Deuteronomy 7 25

Deuteronomy 7:25 kjv

The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the LORD thy God.

Deuteronomy 7:25 nkjv

You shall burn the carved images of their gods with fire; you shall not covet the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it for yourselves, lest you be snared by it; for it is an abomination to the LORD your God.

Deuteronomy 7:25 niv

The images of their gods you are to burn in the fire. Do not covet the silver and gold on them, and do not take it for yourselves, or you will be ensnared by it, for it is detestable to the LORD your God.

Deuteronomy 7:25 esv

The carved images of their gods you shall burn with fire. You shall not covet the silver or the gold that is on them or take it for yourselves, lest you be ensnared by it, for it is an abomination to the LORD your God.

Deuteronomy 7:25 nlt

"You must burn their idols in fire, and you must not covet the silver or gold that covers them. You must not take it or it will become a trap to you, for it is detestable to the LORD your God.

Deuteronomy 7 verses

Deuteronomy 7 25 Meaning

Deuteronomy 7:25 commands Israel to utterly destroy the pagan idols by burning them. It specifically prohibits coveting or taking the valuable silver and gold adorning these idols, warning that such action would become a dangerous spiritual snare, as it is an detestable thing to the LORD God. The verse underscores God's absolute opposition to idolatry and any compromise with it.

Deuteronomy 7 25 Context

Deuteronomy 7 is a pivotal chapter outlining Israel's required conduct upon entering the Promised Land. Following Moses' reiteration of God's covenant loyalty and choosing of Israel, the chapter provides specific commands for their separation from the Canaanite nations. God emphasizes that Israel's smallness was not a factor in His choice, but His steadfast love and oath. Consequently, they were to make no covenant with the inhabitants, engage in no intermarriage, and, crucially, utterly destroy their religious symbols and objects. This thorough destruction of idols, including their valuable ornamentation, was a polemic against the pervasive syncretism and polytheism of the Ancient Near East, ensuring Israel's unique allegiance to the one true God and preventing spiritual contamination. The destruction was not just practical; it was a spiritual declaration against any competing deities.

Deuteronomy 7 25 Word analysis

• graven images (פְּסִילִים - pesilim):

  • Signifies idols, carved or sculptured images used in pagan worship.
  • Often implies a carved image from wood or stone, then perhaps overlaid with metal.
  • Highlights the man-made, artificial nature of pagan gods, contrasting them with the living God.

• burn (תִּשְׂרְפ֖וּן - tish'refun):

  • "Burn up," "consume with fire."
  • Signifies complete destruction, purification by fire.
  • Symbolizes God's fierce abhorrence for idolatry, reducing them to ashes, eliminating any remnant.

• desire (לֹֽא־תַחְמֹ֖ד - lo' tachmod):

  • "You shall not covet," "lust after."
  • The same verb as the tenth commandment in Exo 20:17, demonstrating the seriousness.
  • It points to an internal state of greed, a craving for material gain over spiritual obedience.
  • Warns against internal defilement before any physical act of taking.

• silver or gold (כֶּ֣סֶף וְזָהָ֔ב - kesef v'zahav):

  • Refers to the precious metals often used to adorn or even construct idols.
  • These metals represented significant wealth in the ancient world.
  • The command denies Israel a common benefit of conquest (taking valuable spoils from religious sites).
  • Emphasizes the absolute rejection of idolatry's influence, even its seemingly benign material benefits.

• snared (תִּוָּקֵ֤שׁ - tivakesh):

  • "Be ensnared," "trapped," "caught in a net."
  • Suggests a deceptive trap, appearing attractive but leading to ruin.
  • The "snare" here is spiritual contamination and judgment from God, as seen in Josh 7 with Achan.
  • Illustrates that disobedience to God's clear commands, driven by covetousness, inevitably leads to detrimental consequences.

• abomination (תּוֹעֲבַ֖ת - to'evat):

  • "Detestable thing," "loathsome thing," "moral outrage."
  • A strong term in the Old Testament, frequently used for practices God utterly rejects (e.g., idolatry, child sacrifice, sexual perversions).
  • It's not just that the idol is an abomination, but the act of taking its adornment also becomes one, because it's rooted in a compromise with evil.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "The graven images of their gods ye shall burn with fire": Direct, forceful command for physical destruction, expressing the ultimate contempt for rival deities and their symbols.
  • "thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee": Expands the command from physical destruction to internal disposition and action. It addresses the motivation behind taking the valuable metals, linking covetousness directly to the act of seizure. This reveals God's concern with the heart as much as the deed.
  • "lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the LORD thy God": Explains the rationale. The consequence is not merely earthly misfortune, but spiritual entrapment, ultimately leading to God's strong displeasure. The "snare" points to the insidious way material gain from paganism could draw Israel into idol worship or displease God, signifying the depth of God's hatred for idolatry and all related to it.

Deuteronomy 7 25 Bonus section

The emphasis on not coveting the silver and gold reveals God's awareness of the human heart's vulnerability to material temptation, especially when that temptation arises from forbidden sources. It demonstrates a holistic command, addressing both the physical object and the internal desire, reflecting the same depth of concern as seen in the Ten Commandments. The gold and silver of idols are called out specifically because they were precious, valuable. This makes the renunciation of them a clear sign of faith and devotion to God, proving that Israel valued their covenant relationship over worldly riches, even when those riches seemed "free for the taking." The danger of the snare lies in its subtle nature: it could seem like harmless spoils of war, yet it possessed spiritual poison, eventually drawing individuals away from complete devotion to God and leading to consequences for the entire community.

Deuteronomy 7 25 Commentary

Deuteronomy 7:25 articulates God's demand for total purity from Israel, specifically in their relationship with the idolatry of the Canaanite nations. The instruction to burn the "graven images" with fire signifies complete eradication, leaving no trace. This goes beyond mere destruction; it implies ritual cleansing and utter devaluation. Critically, Israel is forbidden not only to worship these idols but also to profit from their destruction by coveting or taking the silver and gold that adorned them. This prohibition highlights that spiritual danger does not only lie in overt acts of worship but also in subtle compromises motivated by greed. To take the metals, even from a destroyed idol, would be to partake of a "devoted thing" (similar to a herem object), contaminating themselves and becoming ensnared. This snare represents the spiritual allure and subtle influence that even inanimate objects, once connected to false worship, could have. God labels such an act an "abomination," emphasizing its deep offense to His holy nature. This principle stresses that true devotion to God requires not just outwardly rejecting false gods but inwardly detesting anything associated with them, prioritizing holiness over material gain.