Deuteronomy 13:10

KJV

And thou shalt stone him with stones, that he die; because he hath sought to thrust thee away from the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

KJV (with Strong's)

And thou shalt stone {H5619} him with stones {H68}, that he die {H4191}; because he hath sought {H1245} to thrust thee away {H5080} from the LORD {H3068} thy God {H430}, which brought thee out {H3318} of the land {H776} of Egypt {H4714}, from the house {H1004} of bondage {H5650}.

Complete Jewish Bible

You are to stone him to death; because he has tried to draw you away from ADONAI your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of a life of slavery.

Berean Standard Bible

Stone him to death for trying to turn you away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

American Standard Version

And thou shalt stone him to death with stones, because he hath sought to draw thee away from Jehovah thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Deuteronomy 13:10 prescribes the ultimate penalty of death by stoning for any individual who actively attempts to entice or lead the people of Israel away from their exclusive covenant relationship with the LORD their God. This severe judgment underscores the absolute centrality of Yahweh worship in ancient Israelite society and the profound gravity of spiritual sedition, which was considered an act of treason against the Divine King who had miraculously delivered them from Egyptian slavery. The verse highlights the non-negotiable demand for singular devotion to the God who redeemed them, emphasizing that the purity of Israel's faith was paramount to their national identity and well-being.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically situated within a pivotal section of Deuteronomy (chapters 12-26) that meticulously outlines the covenant stipulations for Israel's life in the Promised Land, with a strong emphasis on the purity and exclusivity of worship. Specifically, [Deuteronomy 13](/deuteronomy/13 "Deuteronomy 13 - Warnings Against Idolatry") functions as a comprehensive warning against the insidious threat of apostasy and idolatry. The chapter commences by addressing the public danger posed by false prophets and dreamers who might perform deceptive signs or wonders to lead the people astray from Yahweh ([Deuteronomy 13:1-5](/deuteronomy/13-1-5 "Deuteronomy 13:1-5 - False Prophets and Dreamers")). The passage then intensifies, shifting its focus from public figures to more intimate and insidious temptations, detailing the severe consequences for even close family members or friends who secretly entice others to worship foreign gods ([Deuteronomy 13:6-11](/deuteronomy/13-6-11 "Deuteronomy 13:6-11 - Enticing to Idolatry by Loved Ones")). Our verse, [Deuteronomy 13:10](/deuteronomy/13-10 "Deuteronomy 13:10 - Punishment for Enticement to Idolatry"), falls directly within this latter section, specifying the judicial execution for such a profound offense, thereby highlighting the paramount importance of maintaining Israel's exclusive and undivided devotion to Yahweh. The chapter culminates with detailed instructions regarding entire cities that collectively fall into idolatry ([Deuteronomy 13:12-18](/deuteronomy/13-12-18 "Deuteronomy 13:12-18 - Dealing with Idolatrous Cities")).

