A Prophet Like Moses

Deuteronomy 18

Moses describes the portion due to the priests and Levites from the people's offerings, forbids the divination, sorcery, and omen-reading practiced by the surrounding nations, and delivers the Lord's promise to raise up a prophet from among Israel's own brethren like Moses, whose words the people must heed.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonTHE priests, the Levites, even the whole tribe of Levi, shall have no portion, nor lot, with Israel. The homage offerings of the Lord are their lot. Them they shall eat,

BrentonThe priests, the Levites, even the whole tribe of Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel; the burnt-offerings of the Lord are their inheritance, they shall eat them.

GreekΟὐκ ἔσται τοῖς ἱερεῦσι τοῖς Λευίταις ὅλῃ φυλῇ Λευὶ μερὶς οὐδὲ κλῆρος μετὰ Ἰσραήλ· καρπώματα Κυρίου ὁ κλῆρος αὐτῶν, φάγονται αὐτά.

KJVThe priests the Levites, and all the tribe of Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel: they shall eat the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and his inheritance.

JPSThe priests the Levites, even all the tribe of Levi, shall have no portion nor inheritance with Israel; they shall eat the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and His inheritance.

Thomsonand they shall not have a lot of inheritance among their brethren. The Lord Himself is their lot of inheritance, as He hath said to them.

BrentonAnd they shall have no inheritance among their brethren; the Lord himself is his portion, as he said to him.

GreekΚλῆρος δὲ οὐκ ἔσται αὐτοῖς ἐν τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς αὐτῶν· Κύριος αὐτὸς κλῆρος αὐτοῦ, καθότι εἶπεν αὐτῷ.

KJVTherefore shall they have no inheritance among their brethren: the LORD is their inheritance, as he hath said unto them.

JPSAnd they shall have no inheritance among their brethren; the LORD is their inheritance, as He hath spoken unto them.

ThomsonNow this shall be the priest’s due from the people—from them who offer sacrifices, whether a young bull, or a sheep, thou shalt give to the priest the shoulder, and the cheeks, and the maw.

BrentonAnd this is the due of the priests in the things coming from the people from those who offer sacrifices, whether it be a calf or a sheep; and thou shalt give the shoulder to the priest, and the cheeks, and the great intestine:

GreekΚαὶ αὕτη ἡ κρίσις τῶν ἱερέων τὰ παρὰ τοῦ λαοῦ παρὰ τῶν θυόντων τὰ θύματα, ἐάν τε μόσχον, ἐάν τε πρόβατον· καὶ δώσεις τὸν βραχίονα τῷ ἱερεῖ, καὶ τὰ σιαγόνια, καὶ τὸ ἔνυστρον,

KJVAnd this shall be the priest’s due from the people, from them that offer a sacrifice, whether it be ox or sheep; and they shall give unto the priest the shoulder, and the two cheeks, and the maw.

JPSAnd this shall be the priests’due from the people, from them that offer a sacrifice, whether it be ox or sheep, that they shall give unto the priest the shoulder, and the two cheeks, and the maw.

ThomsonThou shalt also give him the dedications of thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, and the dedications of the fleeces of thy flock.

Brentonand the first-fruits of thy corn, and of thy wine, and of thine oil; and thou shalt give to him the first-fruits of the fleeces of thy sheep:

Greekκαὶ τὰς ἀπαρχὰς τοῦ σίτου σου, καὶ τοῦ οἴνου σου, καὶ τοῦ ἐλαίου σου· καὶ τὴν ἀπαρχὴν τῶν κουρῶν τῶν προβάτων σου δώσεις αὐτῷ.

KJVThe firstfruit also of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the first of the fleece of thy sheep, shalt thou give him.

JPSThe first-fruits of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the first of the fleece of thy sheep, shalt thou give him.

ThomsonBecause the Lord hath chosen him, out of all thy tribes, to stand before the Lord God, to minister and to bless, in his name; therefore with regard to him and his sons,

Brentonbecause the Lord has chosen him out of all thy tribes, to stand before the Lord thy God, to minister and bless in his name, himself and his sons among the children of Israel.

GreekὍτι αὐτὸν ἐξελέξατο Κύριος ἐκ πασῶν τῶν φυλῶν σου, παρεστάναι ἔναντι Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ, λειτουργεῖν καὶ εὐλογεῖν ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ, αὐτὸς καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ ἐν τοῖς υἱοῖς Ἰσραήλ.

KJVFor the LORD thy God hath chosen him out of all thy tribes, to stand to minister in the name of the LORD, him and his sons for ever.

JPSFor the LORD thy God hath chosen him out of all thy tribes, to stand to minister in the name of the LORD, him and his sons for ever.

