Deuteronomy 4 16

Deuteronomy 4:16 kjv

Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female,

Deuteronomy 4:16 nkjv

lest you act corruptly and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of any figure: the likeness of male or female,

Deuteronomy 4:16 niv

so that you do not become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol, an image of any shape, whether formed like a man or a woman,

Deuteronomy 4:16 esv

beware lest you act corruptly by making a carved image for yourselves, in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female,

Deuteronomy 4:16 nlt

So do not corrupt yourselves by making an idol in any form ? whether of a man or a woman,

Deuteronomy 4 verses

Deuteronomy 4 16 Meaning

Deuteronomy 4:16 prohibits the making of any sculpted or carved image for the purpose of worship, specifically detailing human figures, both male and female. This command serves to prevent spiritual corruption and idolatry, stemming from the foundational truth that God, being transcendent and invisible, cannot be confined or represented by anything made by human hands. It underscores the unique nature of Israel's relationship with a formless God who revealed Himself without any physical likeness.

Deuteronomy 4 16 Context

Deuteronomy Chapter 4 is a powerful exposition by Moses to the Israelites just before they enter the Promised Land. He reminds them of God's mighty acts, particularly the covenant made at Horeb (Mount Sinai). The preceding verses (Deut 4:9-15) recount God's self-revelation at Sinai, where He spoke directly from the fire, but there was "no form" or "likeness" seen. This radical, aniconic (formless) revelation of God forms the crucial backdrop for the prohibition in verse 16. The historical context is a people on the cusp of settling in Canaan, surrounded by cultures deeply embedded in polytheism and the worship of various deities through cult images (like Baal, Asherah). This command serves as a bulwark against the spiritual dangers and corrupting influences they were about to face.

Deuteronomy 4 16 Word analysis

• Lest you corrupt yourselves: The Hebrew term shāḥat (שָׁחַת) implies to mar, spoil, destroy, or deform, often with moral degradation. It signifies a profound moral and spiritual deterioration that results from making and worshipping idols. The action of making images is intrinsically seen as a corrupting force upon the worshipers and their relationship with God.
• And make for yourselves: The verb ‘āsāh (עָשָׂה) means 'to make' or 'to do'. The emphasis is on human initiation and creation, which is explicitly contrasted with God's unique act of creating and revealing Himself without human design or form.
• A carved image: The Hebrew word is pesel (פֶּסֶל), which refers to a carved or hewn image, typically made from wood or stone, but can also refer to molten images. It is the primary term for an idol or cultic image in the Old Testament, a representation of a deity or spirit that is fashioned by human hands. This directly counters the nature of God, who is uncreated and therefore cannot be fashioned.
• In the form of any figure: The word for 'form' or 'likeness' here is temunah (תְּמוּנָה). This term is highly significant as it directly references Deuteronomy 4:12 and 4:15, where Moses states that the Israelites "saw no form (temunah)" when God spoke to them from the fire at Sinai. The prohibition is not merely against any idol, but specifically against representing God with any temunah, because God revealed Himself precisely without one. This is a profound theological statement against limiting God to human conceptualizations.
• The likeness of male or female: This specification (tavnit zakhar o neqevah) clarifies that the prohibition includes images of human beings, male or female. This targets the common practice in surrounding cultures where deities were often anthropomorphic or represented in human forms. The inclusion signifies a complete rejection of any anthropomorphic representation of God, highlighting His divine transcendence above all created things.

Deuteronomy 4 16 Bonus section

The concept articulated in Deuteronomy 4:16 is often referred to as aniconism – the prohibition or avoidance of images of divine beings. This became a foundational characteristic of Israelite religion, differentiating it starkly from other religions of the ancient world. Later rabbinic Judaism developed this further into an avoidance of figurative representations in art. Early Christianity, inheriting much from its Jewish roots, also wrestled with and often applied this principle, particularly in distinguishing itself from Greco-Roman paganism where deity images were ubiquitous. While debates arose over the use of icons in some Christian traditions, the core understanding that God is Spirit and not to be equated with human-made objects remained a consistent theological thread derived from passages like Deut 4:16.

Deuteronomy 4 16 Commentary

Deuteronomy 4:16 stands as a pivotal safeguard for Israel's unique relationship with the unseen God. It is a fundamental declaration against all forms of idolatry, asserting God's transcendence and His refusal to be limited or depicted by human art or imagination. The verse emphasizes that making images is a self-corrupting act because it reduces the infinite Creator to a finite created object, thus distorting the true nature of God and the essence of worship. This command is a direct polemic against the polytheistic and idolatrous practices prevalent in the ancient Near East, where images were central to religious cults, embodying the very deities they represented. Israel's God, YHWH, cannot be contained within such a representation; He revealed Himself in a voice without a visual form (temunah), thus prohibiting any attempts to ascribe one to Him. This mandate ensured the purity of worship and the singular devotion of Israel to their unparalleled God, demanding trust in an unseen sovereign rather than reliance on tangible, man-made symbols. The enduring principle is that true worship honors God's uncreated and limitless nature, setting His people apart from those who serve lesser gods.