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Ancient Israel was uniquely established as a theocratic nation, where God Himself was recognized as their direct King and supreme Lawgiver. Their national identity, collective well-being, and very existence were inextricably linked to their covenant relationship with Yahweh, which had been solemnly established at Mount Sinai. In the broader polytheistic ancient Near East, where surrounding nations worshipped a pantheon of deities, Israel's radical monotheistic faith was a distinctive anomaly and was under constant threat of syncretism—the blending of religious beliefs. Therefore, leading someone away from Yahweh to other gods was not merely a religious transgression but an act of high treason against the divine sovereign, fundamentally undermining the very foundation of the nation's covenant with God. Stoning was a common and particularly severe form of capital punishment in ancient Israel, typically reserved for offenses considered to be direct affronts to God's holiness or the community's purity, such as blasphemy, idolatry, or certain grievous sexual sins. The public nature of stoning served as both a powerful deterrent and a visible demonstration of the community's collective rejection of the sin, signifying their commitment to upholding God's law and thereby "purging the evil from your midst" ([Deuteronomy 13:5](/deuteronomy/13-5 "Deuteronomy 13:5 - Purging Evil from Your Midst")). The constant refrain "which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage" served as the foundational historical and theological justification for Israel's absolute loyalty, perpetually reminding them of God's mighty, redemptive act that established their nation and claimed their allegiance.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully reinforces several major theological and narrative themes prevalent throughout Deuteronomy and the broader Pentateuch. First and foremost is the theme of **Exclusive Loyalty to God**, echoing the foundational principle of the First Commandment: "You shall have no other gods before me" ([Exodus 20:3](/exodus/20-3 "Exodus 20:3 - The First Commandment")). Any attempt to divert this singular allegiance was considered an act of spiritual treason against the Divine King. Second, it highlights God's **Zealous Protection of the Covenant**. The severe consequence for leading others astray underscores God's unwavering commitment to the purity and integrity of His covenant with Israel, upon which their national identity, prosperity, and spiritual vitality depended. Third, the verse vividly illustrates the **Dire Consequences of Apostasy**, not just for the individual perpetrator but for the entire community. It demonstrates that God takes profoundly seriously those who not only stray from Him but actively seek to draw others into the spiritual peril of idolatry. Finally, the concluding phrase "which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage" serves as a constant reminder of **God's Redemptive Act as the Foundation for Obedience**. This profound act of grace and power, the miraculous deliverance from slavery, is presented as the ultimate reason for Israel's unwavering devotion and the indispensable basis for all their covenant obligations. This foundational act is repeatedly emphasized throughout the book, as seen in passages like [Deuteronomy 6:20-25](/deuteronomy/6-20-25 "Deuteronomy 6:20-25 - Explaining the Commandments to Your Children").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Stone (Hebrew, _çâqal'_ H5619):** This primitive root primarily means "to be weighty," but it is used exclusively in the sense of lapidation—the act of stoning—or its contrary. In this context, it refers to the act of casting stones upon someone as a form of capital punishment. The use of this word emphasizes the direct, physical, and communal nature of the execution, signifying a public act of judgment and the purging of evil from the community.
* **Thrust thee away (Hebrew, _nâdach'_ H5080):** This primitive root signifies "to push off" or "to expel." It is used in a wide variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, to mean to banish, cast down, chase, compel, draw away, drive out, or mislead. Here, it denotes an active, persistent, and often deceptive effort to entice, seduce, or drive someone away from the right path. It conveys the idea of spiritual sedition, a deliberate attempt to undermine the nation's core faith and allegiance, suggesting a forceful, misleading influence designed to dislodge someone from their spiritual foundation.
* **Bondage (Hebrew, _ʻebed'_ H5650):** Derived from the root meaning "to serve," this noun refers to a servant, bondman, or one in bondage. In the phrase "house of bondage" (which combines `bayith` H1004, house, with `ʻebed` H5650, servant/bondage), `ʻebed` specifically emphasizes the state of servitude and oppression. Its inclusion here, within the recurring phrase "house of bondage" for Egypt, powerfully evokes the profound and oppressive slavery from which God had miraculously delivered Israel. It serves as a constant, potent reminder of the immense grace and power of God's redemptive act, thereby reinforcing the absolute obligation of loyalty to Him alone.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And thou shalt stone him with stones, that he die;":** This clause specifies the judicial punishment for the one who seeks to lead Israel astray. Stoning was a public execution, signifying the community's collective rejection of the offense and its commitment to purging evil from its midst. The explicit phrase "that he die" leaves no ambiguity about the finality and severity of the penalty, underscoring the gravity of the crime in the eyes of God and the community.
* **"because he hath sought to thrust thee away from the LORD thy God, ":** This provides the explicit rationale and justification for the capital punishment. The crime is not merely personal idolatry but the active, deliberate attempt to "thrust away" or seduce others from their allegiance to Yahweh. This highlights the profound communal danger of such an act, as it directly threatens the spiritual integrity, covenant relationship, and very existence of the entire nation. The use of "the LORD thy God" emphasizes the intensely personal and covenantal relationship that the individual sought to sever, making the offense a direct affront to God's sovereignty and His bond with His people.
* **"which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.":** This final clause grounds the entire command in God's redemptive history and serves as the ultimate justification for Israel's exclusive loyalty and for the severity of the punishment for apostasy. God's mighty act of deliverance from the oppressive slavery of Egypt is the foundational reason for their obedience and devotion. To turn away from such a powerful and gracious Deliverer, or to lead others to do so, is presented as the ultimate act of ingratitude, rebellion, and treason against the One who secured their freedom and identity.

