Deu 18:20-22 | NET2full | STEP | “ But if any prophet presumes to speak anything in my name that I have not authorized him to speak , or speaks in the name of other gods , that prophet must die .

‏ Deuteronomy 18:20-22

20 “But if any prophet presumes to speak anything in my name that I have not authorized ^{▼▼tn Or “commanded” (so KJV, NAB, NIV, NRSV).} him to speak, or speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet must die. 21 Now if you say to yourselves, ^{▼▼tn Heb “in your heart.”} ‘How can we tell that a message is not from the Lord?’ ^{▼▼tn Heb “know the word which the Lord has not spoken.” The issue here is not understanding the meaning of the message, but distinguishing a genuine prophetic word from a false one.} — 22 whenever a prophet speaks in my ^{▼▼tn Heb “the Lord’s.” See note on the word “his” in v. 5.} name and the prediction ^{▼▼tn Heb “the word,” but a predictive word is in view here. Cf. NAB “his oracle.”} is not fulfilled, ^{▼▼tn Heb “does not happen or come to pass.”} then I have ^{▼▼tn Heb “the Lord has.” See note on the word “his” in v. 5.} not spoken it; ^{▼▼tn Heb “that is the word which the Lord has not spoken.”} the prophet has presumed to speak it, so you need not fear him.”