Deuteronomy 18:21

You may ask in your heart, “How can we recognize a message that the LORD has not spoken?”

Majority Standard Bible

In The King James Version

And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?

In Context

20But if any prophet dares to speak a message in My name that I have not commanded him to speak, or to speak in the name of other gods, that prophet must be put to death.”

22When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD and the message does not come to pass or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.

Read all of Deuteronomy 18

Cross References

1 Samuel 3:20So all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the LORD.

Zechariah 2:13Be silent before the LORD, all people, for He has roused Himself from His holy dwelling.”

1 John 4:1Beloved, 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 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 →

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