The Meaning of Deuteronomy 13:1 Explained

Deuteronomy 13:1

KJV: If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,

YLT: 'When there ariseth in your midst a prophet, or a dreamer of a dream, and he hath given unto thee a sign or wonder,

Darby: If there arise among you a prophet, or one that dreameth dreams, and he give thee a sign or a wonder,

ASV: If there arise in the midst of thee a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and he give thee a sign or a wonder,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

If there arise  among  you a prophet,  or a dreamer  of dreams,  and giveth  thee a sign  or a wonder, 

What does Deuteronomy 13:1 Mean?

Context Summary

Deuteronomy 13:1-18 - Cut Out The Plague Spot
How to exterminate sources of disease is a main question with the modern world; but the stamping-out of possible sources of temptation must not less energetically be pursued by each religious soul. The prophet, the beloved associate, the community, that endeavored to turn Israel aside from God, might have no mercy shown. There was no room for those liberal views, in vogue today, that smile on the greatest divergencies of belief, if only their advocates are sincere.
For ourselves the lesson is clear enough. We must dissociate ourselves from companionships, however affectionate, which exert a deleterious effect on our characters, and draw us away from God. There is only one alternative-that we should overcome evil with good and lift them to our own ideals. If that be impossible, our course is clear. Our eye must not pity, nor our hand spare. And Jesus left no other alternative. See Mark 9:42-43. [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 13:1 mean?

If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams and he gives you a sign a wonder
כִּֽי־ יָק֤וּם בְּקִרְבְּךָ֙ נָבִ֔יא א֖וֹ חֹלֵ֣ם חֲל֑וֹם וְנָתַ֥ן אֵלֶ֛יךָ א֖וֹת מוֹפֵֽת

יָק֤וּם  there  arises 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קוּם 
Sense: to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up.
בְּקִרְבְּךָ֙  among  you 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: קֶרֶב  
Sense: midst, among, inner part, middle.
נָבִ֔יא  a  prophet 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: נָבִיא  
Sense: spokesman, speaker, prophet.
חֹלֵ֣ם  a  dreamer 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular construct
Root: חָלַם 
Sense: to dream.
חֲל֑וֹם  of  dreams 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֲלֹום  
Sense: dream.
וְנָתַ֥ן  and  he  gives 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
א֖וֹת  a  sign 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: אֹות  
Sense: sign, signal.
מוֹפֵֽת  a  wonder 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹופֵת  
Sense: wonder, sign, miracle, portent.