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Deuteronomy 18:21

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

And if thou say {H559} in thine heart {H3824}, How shall we know {H3045} the word {H1697} which the LORD {H3068} hath not spoken {H1696}?

You may be wondering, 'How are we to know if a word has not been spoken by ADONAI?'

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

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

Commentary

Deuteronomy 18:21 captures a crucial question arising from God's instructions regarding prophets. Following warnings against detestable practices like divination and sorcery (Deuteronomy 18:9-12), and the promise of a true prophet like Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15), the previous verse (Deuteronomy 18:20) issues a severe warning against any prophet who presumes to speak a word in the Lord's name that He has not commanded, or who speaks in the name of other gods. This verse, Deuteronomy 18:21, voices the natural and vital concern of the people: "How can we, the ordinary people, distinguish between a genuine message from the LORD and a deceptive one?"

Context

This verse is part of a larger section in Deuteronomy (chapters 12-26) detailing the laws and statutes for Israel as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. Specifically, Deuteronomy 18 focuses on the proper worship of God and the rejection of pagan practices common among the nations they would dispossess. The appointment of true prophets was essential for divine guidance, contrasting sharply with the occult practices of surrounding cultures. The question posed in verse 21 highlights the need for a practical, verifiable method of discernment, which God immediately provides in the subsequent verse, Deuteronomy 18:22.

Key Themes

  • Discerning Truth: The primary theme is the urgent need for God's people to accurately distinguish between divine revelation and human deception. This question reflects a deep concern for spiritual purity and obedience in the face of potential false prophets.
  • Authenticity of Prophecy: It underscores the gravity of prophetic ministry and the requirement for its divine origin. A word spoken in the Lord's name must genuinely originate from Him.
  • Protection from Deception: God, in His faithfulness, anticipates the people's practical need for a test to protect them from false prophets and harmful spiritual influence. This concern is echoed throughout Scripture, from the Old Testament to the New (Matthew 7:15, 1 John 4:1).

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "know" here is yada (יָדַע), which implies more than just intellectual understanding; it signifies an experiential knowledge, recognizing something through observation and verification. The "word" (dabar, דָּבָר) refers to a spoken message, a command, or a prophetic utterance. The people are asking for a tangible way to *experience* or *verify* the divine origin of the spoken word, not just intellectually grasp it.

Practical Application

The timeless principle embedded in Deuteronomy 18:21 remains highly relevant today for spiritual discernment. In an age of diverse spiritual claims, information overload, and various voices competing for attention, the need for discerning God's word is paramount. For believers, this means:

  • Testing All Claims: We are called to test all spiritual claims and teachings against the unchanging standard of God's revealed Word, the Bible (Acts 17:11). Just as ancient Israel needed to identify true prophets, believers today must carefully examine teachings.
  • Seeking Fulfillment and Alignment: While not all modern "prophecy" is predictive, the principle of its alignment with God's character and purposes, and its ultimate "coming to pass" in some form (whether literal fulfillment or alignment with divine truth), is crucial.
  • Relying on God's Word: The ultimate test of any teaching or claim is whether it aligns with what the Lord has already spoken in Scripture. If it contradicts or adds to it inappropriately, it is not from Him. The answer to the question posed in verse 21 is provided immediately in Deuteronomy 18:22: if the prophet's word does not come to pass, then the LORD has not spoken it.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) 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 — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 John 4:1 (6 votes)

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

  • 1 John 4:3 (6 votes)

    And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that [spirit] of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:24 (2 votes)

    Faithful [is] he that calleth you, who also will do [it].

  • Revelation 2:2 (2 votes)

    I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: