The big picture
Deuteronomy 18 opens in verse 1 with “The priests the Levites, and all the tribe of Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 11 with “Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.”, and closes in verse 22 with “When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD , if the thing follow not, nor come to…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, name, prophet, brethren, inheritance. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Deuteronomy · King James Version · 22Deuteronomy 18:1-8
1–8: The priests the Levites, and all the tribe of Levi, shall have no part…
Deuteronomy 18:1–8 opens with “The priests the Levites, and all the tribe of Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance with…” and reaches “They shall have like portions to eat, beside that which cometh of the sale of his patrimony.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Deuteronomy 18 develops its own movement around LORD, name, prophet, brethren, inheritance, with particular weight carried by LORD, inheritance, brethren.
Context that brings the passage to life
“The priests the Levites, and all the tribe of Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel: they shall eat the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And this shall be the priest’s due from the people, from them that offer a sacrifice, whether it be ox or sheep; and…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“For 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…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
Deuteronomy 18:1-8
King James Version1The 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.
2Therefore shall they have no inheritance among their brethren: the LORD is their inheritance, as he hath said unto them.
3And 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.
4The 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.
5For 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.
6And 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;
7Then he shall minister in the name of the LORD his God, as all his brethren the Levites do, which stand there before the LORD .
8They shall have like portions to eat, beside that which cometh of the sale of his patrimony.
Deuteronomy 18:9-16
9–16: When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee…
Deuteronomy 18:9–16 opens with “When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do…” and reaches “According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Deuteronomy 18 develops its own movement around LORD, name, prophet, brethren, inheritance, with particular weight carried by LORD, abominations, fire.
Context that brings the passage to life
“When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.
“Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.” The line’s distinctive content terms include charmer, consulter, familiar. Its relationship to verses 10 and 12 shows what work it does in this passage.
“Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Deuteronomy 18:9-16
King James Version9When 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.
10There 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,
11Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
12For 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.
13Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.
14For 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.
15The 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;
16According 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.
Deuteronomy 18:17-22
17–22: The LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have…
Deuteronomy 18:17–22 opens with “And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken.” and reaches “When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD , if the thing follow not, nor come to pass…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Deuteronomy 18 develops its own movement around LORD, name, prophet, brethren, inheritance, with particular weight carried by prophet, LORD, name.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken.” The line’s distinctive content terms include LORD, well. Its relationship to verses 18 shows what work it does in this passage.
“I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Deuteronomy 18:17-22
King James Version17And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken.
18I 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.
19And 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.
20But 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.
21And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?
22When 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.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Deuteronomy 18:1 begins with “The 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…”
Where the chapter turns
Deuteronomy 18:7 forms a natural hinge: “Then he shall minister in the name of the LORD his God, as all his brethren the Levites do, which stand there before the LORD .”
The final note
Deuteronomy 18:22 leaves the reader with “When 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…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, name, prophet, brethren, inheritance, fire help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What responsibility accompanies Abraham's election?
Verse 19 connects his household's calling with keeping the Lord's way through justice and judgment.
What is the moral center of his intercession?
That righteous and wicked should not be treated indiscriminately.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.