Shoftim 18:20 · unit 2

TT #187 · Parashas Shoftim · Fifth Aliyah · Passuk 18:20

The Complete Passuk

אַ֣ךְ הַנָּבִ֡יא אֲשֶׁ֣ר יָזִיד֩ לְדַבֵּ֨ר דָּבָ֜ר בִּשְׁמִ֗י אֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹֽא־צִוִּיתִיו֙ לְדַבֵּ֔ר וַאֲשֶׁ֣ר יְדַבֵּ֔ר בְּשֵׁ֖ם אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֑ים וּמֵ֖ת הַנָּבִ֥יא הַהֽוּא׃

But the prophet who will presume to speak a word in My name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who will speak in the name of other gods – that prophet shall die.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Sanhedrin 89a.

TT lemma: וַאֲשֶׁר יְדַבֵּר בְּשֵׁם אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים.

Sefaria — Sanhedrin 89a

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
וַאֲשֶׁר יְדַבֵּר בְּשֵׁם אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים – אֲפִלּוּ כִּוֵּן אֶת הַהֲלָכָה.

English: ‘Or who will speak in the name of other gods’ – even if he stated the halakhah correctly.

On the daf / in context: Speaking in the name of other gods is capital regardless of the content’s accuracy.

Type of Learning

Derash on the severity of foreign prophecy (Bavli) — the crime is the attribution, not only the content.

What Is Learned

One who prophesies in the name of other gods is liable even if the substance of what he said happens to be correct.