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 he has spoken to you comes about
This phrase addresses the occurrence of signs or wonders, which in biblical terms often refer to miraculous events or phenomena that serve as evidence of divine intervention. In the context of Deuteronomy, these signs are a test of faithfulness to God. The Israelites were familiar with signs and wonders, having witnessed them during the Exodus from Egypt (Exodus 7-12). The warning here is that even if a sign or wonder occurs, it does not automatically validate the message or the messenger. This reflects the biblical principle that not all supernatural occurrences are from God, as seen in Matthew 24:24, where false prophets and false Christs perform great signs and wonders to deceive.

but he says, “Let us follow other gods (which you have not known) and let us worship them,”
This phrase highlights the core issue of idolatry and the temptation to follow other gods. The commandment against idolatry is central to the covenant relationship between God and Israel, as seen in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:3-5). The phrase "which you have not known" emphasizes the foreign nature of these gods, contrasting with the intimate knowledge and relationship the Israelites have with Yahweh. Historically, the surrounding nations worshiped a pantheon of gods, and the Israelites were often tempted to adopt these practices, as seen in the accounts of the Canaanite gods like Baal and Asherah (Judges 2:11-13). The call to worship other gods is a direct violation of the covenant and a test of loyalty to the one true God. This warning is echoed in the New Testament, where believers are cautioned against being led astray by false teachings (Galatians 1:6-9).

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The author of Deuteronomy, delivering God's laws and instructions to the Israelites.

2. Prophets or Dreamers
Individuals who claim to have received divine revelations, often through signs or wonders.

3. Israelites
The audience receiving the warning against false prophets and idolatry.

4. Canaan
The land the Israelites are about to enter, where they will encounter various religious practices.

5. Signs and Wonders
Miraculous events or predictions that may be used to validate a prophet's message.
Teaching Points
Discernment is Essential
Believers must exercise discernment and not be swayed by signs and wonders alone. The truth of a message must align with God's revealed Word.

Test the Message
The authenticity of a prophet or dreamer is not solely in their ability to perform signs but in their adherence to God's commandments and teachings.

Guard Against Deception
The presence of signs and wonders can be a test of faithfulness to God. Believers must remain vigilant and rooted in Scripture to avoid being led astray.

Faithfulness to God’s Word
True prophets will always lead people towards God and His commandments, not away from them.

The Role of Community
Engaging with a community of believers can provide accountability and collective discernment when evaluating spiritual claims.

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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