Deuteronomy 13:3

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.

Thou shalt not hearken {H8085} unto the words {H1697} of that prophet {H5030}, or that dreamer {H2492} of dreams {H2472}: for the LORD {H3068} your God {H430} proveth {H5254} you, to know {H3045} whether ye {H3426} love {H157} the LORD {H3068} your God {H430} with all your heart {H3824} and with all your soul {H5315}.

you are not to listen to what that prophet or dreamer says. For ADONAI your God is testing you, in order to find out whether you really do love ADONAI your God with all your heart and being.

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.

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.

Commentary

Deuteronomy 13:3 serves as a profound warning and a test of loyalty for the Israelites as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. It emphasizes that genuine love for God is paramount, even when faced with seemingly miraculous signs from those who would lead them astray.

Context

This verse is part of a larger section in Deuteronomy (chapter 13) that deals with the severe threat of idolatry and false worship. Moses, delivering his final instructions to the new generation of Israelites, outlines strict laws against any form of apostasy. The preceding verses (Deuteronomy 13:1-2) describe a scenario where a prophet or "dreamer of dreams" might arise, performing a sign or wonder that comes to pass, yet their message encourages following other gods. Deuteronomy 13:3 provides the divine rationale for rejecting such individuals: God uses these situations to test the sincerity of His people's devotion.

Key Themes

  • Divine Testing of Faith: The core message is that God permits challenges and deceptive influences to arise as a means of "proving" or testing His people. This isn't to trick them, but to reveal the true depth of their commitment and whether they genuinely love Him with all their heart and soul.
  • Discernment Over Signs: The passage teaches that miraculous signs alone are not sufficient proof of a prophet's authenticity. The ultimate test is the prophet's message: Does it align with God's established commandments and lead people to worship Him alone, or does it promote idolatry?
  • Unwavering Love for God: The verse directly links rejection of false teaching to the command to love the LORD your God "with all your heart and with all your soul." This echoes the foundational command, the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-5), highlighting that allegiance to God must be absolute and undivided.
  • Warning Against False Prophets: Even a prophet who performs a true sign but encourages following other gods is a false prophet. Their message is the ultimate determinant of their legitimacy.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "proveth" is nasah (ื ึธืกึธื”), which means to test, try, or prove. It implies an examination to determine the quality or genuineness of something. This testing is not for God's benefitโ€”He already knowsโ€”but for the people's, revealing their own hearts to themselves. The phrase "with all your heart and with all your soul" (Hebrew: b'khol-levavkha u'v'khol-nafsh'kha) signifies the totality of one's inner being, intellect, emotions, will, and life force. It demands complete, unreserved devotion.

Practical Application

Deuteronomy 13:3 holds timeless relevance for believers today. In an age with diverse spiritual claims and charismatic personalities, this verse reminds us to exercise critical discernment and "test the spirits". We must not be swayed by outward appearances, compelling personalities, or even apparent miracles if the message deviates from the clear teachings of God's Word. Our ultimate loyalty must be to God alone, expressed through a deep, abiding love that prioritizes His truth above all else. This verse challenges us to continually examine our own hearts: Is our love for God truly wholehearted, or are we susceptible to influences that subtly pull us away from Him?

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 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.

  • Psalms 66:10

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

  • 1 Corinthians 11:19

    For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

  • 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.

  • Revelation 13:14

    And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by [the means of] those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

  • 1 John 4:1

    ยถ Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

  • Matthew 24:24

    For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
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