Deuteronomy 5:8 kjv
Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth:
Deuteronomy 5:8 nkjv
'You shall not make for yourself a carved image?any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;
Deuteronomy 5:8 niv
"You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
Deuteronomy 5:8 esv
"'You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
Deuteronomy 5:8 nlt
"You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind, or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea.
Deuteronomy 5 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 20:4 | You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything… | Direct parallel, the original command. |
| Lev 26:1 | You shall not make idols for yourselves or set up a carved image… | Reiterates the prohibition against idols. |
| Deut 4:15-19 | Take careful heed, then, for yourselves… lest you act corruptly by making a carved image… of any form. | Expounds on why no image: God was not seen. |
| Deut 4:23-24 | Be careful lest you forget the covenant of the Lord your God… and make a carved image… for yourselves. For the Lord your God is a consuming fire… | Warning against image-making as covenant breach and God's jealousy. |
| Deut 7:25-26 | The carved images of their gods you shall burn with fire… | Command to destroy idols of other nations. |
| Deut 27:15 | Cursed be anyone who makes a carved image or a metal image, an abomination to the Lord… | Cursing associated with idol creation. |
| Isa 40:18 | To whom then will you liken God, or what likeness compare with Him? | Emphasizes God's incomparability. |
| Isa 42:8 | I am the Lord; that is My Name; My glory I give to no other, nor My praise to carved idols. | God's unique glory not shared with images. |
| Isa 44:9-20 | All who fashion idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not profit… | Satire and futility of idolatry. |
| Psa 115:4-8 | Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands… Those who make them become like them… | The powerlessness of idols and the spiritual degradation of worshippers. |
| Hab 2:18-19 | What profit is an idol when its maker has shaped it…? Has molded a teacher of lies…? | Denounces the vanity and deceit of idols. |
| Jer 10:1-16 | Do not learn the way of the nations… For the customs of the peoples are delusion… a carved image is useless. | Critique of gentile idol worship. |
| Hos 13:2-3 | They make for themselves metal images, idols… saying, 'Those who sacrifice men are to kiss calves!' | Connects idol worship to other abhorrent practices. |
| Acts 17:29 | Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. | New Testament reinforces against material representations of God. |
| Rom 1:22-23 | Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. | Gentiles' error in worshipping creation instead of Creator. |
| 1 Cor 10:14 | Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. | Direct New Testament admonition against idolatry. |
| 1 Cor 10:19-20 | What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything…? No, but that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons… | Idolatry linked to demonic activity. |
| 2 Cor 6:16 | What agreement has the temple of God with idols? | Separation of God's people from idolatry. |
| Col 3:5 | Put to death therefore what is earthly in you… covetousness, which is idolatry. | Broadens "idolatry" to include earthly affections that supplant God. |
| 1 Jn 5:21 | Little children, keep yourselves from idols. | Final New Testament warning against idols. |
| Rev 9:20 | The rest of mankind… did not repent of the works of their hands, nor give up worshipping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze… | Persistent idolatry condemned in end times. |
| Rev 21:8 | But as for the cowardly, the faithless… and idolaters, all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns… | Idolaters face severe judgment. |
Deuteronomy 5 verses
Deuteronomy 5 8 Meaning
Deuteronomy 5:8 is a foundational command prohibiting the creation of physical representations of the Divine, or indeed of any part of creation, for the purpose of worship. It establishes God's unique nature as invisible and incomparable, distinct from the created order and any pagan deity. This verse highlights a strict monotheism, where the Lord cannot be confined to or depicted by human-made forms, protecting the integrity of worship and the worshipper's relationship with a transcendent God.
Deuteronomy 5 8 Context
Deuteronomy chapter 5 presents Moses reiterating the Ten Commandments to the Israelites gathered in Moab, on the cusp of entering the Promised Land. This restatement is delivered decades after the original covenant at Mount Horeb (Sinai). The first generation had largely perished in the wilderness, and this new generation needed to internalize the Law, not just inherit it. The historical context includes constant exposure to polytheistic Canaanite and Egyptian religions, where various gods were represented by idols, often tied to specific natural forces or animal forms. This re-enactment of the covenant highlights its enduring validity and provides a strong reminder of Israel's unique relationship with a singular, non-physical God, fundamentally different from the surrounding pagan cultures and their tangible deities.