#### Literary Devices
Deuteronomy 13:10 employs several potent literary devices to underscore its message and impress its gravity upon the Israelite community. The most prominent is **Hyperbole** in the severity of the prescribed punishment, which serves to emphasize the absolute gravity of the crime of spiritual sedition. While a literal command within the Old Covenant legal system, its starkness is designed to shock and indelibly impress upon the people the non-negotiable nature of their exclusive devotion to Yahweh. The phrase "the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage" functions as a powerful **Covenant Formula** or **Redemptive Motif**, consistently reiterated throughout Deuteronomy and the Pentateuch. This **Repetition** serves as a foundational reminder, grounding all commands in God's prior gracious acts of deliverance and reinforcing the indispensable basis for Israel's obedience and loyalty. The term "house of bondage" is a vivid **Metaphor** for Egypt, evoking the harsh reality of their slavery and the profound, miraculous liberation God provided. This constant recall of their historical redemption acts as a powerful **Rhetorical Appeal** to gratitude, loyalty, and the solemn obligation of exclusive worship. Furthermore, the entire passage exemplifies **Legal Prose**, characterized by its clear, direct, and prescriptive language, leaving no doubt about the nature of the offense or its severe consequence.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Deuteronomy 13:10 stands as a stark testament to God's holy jealousy and His unwavering demand for exclusive devotion from His covenant people. The principle articulated here—that actively leading others away from the one true God is an offense of the highest order—resonates throughout biblical theology, affirming the sanctity of divine truth and the immense value God places on a pure, unadulterated relationship with humanity. It underscores that spiritual deception and apostasy are not minor transgressions but acts of profound betrayal against the Divine King. While the New Covenant shifts from a national, theocratic legal system to a spiritual kingdom, the underlying theological principle remains eternally true: leading people away from the truth of God, particularly as revealed in Christ, is a grave spiritual danger with eternal consequences. The severity of the Old Testament law here serves to highlight the intrinsic seriousness of spiritual deception and its profound impact on individuals and communities.

* [Exodus 20:3](/exodus/20-3 "The First Commandment: No Other Gods")
* [Matthew 7:15](/matthew/7-15 "Beware of False Prophets")
* [2 Peter 2:1](/2_peter/2-1 "False Teachers Among You")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Deuteronomy 13:10, though rooted in ancient Israel's judicial system, carries profound spiritual weight and enduring principles for believers today. It compels us to reflect deeply on the absolute centrality of our allegiance to God and the immense danger of any influence that would seek to draw us or others away from Him. While we no longer apply the literal punishment of stoning, the principle of God's zealous protection of His truth and His people's faithfulness remains immutable. This verse challenges us to cultivate spiritual discernment, to be vigilant against false teachings, and to guard the purity of the gospel within our communities and within our own hearts. It serves as a powerful reminder that our primary loyalty is to the God who has redeemed us, and that actively undermining another's faith is a betrayal of the highest order, carrying severe spiritual consequences. We are called to be protectors of truth, not propagators of deception, always pointing others towards the one true God who brought us out of spiritual bondage into glorious freedom.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the severity of the punishment in Deuteronomy 13:10 highlight the profound value God places on exclusive loyalty to Him?**
* **In what contemporary ways might individuals, ideologies, or cultural trends "thrust us away" from the LORD our God?**
* **What is my personal responsibility in discerning and actively resisting influences that seek to lead myself or others away from biblical truth?**
* **How does remembering God's past acts of deliverance and redemption (both historical and personal) strengthen my resolve to remain faithful to Him today?**

