Comparative Theology · Prophetic Predictions
The Prophet Like Moses (Deuteronomy 18:18)
In short
- 1.The Hebrew says God will raise a prophet from among their brothers — a phrase used elsewhere for related peoples, not only Israel.
- 2.The prophet is like Moses (PBUH): a lawgiver, a leader, born normally and died normally — not a divine or crucified figure.
- 3.God says he will put his words in his mouth — revelation given word for word.
The claim being examined
The view that the promised prophet "like Moses" refers to Jesus (PBUH), who would be raised from among the Israelites.
The Islamic position
The description fits a prophet resembling Moses (PBUH) in lawgiving, marriage, natural birth and natural death, raised "from among their brethren" — the Ishmaelite line — which Muslims identify with Muhammad (SAW).
Analysis
The Hebrew phrase in Deuteronomy 18:18 is "mi-qerev acheihem" — from among their brothers. Elsewhere the Bible uses brotherhood language for related peoples outside Israel itself, as in Genesis 16:12 and Deuteronomy 2:4. That is why classical Muslim scholars read it as pointing outside the Israelite line. The real key is the phrase "like Moses". Moses (PBUH) brought a law, married, led a community and died a natural death. The Qur'an draws the same comparison openly in Surah 73:15: just as a messenger was sent to Pharaoh, a messenger has been sent to you. Jewish tradition never treated this verse as settled either. In John 1:21 priests ask John the Baptist whether he is the Messiah, or Elijah (PBUH), or "the Prophet" — three separate figures in their minds. So the expectation of a coming prophet distinct from the Messiah was alive at the time.
From the Qur'an
إِنَّآ أَرْسَلْنَآ إِلَيْكُمْ رَسُولًۭا شَـٰهِدًا عَلَيْكُمْ كَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَآ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ رَسُولًۭا
innā arsalnā ilaykum rasūlan shāhidan ʿalaykum kamā arsalnā ilā fir'ʿawna rasūlan
Indeed, We have sent to you a Messenger as a witness upon you, just as We sent to Pharaoh a messenger.
ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ ٱلرَّسُولَ ٱلنَّبِىَّ ٱلْأُمِّىَّ ٱلَّذِى يَجِدُونَهُۥ مَكْتُوبًا عِندَهُمْ فِى ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةِ وَٱلْإِنجِيلِ يَأْمُرُهُم بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَىٰهُمْ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ وَيُحِلُّ لَهُمُ ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتِ وَيُحَرِّمُ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْخَبَـٰٓئِثَ وَيَضَعُ عَنْهُمْ إِصْرَهُمْ وَٱلْأَغْلَـٰلَ ٱلَّتِى كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ فَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَعَزَّرُوهُ وَنَصَرُوهُ وَٱتَّبَعُوا۟ ٱلنُّورَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ مَعَهُۥٓ ۙ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ
alladhīna yattabiʿūna l-rasūla l-nabiya l-umiya alladhī yajidūnahu maktūban ʿindahum fī l-tawrāti wal-injīli yamuruhum bil-maʿrūfi wayanhāhum ʿani l-munkari wayuḥillu lahumu l-ṭayibāti wayuḥarrimu ʿalayhimu l-khabāitha wayaḍaʿu ʿanhum iṣ'rahum wal-aghlāla allatī kānat ʿalayhim fa-alladhīna āmanū bihi waʿazzarūhu wanaṣarūhu wa-ittabaʿū l-nūra alladhī unzila maʿahu ulāika humu l-muf'liḥūna
Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, whom they find written of with them in the Torah and the Gospel.
From the Bible
נָבִיא אָקִים לָהֶם מִקֶּרֶב אֲחֵיהֶם כָּמוֹךָ (navi aqim lahem mi-qerev acheihem kamokha)
I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth.
Read it in their Bibleὁ προφήτης εἶ σύ; (ho prophetes ei su?)
Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. — the Prophet is asked about as a figure distinct from the Messiah and Elijah.
Read it in their BibleSources
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