If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers;
If your brother, your own son or daughter, your beloved wife, or your closest friend secretly tries to convince you by saying, 'Let's go worship other gods'—gods that neither you nor your ancestors have known—
This verse warns that even our closest family members and dearest friends might try to lead us away from God, and we need to be prepared for such temptation.
📚 Historical Context
Moses spoke these words to the Israelites as they prepared to enter the Promised Land, where they would encounter many pagan religions and false gods. The Israelites had just spent 40 years in the wilderness learning to worship the one true God, and Moses knew they would face strong pressure to abandon their faith. This warning addressed the most difficult scenario—when those we love most try to lead us astray.
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