Deuteronomy 5 8 Word analysis
- You shall not make: This is a direct, emphatic, negative imperative. It prohibits a specific action. The Hebrew verb used is 'asah (עָשָׂה), meaning "to make" or "to do." The prohibition is absolute.
- for yourself: The phrase "for yourself" (לְךָ, lekha) emphasizes the personal responsibility and the direct address to each Israelite. It suggests the motivation behind image-making is often self-serving, seeking to control or manipulate the divine, or to have a tangible object of devotion.
- a carved image: The Hebrew word pesel (פֶּסֶל) refers to a graven or carved image, typically one cut from wood or stone, or cast from metal, intended for worship. It implies something that is shaped by human hands. This directly counters the pagan practice of representing deities with physical forms.
- or any likeness: The term temunah (תְּמוּנָה) broadens the scope. It means "form," "shape," "figure," or "likeness." This covers not only "carved images" but any kind of visual representation or portrayal, even if not specifically for cultic purposes initially. This inclusion prevents evasion by making subtle distinctions.
- of anything: The word "anything" (kol) reinforces the comprehensive nature of the prohibition, leaving no category exempt from the command.
- that is in heaven above: This refers to celestial bodies like the sun, moon, stars, as well as birds and any supposed heavenly beings. This specifically addresses astral worship prevalent in the ancient Near East and prohibits making images of avian deities or heavenly hosts.
- or that is on the earth beneath: This covers all terrestrial life – animals, plants, and even humans. This prevents zoomorphic or anthropomorphic idolatry, a common feature in Egyptian (e.g., animal-headed gods) and Canaanite religions.
- or that is in the water under the earth: This refers to all aquatic life, whether fish, sea monsters, or creatures in underground springs and wells. This is aimed at deities associated with the underworld or watery realms, common in polytheistic cosmologies.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "You shall not make for yourself": This phrase emphasizes divine authority and the personal responsibility of each Israelite to maintain the exclusive worship of the unseen God. It’s not just a societal law but a covenant requirement for individual allegiance.
- "a carved image, or any likeness": This broad definition covers both specific cultic statues (pesel) and any general representation (temunah). The goal is to eliminate any visual aid that could attempt to capture or confine God, or distract from His true nature as invisible and spiritual.
- "of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth": This tripartite structure, covering all creation, demonstrates the comprehensive rejection of animistic and polytheistic practices where deities were identified with or represented by various created elements. It underscores that God is Creator and Master over all creation, not merely one aspect of it, and cannot be limited to any part of it. This establishes God as uniquely transcendent and separate from His creation.
Deuteronomy 5 8 Bonus section
The prohibition against images served to highlight the profound spiritual and moral distinction between Yahweh and the gods of the surrounding nations. While other peoples aimed to represent their gods physically to manipulate them or draw power from them, Israel was forbidden this because their God was inherently uncontainable, unknowable in essence, and free. This commanded invisibility fostered a religion centered on hearing and obedience to God’s word (as opposed to seeing images) and prevented the syncretism that often led to moral decay in pagan societies. The emphasis is not on a ban of art in general but specifically on religious images for worship that divert from God's spiritual nature. This distinction is crucial; God values creativity (Exod 31:1-6 for Bezalel), but His unique being precludes physical representation for cultic adoration.
Deuteronomy 5 8 Commentary
Deuteronomy 5:8 is the second of the Ten Commandments, a cornerstone of monotheistic worship. It forbids creating any visual representation of God because the Divine nature transcends human capacity for depiction and because God's glory is not to be shared. Unlike the pagan deities that were tangible, limited, and often tied to specific natural forces, Israel's God is invisible, omnipresent, and sovereign over all creation. Making an image of God limits Him, trivializes His majesty, and invites idolatry—not only worshipping a false god but also forming a false understanding of the true God. The command also prohibits worshipping creation itself, preventing the deification of animals, heavenly bodies, or anything else in the natural world, common among Israel's neighbors. Ultimately, this commandment safeguards pure worship, directing the worshipper's devotion away from material objects and towards the living, unseen, and incomparable Lord, thereby ensuring true communion based on faith rather than sight or physical manifestation.