Deuteronomy 18:19

And it shall come to pass, [that] whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require [it] of him.

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever {H376} will not hearken {H8085} unto my words {H1697} which he shall speak {H1696} in my name {H8034}, I will require {H1875} it of him.

Whoever doesn't listen to my words, which he will speak in my name, will have to account for himself to me.

And I will hold accountable anyone who does not listen to My words that the prophet speaks in My name.

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.

Commentary

Deuteronomy 18:19 serves as a solemn warning and a cornerstone of divine accountability, emphasizing the gravity of heeding God's chosen messenger. It underscores the Lord's expectation that His people will listen to and obey the words spoken by a true prophet in His name, promising severe consequences for disobedience.

Context

This verse is part of Moses' final addresses to the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land. In Deuteronomy 18, Moses outlines the regulations concerning priests and Levites, and crucially, warns against the pagan practices of the surrounding nations, such as divination, sorcery, and consulting the dead (Deuteronomy 18:9-12). In contrast to these forbidden practices, God promises to raise up a legitimate source of divine guidance: a prophet like Moses from among their brethren (Deuteronomy 18:18). This verse, Deuteronomy 18:19, then states the divine consequence for failing to listen to this promised prophet.

Key Themes

  • Divine Authority and Accountability: The verse highlights God's absolute authority and His right to demand obedience from His people. Disregarding the words spoken by His authorized messenger is seen as direct disobedience to God Himself, for which He "will require it." This phrase signifies divine judgment and accountability.
  • The Role of the True Prophet: It defines the critical role of a true prophet as one who speaks God's words "in my name." Such a prophet is not speaking his own wisdom but serving as God's mouthpiece, making the message divinely authoritative.
  • Messianic Prophecy: The promise of a "prophet like Moses" has long been understood, particularly in Christian theology, as a significant Messianic prophecy pointing to Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself claimed to speak the words of His Father (John 12:49), and the New Testament explicitly applies this Deuteronomic passage to Him (Acts 3:22-23; Acts 7:37).

Linguistic Insights

  • "hearken" (KJV): The Hebrew word is shama (ืฉึธืืžึทืข), which means more than just to hear; it implies to listen attentively, to understand, and crucially, to obey. It's a call to active and responsive listening.
  • "require [it] of him": The Hebrew phrase is darash mimmennu (ื“ึธึผืจึทืฉื ืžึดืžึถึผื ึผื•ึผ). The verb darash means "to seek," "to inquire," "to demand," or "to call to account." Here, it powerfully conveys God's intent to hold individuals strictly accountable for their disobedience to His word spoken through His prophet.

Practical Application

For believers today, Deuteronomy 18:19 serves as a profound reminder of the importance of discerning and obeying God's truth. If God held Israel accountable for listening to His prophet, how much more are we accountable for heeding the words of Jesus Christ, the ultimate Prophet, Teacher, and Savior? This verse calls us to:

  • Listen Attentively: To actively engage with Scripture and the teachings that align with Christ's message.
  • Obey Willingly: To not merely hear God's commands but to put them into practice, recognizing the divine authority behind them.
  • Discern Truth: To be vigilant against false teachings and to cling to the authentic voice of God as revealed in His Word and through His Son. Our eternal well-being depends on our obedience to Christ's words.
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

  • Acts 3:22

    For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.

  • Acts 3:23

    And it shall come to pass, [that] every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.

  • Hebrews 2:3

    How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard [him];

  • Hebrews 10:26

    For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

  • Hebrews 12:25

    See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more [shall not] we [escape], if we turn away from him that [speaketh] from heaven:

  • Hebrews 12:26

    Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

  • Mark 16:16

    He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
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