yiš·ḵem)
Adverb | second person masculine plural
Strong's 3426: Being, substance, existence, is

you love
אֹֽהֲבִים֙ (’ō·hă·ḇîm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 157: To have affection f

[Him]
יְהוָ֣ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

with all
בְּכָל־ (bə·ḵāl)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

your heart
לְבַבְכֶ֖ם (lə·ḇaḇ·ḵem)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 3824: Inner man, mind, will, heart

and with all
וּבְכָל־ (ū·ḇə·ḵāl)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

your soul.
נַפְשְׁכֶֽם׃ (nap̄·šə·ḵem)
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 13:3 You shall not listen to the words (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 13:2
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