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Hebrew Text
וְהַנָּבִיא הַהוּא אוֹ חֹלֵם הַחֲלוֹם הַהוּא יוּמָת כִּי דִבֶּר־סָרָה עַל־יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם הַמּוֹצִיא אֶתְכֶם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם וְהַפֹּדְךָ מִבֵּית עֲבָדִים לְהַדִּיחֲךָ מִן־הַדֶּרֶךְ אֲשֶׁר צִוְּךָ יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ לָלֶכֶת בָּהּ וּבִעַרְתָּ הָרָע מִקִּרְבֶּךָ׃
English Translation
And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he has spoken to turn you away from the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Miżrayim and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the Lord thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.
Transliteration
Vehanavi hahu o cholem hachalom hahu yumat ki diber-sara al-Adonai Eloheichem hamotzi etchem me'eretz Mitzrayim vehapodecha mibeit avadim lehadichacha min-haderech asher tzivcha Adonai Eloheicha lalechet bah uviarta hara mikirbecha.
Hebrew Leining Text
וְהַנָּבִ֣יא הַה֡וּא א֣וֹ חֹלֵם֩ הַחֲל֨וֹם הַה֜וּא יוּמָ֗ת כִּ֣י דִבֶּר־סָ֠רָ֠ה עַל־יְהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֜ם הַמּוֹצִ֥יא אֶתְכֶ֣ם ׀ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֗יִם וְהַפֹּֽדְךָ֙ מִבֵּ֣ית עֲבָדִ֔ים לְהַדִּֽיחֲךָ֙ מִן־הַדֶּ֔רֶךְ אֲשֶׁ֧ר צִוְּךָ֛ יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ לָלֶ֣כֶת בָּ֑הּ וּבִֽעַרְתָּ֥ הָרָ֖ע מִקִּרְבֶּֽךָ׃ {ס}
Parasha Commentary
📚 Talmud Citations
This verse is quoted in the Talmud.
📖 Sanhedrin 90a
The verse is discussed in the context of laws regarding false prophets and those who lead others astray.
📖 Sanhedrin 11a
Referenced in discussions about the severity of leading the community away from God's commandments.
Context and Overview
This verse (Devarim 13:6) addresses the severe prohibition against false prophets or dreamers who attempt to lead the Jewish people astray from the Torah and the commandments of Hashem. The Torah emphasizes the gravity of this transgression by prescribing the death penalty for such individuals. The verse underscores the foundational principle of loyalty to Hashem, who redeemed Bnei Yisrael from Mitzrayim (Egypt) and established a covenant with them.
Rashi's Commentary
Rashi (Devarim 13:6) explains that the phrase "כי דבר סרה על ה' אלקיכם" ("because he has spoken to turn you away from the Lord your God") refers to a false prophet who seeks to uproot a fundamental mitzvah of the Torah. Such a person is considered a מסית ומדיח (one who incites and leads others astray), a capital offense. Rashi further notes that the mention of the Exodus from Egypt serves as a reminder of Hashem's authority and the obligation to follow His commandments exclusively.
Rambam's Legal Perspective
In Hilchot Avodah Zarah (5:1-2), the Rambam (Maimonides) elaborates on the laws concerning false prophets. He states that a person who claims prophecy in Hashem's name but advocates for idolatry—or even for the nullification of a single mitzvah—is subject to the death penalty by strangulation (חנק). The Rambam emphasizes that this applies even if the false prophet performs signs and wonders, as the Torah explicitly warns against being swayed by such displays if they contradict divine law.
Midrashic Insights
The Midrash (Sifrei Devarim 85) connects this verse to the broader theme of השגחה פרטית (divine providence). By recalling the Exodus, the Torah reminds Bnei Yisrael that Hashem's miracles and guidance are incontrovertible evidence of His sovereignty. A false prophet who denies this relationship commits a direct rebellion against Hashem's authority.
Key Themes and Lessons
Practical Implications
While the judicial system for trying false prophets is not operative today, the underlying principle remains relevant: Jews must vigilantly safeguard their faith against ideologies or leaders who seek to distort the Torah's teachings. The verse calls for בירור הרע מקרבך ("removing the evil from your midst"), which Chazal interpret as a communal responsibility to uphold spiritual integrity.