Thomsonamong the children of Israel, if, out of any one of all these cities of the children of Israel where he dwelleth, a Levite cometh, with all the desire of his soul, to the place which the Lord hath chosen,

BrentonAnd if a Levite come from one of the cities of all the children of Israel, where he himself dwells, accordingly as his mind desires, to the place which he shall have chosen,

GreekἘὰν δὲ παραγένηται ὁ Λευίτης ἐκ μιᾶς τῶν πόλεων ἐκ πάντων τῶν υἱῶν Ἰσραὴλ, οὗ αὐτὸς παροικεῖ, καθʼ ὅτι ἐπιθυμεῖ ἡ ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ, εἰς τὸν τόπον ὃν ἂν ἐκλέξηται,

KJVAnd if a Levite come from any of thy gates out of all Israel, where he sojourned, and come with all the desire of his mind unto the place which the LORD shall choose;

JPSAnd if a Levite come from any of thy gates out of all Israel, where he sojourneth, and come with all the desire of his soul unto the place which the LORD shall choose;

Thomsonthat he may minister to the name of the Lord his God, as all his brethren the Levites do, who attend there before the Lord thy God,

Brentonhe shall minister to the name of the Lord his God, as all his brethren the Levites, who stand there present before the Lord thy God.

Greekλειτουργήσει τῷ ὀνόματι Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ αὐτοῦ, ὥσπερ πάντες οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτοῦ οἱ Λευῖται οἱ παρεστηκότες ἐκεῖ ἐναντίον Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ σου.

KJVThen he shall minister in the name of the LORD his God, as all his brethren the Levites do, which stand there before the LORD.

JPSthen he shall minister in the name of the LORD his God, as all his brethren the Levites do, who stand there before the LORD.

Thomsonhe shall eat the allotted portion, over and above what may come from the sale of his patrimony.

BrentonHe shall eat an allotted portion, besides the sale of his hereditary property.

GreekΜερίδα μεμερισμένην φάγεται, πλὴν τῆς πράσεως τῆς κατὰ πατριάν.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonWhen thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.

BrentonAnd when thou shalt have entered into the land which the Lord thy God gives thee, thou shalt not learn to do according to the abominations of those nations.

GreekἘὰν δὲ εἰσέλθῃς εἰς τὴν γῆν ἣν Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου δίδωσί σοι, οὐ μαθήσῃ ποιεῖν κατὰ τὰ βδελύγματα τῶν ἐθνῶν ἐκείνων.

KJVWhen thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.

JPSWhen thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.

ThomsonLet there not be found among you any one who purifieth his son, or his daughter, with fire; or who practiseth divinations, or consulteth omens, or augury,

BrentonThere shall not be found in thee one who purges his son or his daughter with fire, one who uses divination, who deals with omens, and augury,

GreekΟὐχ εὑρεθήσεται ἐν σοὶ περικαθαίρων τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ τὴν θυγατέρα αὐτοῦ ἐν πυρὶ, μαντευόμενος μαντείαν, κληδονιζόμενος, καὶ οἰωνιζόμενος, φαρμακοῖς

KJVThere shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch.

JPSThere shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one that useth divination, a soothsayer, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer,

Thomson—

Brentona sorcerer employing incantation, one who has in him a divining spirit, an observer of signs, questioning the dead.

Greekἐπαείδων ἐπαοιδὴν, ἐγγαστρίμυθος, καὶ τερατοσκόπος, ἐπερωτῶν τοὺς νεκρούς.

KJV—

JPS—

Thomsonfor every one who practiseth such things is an abomination to the Lord thy God; for, because of these abominations, the Lord will root them out from before you.

BrentonFor every one that does these things is an abomination to the Lord thy God; for because of these abominations the Lord will destroy them from before thy face.

GreekἜστι γὰρ βδέλυγμα Κυρίῳ τῷ Θεῷ σου πᾶς ποιῶν ταῦτα· ἕνεκεν γὰρ τῶν βδελυγμάτων τούτων Κύριος ἐξολοθρεύσει αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ προσώπου σου.

KJVFor all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

JPSFor whosoever doeth these things is an abomination unto the LORD; and because of these abominations the LORD thy God is driving them out from before thee.

ThomsonThou shalt be complete in the sight of the Lord thy God.

BrentonThou shalt be perfect before the Lord thy God.

GreekΤέλειος ἔσῃ ἐναντίον Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ σου.

KJVThou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.

JPSThou shalt be whole-hearted with the LORD thy God.

ThomsonFor these nations which thou art about to possess will hearken to enchanters and diviners; but the Lord thy God hath not permitted thee to do so.

BrentonFor all these nations whose land thou shalt inherit, they will listen to omens and divinations; but the Lord thy God has not permitted thee so to do.

GreekΤὰ γὰρ ἔθνη ταῦτα, οὓς σὺ κατακληρονομεῖς αὐτοὺς, οὗτοι κληδόνων καὶ μαντειῶν ἀκούσονται· καί σοι οὐχ οὕτως ἔδωκε Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου.

KJVFor these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.

JPSFor these nations, that thou art to dispossess, hearken unto soothsayers, and unto diviners; but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.

ThomsonThe Lord thy God will raise up for thee, from among thy brethren, a prophet like me; to him you shall hearken.

