Deuteronomy 18:20

But if a prophet, having been corrupted by arrogance, chooses to speak, in my name, things which I did not instruct him to say, or to speak in the name of foreign gods, he shall be put to death.

Catholic Public Domain Version

In The King James Version

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.

In Context

19But against anyone who is not willing to listen to his words, which he will speak in my name, I will stand forth as the avenger.

21But if, in silent thought, you respond: “How will I be able to recognize a word which the Lord has not spoken?”

Read all of Deuteronomy 18

Cross References

Deuteronomy 13:6If your brother, the son of your mother, or your own son or daughter, or your wife who is in your bosom, or your friend, whom you love like your own soul, were willing to persuade you secretly, saying: ‘Let us go, and serve foreign gods,’ which neither you nor your fathers have known,

1 Kings 13:19And he led him back with him. Then he ate bread and drank water in his house.

1 Kings 18:27And when it was now midday, Elijah ridiculed them, saying: “Cry out with a louder voice. For he is a god, and perhaps he is talking, or at an inn, or on a journey, or certainly he may be asleep, and must be awakened.”

Jeremiah 2:8The priests have not said: ‘Where is the Lord?’ And those who held the law did not know me. And the pastors betrayed me. And the prophets prophesied in Baal and followed idols.

Jeremiah 14:15For this reason, thus says the Lord about the prophets who prophesy in my name, whom I have not sent, who say: ‘Sword and famine will not be in this land.’ By sword and famine those prophets will be consumed.

Jeremiah 23:31Behold, I am against the prophets, says the Lord, who take up their tongues and say: ‘The Lord says it.’

Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 18:16-22

The Great Prophet; False Prophets. ( b. c. 1451.) 15 The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; 16 According to all that thou desiredst of the Lord thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not. 17 And the Lord said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken. 18 I will raise them up a Prophet… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Deuteronomy 18:20