Deuteronomy 18:21
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
And if you say in your heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?
American King James Version (AKJV)
And if you say in your heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?
American Standard Version (ASV)
And if thou say in thy heart, How shall we know the word which Jehovah hath not spoken?
Basic English Translation (BBE)
And if you say in your hearts, How are we to be certain that the word does not come from the Lord?
Webster's Revision
And if thou shalt say in thy heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?
World English Bible
If you say in your heart, "How shall we know the word which Yahweh has not spoken?"
English Revised Version (ERV)
And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?
Barnes's Deuteronomy 18:21 Bible Commentary
And if thou say in thine heart, How ... - The passage evidently assumes such an occasion for consulting the prophet as was usual among the pagan, e. g., an impending battle or other such crisis (compare 1 Kings 22:11), in which his veracity would soon be put to the test. Failure of a prediction is set forth as a sure note of its being "presumptuous." But from Deuteronomy 13:2 ff we see that the fulfillment of a prediction would not decisively accredit him who uttered it: for the prophet or dreamer of dreams who endeavoured on the strength of miracles to seduce to idolatry was to be rejected and punished. Nothing therefore contrary to the revealed truth of God was to be accepted under any circumstances.