Exodus 20:4 kjv

Thou shalt not make unto 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 water under the earth.

Exodus 20:4 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;

Exodus 20:4 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.

Exodus 20:4 esv

"You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or 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.

Exodus 20:4 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.

Exodus 20 verses

Exodus 20 4 Meaning

Exodus 20:4 prohibits the making of physical representations for the purpose of worship, whether these images are intended to depict God or any other deity. This command guards God’s unique nature as an invisible, transcendent Spirit, preventing human attempts to reduce, define, or control Him through tangible objects. It protects against syncretism by forbidding the adoption of pagan worship practices and ensures that worship remains spiritual, directed towards the true God as He is revealed, not as human imagination might conceive Him.

Exodus 20 4 Context

Exodus 20:4 is the second commandment delivered by God to Moses on Mount Sinai, following the initial thunder and lightning that symbolized God's holy presence. It immediately follows the First Commandment, "You shall have no other gods before Me" (Exod 20:3). While the First Commandment establishes the singular object of worship (YHWH alone), the Second Commandment elaborates by prohibiting specific methods of worship—namely, the making of physical images. This command was given to a people just freed from Egypt, a highly polytheistic society where deities were frequently represented by carved and molten images, and where animal worship was prevalent. It was also given as Israel prepared to enter Canaan, another land steeped in idol worship. Therefore, this commandment directly challenges the common religious practices of the surrounding cultures and set Israel apart as a nation whose God could not be confined to or manipulated by human-made forms.

Exodus 20 4 Word analysis

• You shall not make for yourself: A direct, emphatic negative command. The phrase "for yourself" (לֹא-תַעֲשֶׂה-לְךָ, lo-ta'aseh lekha) emphasizes a personal prohibition against the individual's desire or intention to create an object for worship or to misrepresent God. It signifies a self-driven act that deviates from true worship.
• a carved image: Hebrew: פֶסֶל (pesel). This refers specifically to something sculpted or hewn, typically from wood or stone, often overlaid with precious metals. It denotes a tangible, artificial object made by human hands to represent a deity.
• or any likeness: Hebrew: וְכָל-תְּמוּנָה (vekol-t'munah). The conjunction "or" (vekal) connects this broad term to "carved image," significantly expanding the scope of the prohibition. T'munah means "form," "image," or "resemblance." This covers any visual representation, whether carved, painted, drawn, or even conceptualized visually in a physical medium. It broadens the ban beyond just idols of the nations to any attempt to visualize or embody the unseen God.
• of anything that is in heaven above: Refers to celestial bodies like the sun, moon, and stars, often worshipped as deities (e.g., in Assyrian and Babylonian religions), or flying creatures like birds, or mythical beings often depicted in ancient iconography as residing in the heavens. This negates astral worship or attempts to depict sky gods.
• or that is in the earth beneath: Pertains to terrestrial animals (e.g., Egyptian animal cults), humans, or specific earthly features that might be venerated. This covers land-based forms of idol worship.
• or that is in the water under the earth: Refers to marine life, fish, or mythological creatures of the deep. This third category completes a comprehensive cosmic sweep, prohibiting any representation drawn from any part of God's created order – heaven, land, or sea – for worship. The combined phrases underscore that God cannot be depicted by any aspect of His creation.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "a carved image, or any likeness": This phrase captures both the concrete, tangible idol (pesel) and any broader visual representation (t'munah). It leaves no room for artistic expression of divine forms for worship, whether rudimentary or highly sophisticated. This distinction prevents legalistic loopholes that might argue certain images were not "carved" but painted or cast.
• "anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth": This tripartite formula constitutes a holistic and exhaustive list covering the entire created universe. It stresses that no part of creation, in any of its realms, can serve as a suitable image or analogy for God. This emphasizes God's transcendence over and distinctness from His creation.

Exodus 20 4 Bonus section

The Second Commandment's emphasis on God's invisibility highlights a foundational difference between Israel's faith and other ancient religions. God's lack of form emphasizes His omnipresence and omnipotence; He is not confined to a statue or location. This divine self-description prepares for a personal, spiritual relationship where God is experienced through His Word and Spirit, rather than through sensory experience of an object. The Incarnation of Jesus Christ, as the "image of the invisible God" (Col 1:15), is understood by Christians not as a violation but as the ultimate self-revelation of God, unique because God Himself became human, not that humanity created an image of God. This shifts the focus from man-made images of God to God's self-revelation in man, culminating in worship directed toward Christ, who truly represents the Father without human intervention.

Exodus 20 4 Commentary

The second commandment forbids the visual representation of the divine for purposes of worship, applying to both false gods and the true God. Its core purpose is to protect the singular and ineffable nature of God, who is Spirit and transcends all physical form. Creating an image reduces God to a manipulable object, a human construct that can be controlled or contained. This inevitably distorts His character, diminishes true worship, and fosters reliance on human works rather than God’s power. It challenges the prevailing pagan practices of the ancient world where deities were regularly materialized in statues, offering a stark contrast to Israel's worship of an unseen, incomparable God. This commandment requires a spiritual worship based on revelation and faith, not sight. