And thou shalt stone him with stones, that he die; because he hath sought to thrust thee away from the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

DEUTERONOMY 13:10KJV
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Deuteronomy 13:10 (KJV)

What does Deuteronomy 13:10 mean?

Deuteronomy 13:10 commands the Israelites to execute by stoning anyone who tries to turn them away from following the LORD their God, as a response to the seriousness of leading others into worshiping other gods. The verse explains that this punishment is because the person tried to lead Israel away from the God who rescued them from slavery in Egypt.

Moses is speaking to the people of Israel, giving them laws before they enter the Promised Land. The context is about protecting the community from being led astray by false prophets or even close family members who encourage worship of other gods. The verse stresses the importance of loyalty to the LORD (Yahweh), who delivered them from bondage, and the need to deal decisively with threats to that relationship.

The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 13:10

  • "stone" (רָגַם, ragam) and "stones" (אֶבֶן, eben): The use of these words shows the specific method of execution, which was a communal act involving the whole community, not a private or individual punishment.
  • "die" (מוּת, muth): This word makes clear that the intended outcome is death, underlining the seriousness of the offense.
  • "sought" (בָּקַשׁ, baqash) and "away" (נָדַח, nadach): These words together indicate an active effort to persuade or entice someone to leave their faithfulness to the LORD, not just a casual suggestion.
  • "LORD" (יְהוָה, Yahweh) and "God" (אֱלֹהִים, Elohim): These names emphasize that the command is about remaining faithful to the specific God who brought Israel out of Egypt, not just any deity.

Why Deuteronomy 13:10 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the law was meant to protect the entire community from spiritual danger, not just to punish individuals.
  • The emphasis on the LORD as the one who brought Israel out of Egypt highlights the relationship between God and Israel as a rescued people, making turning away from Him a betrayal of that rescue.
  • Understanding the communal aspect of stoning helps explain the seriousness with which ancient Israel treated the threat of idolatry and the shared responsibility to uphold their covenant with God.