Deuteronomy 13

If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you, and he gives you a sign or a wonder,

and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, “Let’s go after other gods” (which you have not known) “and let’s serve them,”

you shall not listen to the words of that prophet, or to that dreamer of dreams; for the LORD your God is testing you, to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

You shall walk after the LORD your God, fear him, keep his commandments, and obey his voice. You shall serve him, and cling to him.

That prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death, because he has spoken rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to draw you aside out of the way which the LORD your God commanded you to walk in. So you shall remove the evil from among you.

If your brother, the son of your mother, or your son, or your daughter, or the wife of your bosom, or your friend who is as your own soul, entices you secretly, saying, “Let’s go and serve other gods”—which you have not known, you, nor your fathers;

of the gods of the peoples who are around you, near to you, or far off from you, from the one end of the earth even to the other end of the earth—

you shall not consent to him nor listen to him; neither shall your eye pity him, neither shall you spare, neither shall you conceal him;

but you shall surely kill him. Your hand shall be first on him to put him to death, and afterwards the hands of all the people.

You shall stone him to death with stones, because he has sought to draw you away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

All Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall not do any more wickedness like this among you.

If you hear about one of your cities, which the LORD your God gives you to dwell there, that

certain wicked fellows have gone out from among you and have drawn away the inhabitants of their city, saying, “Let’s go and serve other gods,” which you have not known,

then you shall inquire, investigate, and ask diligently. Behold, if it is true, and the thing certain, that such abomination was done among you,

you shall surely strike the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, with all that is therein and its livestock, with the edge of the sword.

You shall gather all its plunder into the middle of its street, and shall burn with fire the city, with all of its plunder, to the LORD your God. It shall be a heap forever. It shall not be built again.

Nothing of the devoted thing shall cling to your hand, that the LORD may turn from the fierceness of his anger and show you mercy, and have compassion on you and multiply you, as he has sworn to your fathers,

when you listen to the LORD your God’s voice, to keep all his commandments which I command you today, to do that which is right in the LORD your God’s eyes.

Chapter overviewAI-generated

Overview.
This chapter addresses the threat of spiritual seduction from within the covenant community—whether through a false prophet, a close personal relationship, or an entire city turning to idolatry—and establishes God’s standard for responding with decisive judgment to preserve the holiness and loyalty of His people.

Flow.

Begins with a hypothetical scenario in which a prophet or dreamer performs a true sign but calls Israel to follow other gods, instructing the people to reject such a figure regardless of miraculous validation.
Moves to a more personal threat: intimate relationships (family or close friends) who secretly entice someone to idolatry, requiring not only refusal but active participation in their execution.
Extends the application to an entire city that has turned to idolatry, mandating thorough investigation, complete destruction of its inhabitants and property, and permanent abandonment of the site as a solemn testimony.
Concludes with the spiritual rationale: obedience in these matters invites God’s mercy, compassion, and covenant faithfulness to Abraham.

Connections.
Following chapter 12, which emphasizes exclusive worship at the place the Lord chooses and the need to avoid Canaanite practices, chapter 13 reinforces the necessity of purity in worship and loyalty to God alone, even when tested by miraculous signs or personal ties. It anticipates chapter 14’s expansion on Israel’s identity as a holy people, set apart by God, by showing what must be done when that holiness is threatened from within. The severity of chapter 13 underscores the spiritual danger of internal corruption, preparing the reader for further laws that safeguard the covenant community’s integrity.

What it teaches.
True worship is defined not by signs or intimacy but by adherence to the self-revealing God of the Exodus and His revealed word (WCF 1.8; HC LD 9). Loyalty to the Lord must surpass even the closest human relationships, as covenant fidelity reflects the exclusive claim of the One who redeemed Israel (WCF 20.1; BC Art. 12). The requirement to execute false prophets and idolatrous kin illustrates the seriousness of drawing others away from the Lord (Deut. 13:5, 10), a principle rooted in God’s jealousy for His people (WCF 7.6; HC LD 34). The destruction of an apostate city serves as a corporate judgment protecting the nation's sanctity, reflecting God’s demand for holiness across generations (WCF 19.5).

Apply.
Remain faithful to God’s word even when tested by convincing falsehoods or loved ones who oppose His ways.

AI-generated. Not a substitute for Scripture, your pastor, or the confessions.