Deh'vah'reem (Deuteronomy) 18

   Directorate of Scriptural Interpretation and Restoration
מִשְׂרַד הַפֵּרוּשׁ וְהַשְׁחָזָה הַכְּתוּבִים

Agency type	Tanakh Interpretation & Contextual Authority
Jurisdiction	United Kingdom of Yisra'eyl
Established	Present Generation
Primary language	Ivrit Yisre'eleet (Restored Biblical Hebrew)
Functions	Accurate translation of Tanakh Restoration of original grammar and meaning Exposing misinterpretations and mistranslations Education and guidance in proper scriptural study
Oversight	Royal Government of The United kingdom of Yisra’eyl

Deuteronomy 18:15–18: The Prophet Like Mosheh

Hebrew Text and Literal Translation

Deuteronomy 18:15
יֶהֱוֶה אֱלֹהֶיךָ יָקִים לְךָ נָבִיא מִקִּרְבְּךָ מֵאַחֶיךָ כָּמוֹנִי אֵלָיו תִּשְׁמָעוּן׃
"He Who Is your Gods will raise up for you a prophet from your midst, from your brothers, like me; to him you shall listen." [Deut 18:15, Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia]

Deuteronomy 18:18
נָבִיא אָקִים לָהֶם מִקֶּרֶב אֲחֵיהֶם כָּמוֹךָ...
"I will raise up for them a prophet from among their brothers like you..." [Deut 18:18, Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia]

True Context and Meaning

• The passage is part of Mosheh's final instructions to Yisra’eyl, promising that יֶהֱוֶה He Who Is will not leave the people without prophetic guidance after Mosheh’s death. [Deut 31:7-8, 31:23]
• The prophet promised will be “from your midst, from your brothers,” indicating someone from within the Yisra’eylite community, not an outsider or foreign figure. [Deut 17:15]
• “Like me” means a prophet who, like Mosheh, serves as a covenant mediator, lawgiver, and leader appointed by יֶהֱוֶה He Who Is, speaking only the words commanded by יֶהֱוֶה He Who Is. [Deut 13:1-5]
• The use of **לָהֶם (lahem, “for them” plural)** in verse 18, along with the subsequent test for prophets in verses 20–22, implies the promise includes multiple prophets over time, not a single one-time figure.
• This is historically fulfilled first by Yehoshua ben Nun, Mosheh’s appointed successor, who led the people according to Torah and under divine commission. [Deut 34:9; Num 27:18-23]

The Spirit of Mosheh Upon Yehoshua Ben Nun

• In Deuteronomy 34:9, it is recorded that Yehoshua Ben Nun was "filled with the spirit of wisdom" because Mosheh laid hands on him, confirming a direct spiritual and leadership transfer. [Deut 34:9]
• Numbers 27:18–23 also shows יֶהֱוֶה He Who Is appointing Yehoshua Ben Nun as leader over the people, further affirming this fulfillment. [Num 27:18-23]
• This indicates that the “prophet like me” promise was first and foremost fulfilled by Yehoshua Ben Nun, who led the nation with the same divine authority as Mosheh.
• The prophetic spirit continued through a line of prophets within Yisra’eyl, not through a distant singular figure. [1 Sam 3; Isa 6; Jer 1]

Appropriation and disinformational interpretation of the Greco-Roman scriptures

• The teachings attributed to Jesus in Christian texts often contradict Torah law, whereas Deuteronomy 13 forbids accepting a prophet who tries to change the covenant commands. [Deut 13:1-5]
• The passage emphasizes a prophet speaking exactly what יֶהֱוֶה He Who Is commands, not one who introduces new laws or abolishes Torah commandments which is a direct violation of

deu 4:2.

• The grammatical and contextual elements of the passage show it refers to ongoing prophetic leadership within the covenant community, not a one-time messianic figure.

Summary

Deuteronomy 18:15–18 promises that יֶהֱוֶה He Who Is will raise up prophets "like Mosheh" from among the brothers of Yisra’eyl to lead and instruct the people according to the covenant. The immediate and primary fulfillment is Yehoshua ben Nun, empowered by the spirit of Mosheh, with the promise extending to a succession of prophets rather than a single, distant messiah. Christian claims that this passage refers to Jesus Christ are inconsistent with the Hebrew grammar, historical context, and covenantal expectations set forth in the Tanakh.

References

• Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (BHS), German Bible Society, 1997.
• The Hebrew Bible: A Translation with Commentary by Robert Alter, 2018.
• The Jewish Study Bible, Oxford University Press, 2004.
• Brown, Francis, Driver, S.R., Briggs, C.A., "The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon," 1906.
• Waltke, Bruce K., "A Commentary on Deuteronomy," 2001.
• Kitchen, K.A., "Ancient Orient and Old Testament," 1966.
• McConville, J.G., "Deuteronomy," Apollos Old Testament Commentary, 2002.