Deuteronomy 4 28

Deuteronomy 4:28 kjv

And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.

Deuteronomy 4:28 nkjv

And there you will serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell.

Deuteronomy 4:28 niv

There you will worship man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell.

Deuteronomy 4:28 esv

And there you will serve gods of wood and stone, the work of human hands, that neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.

Deuteronomy 4:28 nlt

There, in a foreign land, you will worship idols made from wood and stone ? gods that neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell.

Deuteronomy 4 verses

Deuteronomy 4 28 Meaning

Deuteronomy 4:28 warns the Israelites of the severe consequences of disobedience, specifically idolatry. It foretells that if they abandon the Lord, they will be scattered among the nations as captives. There, in exile, they will be forced or compelled by circumstances to serve lifeless idols – gods fashioned by human hands from wood and stone. The verse emphasizes the utter impotence and inertness of these false gods, highlighting that they are inanimate objects incapable of sensing, sustaining themselves, or interacting with the world in any way. This contrasts sharply with the living God who hears, sees, and acts.

Deuteronomy 4 28 Context

Deuteronomy 4 serves as a profound sermon delivered by Moses on the plains of Moab to the new generation of Israelites, before they enter the Promised Land. The preceding verses (Deut 4:1-8) are a fervent appeal for obedience to God's laws, emphasizing that Israel's adherence to the covenant will distinguish them as a wise and discerning nation among the peoples. Verses 9-24 recall the solemn assembly at Horeb (Mount Sinai), where God spoke directly, demonstrating His unique power and forbidding the creation of any carved image for worship. This sets the stage for the specific warning in verses 25-31: if, after inhabiting the land and multiplying, they degenerate into idolatry, they will face scattering and exile among the very nations whose practices they imitate. Verse 28 explicitly details the futility of the "gods" they would serve in such a dire circumstance. Historically, this prophecy accurately foretold the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles that Israel and Judah would suffer centuries later due to their repeated idolatry.

Deuteronomy 4 28 Word analysis

• There (שָׁם, sham): Refers to the lands of exile, the places among the nations where Israel would be scattered if they forsook the Lord. This location is outside the Promised Land, a place where their idolatry would ironically become a forced reality or a desperate measure in hardship.
• you will serve (תַּעַבְדּוּן, ta'avdun): The root 'avad (עָבַד) means "to serve," "work," or "worship." In this context, it carries the strong implication of forced servitude or worship due to their subjugated status as captives, rather than willing devotion. It is a grim reversal of their intended service to the true God.
• gods (אֱלֹהִים, elohim): While this term can refer to the one true God, here it clearly denotes false gods, deities of the pagan nations, reflecting their futility as explicitly stated in the subsequent descriptions.
• the handiwork of men (מַעֲשֵׂה יְדֵי, ma'aseh yedei): "Ma'aseh" means work or product; "yedei" (from 'yad') means hands. This phrase powerfully underscores that these "gods" are entirely human creations, without inherent divinity or power. This is a foundational polemic against idolatry throughout the Bible.
• gods of wood (עֵץ, etz) and stone (אֶבֶן, even): These are the primary materials used for idols in the ancient Near East. Their natural origin highlights their lack of life, as they are inanimate objects reshaped by human design.
• which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell: This extensive and repetitive negation of basic sensory and biological functions serves as a potent rhetorical device.
  • see (יִרְאוּ, yir'u): Emphasizes their inability to perceive worshippers or their pleas.
  • hear (יִשְׁמָעוּ, yishme'u): Highlights their failure to respond to prayers or cries.
  • eat (יֹאכְלוּ, yokhelu): Points to their inanimate nature; unlike living beings, they require no sustenance.
  • smell (יְרִיחוּן, yerikhun): Further accentuates their utter lack of sensory awareness or life force. This starkly contrasts with the living God, who sees, hears, and acts on behalf of His people.

Deuteronomy 4 28 Bonus section

This verse embodies a core tenet of Deuteronomic theology: the direct link between obedience (especially in avoiding idolatry) and covenant blessing, and disobedience and covenant curses, specifically exile. The prophecy of serving "gods... the handiwork of men" also served a dual purpose: it was a chilling warning for Israel not to stray, and it subtly revealed God's sovereignty even over their future failings. Their time in exile, though punishment, eventually helped purge the nation of overt idol worship, setting the stage for their post-exilic focus on Torah and the one true God. From a New Testament perspective, this also serves as a spiritual allegory, warning against making idols out of anything less than the living God—be it wealth, power, or personal achievements, which are also "handiworks of men" that ultimately offer no life or salvation.

Deuteronomy 4 28 Commentary

Deuteronomy 4:28 is a prophetic warning of profound theological depth. It reveals God's perfect foreknowledge of Israel's future disobedience and its painful consequences. Moses vividly paints a picture of ultimate humiliation and spiritual barrenness: the chosen people, scattered in exile, serving deities demonstrably inferior to the Creator God. The meticulous description of idols' inabilities is a cutting critique and a profound lesson: God desires worship from an understanding heart, recognizing His unique and incomparable living nature over dead, man-made objects. The warning underscores that abandoning the source of true life and power inevitably leads to bondage and futile worship, emphasizing God's jealous love and His desire for an exclusive relationship based on truth and vitality, not human fabrication.