The LORD your GodThis phrase emphasizes the covenant relationship between God and the Israelites. It highlights God's sovereignty and His role as the divine authority over Israel. The use of "LORD" (YHWH) signifies the personal name of God, which is central to the identity and worship of the Israelites.
will raise up for you a prophet
This indicates God's active role in providing guidance and leadership for His people. The concept of a prophet in Israel was one who spoke on behalf of God, delivering His messages to the people. Prophets were often seen as intermediaries between God and man, providing divine insight and direction.
like me
Moses is speaking here, and he is the model for the coming prophet. Moses was unique among the prophets for his direct communication with God and his role in leading Israel out of Egypt. This sets a high standard for the future prophet, suggesting a leader with a similar level of authority and intimacy with God.
from among your brothers
This phrase indicates that the prophet will be an Israelite, one of their own people. It underscores the idea that God will raise up leaders from within the community, ensuring that they understand the culture, history, and needs of the people they are called to lead.
You must listen to him
This is a command, emphasizing the importance of heeding the words of the prophet. Listening implies obedience and respect for the authority of the prophet as God's spokesperson. This also foreshadows the coming of Jesus Christ, whom Christians believe is the ultimate fulfillment of this prophecy, as seen in the New Testament references such asActs 3:22-23 andJohn 5:46.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
MosesThe speaker of this verse, Moses is the leader of the Israelites and a prophet of God. He is delivering God's message to the people of Israel.
2.
The LORD (Yahweh)The covenant God of Israel, who promises to raise up a prophet for His people.
3.
The IsraelitesThe audience of Moses' message, they are the chosen people of God, journeying towards the Promised Land.
4.
The ProphetA future figure like Moses, who will be raised up by God to lead and guide the people.
5.
The Promised LandThe destination of the Israelites, representing God's promise and faithfulness.
Teaching Points
The Role of ProphetsProphets are God's chosen messengers, tasked with guiding His people and revealing His will. Understanding their role helps us appreciate the continuity of God's plan through history.
Jesus as the FulfillmentRecognizing Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment of this prophecy strengthens our faith in God's promises and the unity of Scripture.
Listening to God's VoiceThe command to "listen to him" emphasizes the importance of heeding God's word, as revealed through His prophets and ultimately through Jesus.
God's FaithfulnessThis prophecy demonstrates God's faithfulness to His people, providing guidance and leadership throughout generations.
The Importance of ObedienceThe call to listen and obey God's chosen prophet underscores the necessity of obedience in our relationship with God.
Lists and Questions
Top 10 Lessons from Deuteronomy 18
Does Deuteronomy 18:15-18 contradict other prophecies in the Hebrew Scriptures claiming their own supreme prophetic authority?
Is Jesus the ultimate Prophet, Priest, and King?
Who is the prophet like Moses God will raise?
If Deuteronomy 18:15 refers to a “prophet like Moses,” why did subsequent prophets have different messages and methods?Deuteronomy 18:15-20.
THE ONE MEDIATOR.The connection between these verses and the preceding is well illustrated by Isaiah's question (Deuteronomy 8:19): "And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?" Or, as the angels turned the phrase on Easter morning, "Why seek ye Him that liveth among the dead?"
(15)The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet.--Namely, Him of whom St. Peter spoke inActs 3:22-26. "Unto you first God, having raised up His son Jesus, sent Him to bless you." It must not be forgotten that the prophetic office is still continued to our risen Lord. He still "speaketh from heaven." But He "descended first into the lower parts of the earth." He has "the keys of hell and of death;" and knows all their secrets. They who can draw near to Him have no need to look downward, to consult dead relatives, or seek knowledge from spirits whose character, even iftheyare accessible, is beyond our discernment. The Holy Spirit, our Comforter and Advocate on earth, and the Prophet, our Advocate that speaketh from heaven, are enough for all human need. What we cannot learn from them, or from the light they give us, it is better not to know.
(16)According to all that thou desiredst . . . in Horeb.--It should never be forgotten that the Prophet like to Moses was promised on "the day of the assembly." The Holy Spirit, who is Christ in us, was promised on the day of the delivery of the "letter that killeth." (See also onDeuteronomy 5:28.)
(18)He shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.--"The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself" (our Lord, inJohn 14:10). "He shall not speak of Himself. He shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you" (the Holy Spirit,John 16:13-14). . . .
Verses 15-22. - There should be no need for Israel to turn to heathen soothsayers, or diviners, or such like, because from amongst themselves, of their own brethren, would God raise up prophets like unto Moses, who, as occasion required, would reveal to them what God willed them to know.
Verse 15. -
A Prophet. The Hebrew word so rendered (
נָבִיא) is a derivative from a verb (
נָבָא), which signifies to tell, to announce; hence the primary concept of the word is that of announcer, or forth-speaker; and to this the word "prophet" (Greek
προφήτης from
πρόφημι, I speak before or in place of) closely corresponds; the prophet is one who speaks in the place of God, who conveys God's word to men, who is an interpreter of God to men. (
As illustrative of the meaning of the word, cf.
Exodus 7:1;
Exodus 4:16.) Hence Abraham is called a prophet (
Genesis 20:7), and the term is applied to the patriarchs generally (
Psalm 105:15); God conveyed his mind to them, and they spoke it forth to others (cf.
Amos 3:7).
Like unto me. When the people heard the voice of God speaking to them at Sinai, and from the midst of the fire uttering to them the Ten Words, they were struck with terror, and besought that they might not again hear that awful voice, but that Moses might act as mediator between God and them - might hear what God should
say, and speak it unto them (
Deuteronomy 5:22-27). Moses thus became God's prophet to the people; and of this he reminds them here, as well as of the circumstances amid which he entered specially on this office (cf. vers. 16, 17). The phrase, "
like unto
me," does not necessarily imply that the prophet who was to come after Moses was to be in every respect the same as he; all that is indicated is that he would act as Moses had acted as a mediator between God and the people in the way of conveying his will to them.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
The LORDיְהוָ֣ה(Yah·weh)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068:LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israelyour Godאֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ(’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā)Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 430:gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlativewill raise upיָקִ֥ים(yā·qîm)Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6965:To arise, stand up, standfor you a prophetנָבִ֨יא(nā·ḇî)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5030:A spokesman, speaker, prophetlike meכָּמֹ֔נִי(kā·mō·nî)Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 3644:Like, as, whenfrom amongמִקִּרְבְּךָ֤(miq·qir·bə·ḵā)Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 7130:The nearest part, the centeryour own brothers.מֵאַחֶ֙יךָ֙(mê·’a·ḥe·ḵā)Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 251:A brother, )You must listenתִּשְׁמָעֽוּן׃(tiš·mā·‘ūn)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nun
Strong's 8085:To hear intelligentlyto him.אֵלָ֖יו(’ê·lāw)Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 413:Near, with, among, to
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OT Law: Deuteronomy 18:15 Yahweh your God will raise up (Deut. De Du) 