### FAQ

**Does this verse mean we should still stone people who try to lead others away from God?**

Answer: No, the specific judicial punishment of stoning belongs to the Old Covenant legal system given exclusively to ancient Israel, a theocratic nation under a unique covenant with God. The New Testament introduces the New Covenant, fulfilled in Jesus Christ, which operates under different principles. While the underlying theological principle—that leading people away from God is a grave spiritual offense—remains eternally true, the method of punishment has fundamentally changed. Under the New Covenant, the focus is on spiritual discernment, church discipline, and the ultimate judgment of God, rather than civil execution for religious offenses. The New Testament warns strongly against false teachers and those who cause division, but it does not prescribe physical violence or capital punishment for such acts (e.g., [Romans 16:17](/romans/16-17 "Romans 16:17 - Avoid Divisions"), [Titus 3:10](/titus/3-10 "Titus 3:10 - Reject a Divisive Person"), [2 John 1:10-11](/2_john/1-10-11 "2 John 1:10-11 - Do Not Receive False Teachers")).

**What does "thrust thee away from the LORD thy God" mean for us today?**

Answer: For believers today, "thrusting away" from the LORD God refers to any teaching, philosophy, or lifestyle that actively seeks to divert our allegiance from the one true God revealed in Scripture, particularly through Jesus Christ. This can manifest as promoting idolatry (worshipping anything or anyone other than God), denying core biblical truths about God, Jesus, or salvation, or encouraging a life that is fundamentally disobedient to God's revealed will. It implies a deliberate and often deceptive effort to undermine genuine faith and devotion. We are called to be discerning, testing all things against the truth of God's Word ([1 John 4:1](/1_john/4-1 "1 John 4:1 - Test the Spirits")), and to hold fast to the sound doctrine delivered to us ([Jude 1:3](/jude/1-3 "Jude 1:3 - Contend for the Faith")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Deuteronomy 13:10, with its severe warning against leading Israel away from the LORD, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus. He is the very embodiment of the LORD God, the one to whom all true allegiance is eternally due. In the Old Testament context, those who "thrust away" from the LORD were leading people to false gods and idols; in the New Covenant, those who lead people away from Jesus are leading them away from the only path to the Father ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus the Way, Truth, and Life")). Jesus Himself warned against those who would cause His "little ones" to stumble ([Matthew 18:6](/matthew/18-6 "Matthew 18:6 - Causing to Stumble")), indicating the profound seriousness of leading others astray from Him, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Furthermore, Christ's perfect obedience and sacrificial death on the cross fully satisfied the demands of God's holy law, including the judgment against those who turn away in rebellion. He is the ultimate "Deliverer" who brought us out of the "house of bondage" to sin and death ([Colossians 1:13-14](/colossians/1-13-14 "Colossians 1:13-14 - Delivered from Darkness to Light"), [Romans 6:6](/romans/6-6 "Romans 6:6 - Our Old Self Crucified")). Thus, to turn from Him, or to lead others from Him, is to reject the very One who accomplished our ultimate redemption and to whom all loyalty is eternally due, for "there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" ([Acts 4:12](/acts/4-12 "Acts 4:12 - Salvation in No Other Name")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Joshua 7:25

And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones.

Numbers 15:35

And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.

Numbers 15:36

And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses.

Leviticus 24:23

And Moses spake to the children of Israel, that they should bring forth him that had cursed out of the camp, and stone him with stones. And the children of Israel did as the LORD commanded Moses.

Deuteronomy 21:21

And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

Leviticus 20:27

A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood [shall be] upon them.

Leviticus 20:2

Again, thou shalt say to the children of Israel, Whosoever [he be] of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that giveth [any] of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones.