The Meaning of Deuteronomy 18:21 Explained

Deuteronomy 18:21

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

YLT: And when thou sayest in thy heart, How do we know the word which Jehovah hath not spoken? --

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

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Deuteronomy 18:21 Mean?

Context Summary

Deuteronomy 18:1-22 - The Prophet Who Was To Come
Those that serve the altar may live by the altar. Let us not forget the needs of those who serve us in holy things. It is a blessed thing when an individual desires "the place that the Lord chooses." Let us be true to the inner prompting, at whatever cost. We shall be fully repaid. When Peter loaned his boat Jesus returned it, filled with fish!
We are to be "perfect with the Lord"-i.e., we are not knowingly to permit things that hurt or grieve His Holy Spirit. If the question should arise, how we are to know God's way, we must take our question to the true Prophet. See Acts 3:22; Acts 7:37. He can answer our hard question; but we are strictly forbidden to go to crystal-gazers, palmists, fortune-tellers, and those who profess to read the future. How serious is their fault who refuse Him! Compare Deuteronomy 18:19 with Hebrews 10:28-29. Let thy Urim and Thummim be with the Holy One! 1 Samuel 23:11-12; 1 Samuel 30:7-8. [source]

Chapter Summary: Deuteronomy 18

1  The LORD is the priests and Levites' inheritance
3  The priests' due
6  The Levites' portion
9  The abominations of the nations are to be avoided
15  Christ the Prophet is to be heard
20  The presumptuous prophet is to die

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 18:21 mean?

And if you say in your heart how shall we know - the word which not has spoken Yahweh
וְכִ֥י תֹאמַ֖ר בִּלְבָבֶ֑ךָ אֵיכָה֙ נֵדַ֣ע אֶת־ הַדָּבָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־ דִבְּר֖וֹ ؟ יְהוָֽה

וְכִ֥י  And  if 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
תֹאמַ֖ר  you  say 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
בִּלְבָבֶ֑ךָ  in  your  heart 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: לֵבָב  
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, understanding.
אֵיכָה֙  how 
Parse: Interjection
Root: אֵיךְ 
Sense: how? interj.
נֵדַ֣ע  shall  we  know 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common plural
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַדָּבָ֔ר  the  word 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
דִבְּר֖וֹ  has  spoken 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
؟ יְהוָֽה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.

What are the major concepts related to Deuteronomy 18:21?

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