BrentonThe Lord thy God shall raise up to thee a prophet of thy brethren, like me; him shall ye hear:

GreekΠροφήτην ἐκ τῶν ἀδελφῶν σου, ὡς ἐμὲ, ἀναστήσει σοι Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου· αὐτοῦ ἀκούσεσθε·

KJVThe LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;

JPSA prophet will the LORD thy God raise up unto thee, from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;

ThomsonAccording to all that thou didst request of the Lord thy God at Choreb, in the day of the solemn assembly, when you said, Let us no more hear the voice of the Lord thy God, and let us no more behold this great fire, lest we die,

Brentonaccording to all things which thou didst desire of the Lord thy God in Choreb in the day of the assembly, saying, We will not again hear the voice of the Lord thy God, and we will not any more see this great fire, and so we shall not die.

GreekΚατὰ πάντα ὅσα ᾐτήσω παρὰ Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ σου ἐν Χωρὴβ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῆς ἐκκλησίας, λέγοντες, οὐ προσθήσομεν ἀκοῦσαι τὴν φωνὴν Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ σου, καὶ τὸ πῦρ τοῦτο τὸ μὲγα οὐκ ὀψόμεθα ἔτι, οὐδὲ μὴ ἀποθάνωμεν.

KJVAccording to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not.

JPSaccording to all that thou didst desire of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying: ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not.’

Thomsonthe Lord then said to me, They have spoken right in all that they have said to thee:

BrentonAnd the Lord said to me, They have spoken rightly all that they have said to thee.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς μὲ, ὀρθῶς πάντα ὅσα ἐλάλησαν πρὸς σέ.

KJVAnd the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken.

JPSAnd the LORD said unto me: ‘They have well said that which they have spoken.

ThomsonI will raise up for them, from among their brethren, a prophet like thee, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he will speak to them as I command him:

BrentonI will raise up to them a prophet of their brethren, like thee; and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them as I shall command him.

GreekΠροφήτην ἀναστήσω αὐτοῖς ἐκ τῶν ἀδελφῶν αὐτῶν, ὥσπερ σέ· καὶ δώσω τὰ ῥήματα ἐν τῷ στόματι αὐτοῦ, καὶ λαλήσει αὐτοῖς καθʼ ὅτι ἂν ἐντείλωμαι αὐτῷ.

KJVI will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.

JPSI will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee; and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.

Thomsonand whosoever will not hearken to what that prophet shall speak in My name, I will execute vengeance on him.

BrentonAnd whatever man shall not hearken to whatsoever words that prophet shall speak in my name, I will take vengeance on him.

GreekΚαὶ ὁ ἄνθρωπος ὃς ἐὰν μὴ ἀκούσῃ ὅσα ἂν λαλήσῃ ὁ προφήτης ἐκεῖνος ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματί μου, ἐγὼ ἐκδικήσω ἐξ αὐτοῦ.

KJVAnd it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.

JPSAnd it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto My words which he shall speak in My name, I will require it of him.

ThomsonBut the prophet who shall wickedly presume to speak a word in My name which I have not commanded him to speak, or who shall speak in the name of other gods, that prophet shall be put to death.

BrentonBut the prophet whosoever shall impiously speak in my name a word which I have not commanded him to speak, and whosoever shall speak in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.

GreekΠλὴν ὁ προφήτης ὃς ἂν ἀσεβήσῃ λαλῆσαι ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματί μου ῥῆμα ὃ οὐ προσέταξα λαλῆσαι, καὶ ὃς ἂν λαλήσῃ ἐν ὀνόματι θεῶν ἑτέρων, ἀποθανεῖται ὁ προφήτης ἐκεῖνος.

KJVBut the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.

JPSBut the prophet, that shall speak a word presumptuously in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’

ThomsonNow if thou shalt say in thy heart, How shall I know the word which the Lord hath not spoken?

BrentonBut if thou shalt say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?

GreekἘὰν δὲ εἴπῃς ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου, πῶς γνωσόμεθα τὸ ῥῆμα ὃ οὐκ ἐλάλησε Κύριος;

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

JPSAnd if thou say in thy heart: ‘How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?’

ThomsonWhen the things which that prophet hath spoken in the name of the Lord shall not happen, nor come to pass, the Lord hath not spoken that word. The prophet hath spoken wickedly. You shall not spare him.

BrentonWhatsoever words that prophet shall speak in the name of the Lord, and they shall not come true, and not come to pass, this is the thing which the Lord has not spoken; that prophet has spoken wickedly: ye shall not spare him.

GreekὍσα ἐὰν λαλήσῃ ὁ προφήτης ἐκεῖνος τῷ ὀνόματι Κυρίου, καὶ μὴ γένηται, καὶ μὴ συμβῇ, τοῦτο τὸ ῥῆμα ὃ οὐκ ἐλάλησε Κύριος, ἐν ἀσεβείᾳ ἐλάλησεν ὁ προφήτης ἐκεῖνος· οὐκ ἀφέξεσθε αὐτοῦ.

KJVWhen a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

JPSWhen a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken; the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously, thou shalt not be afraid of him.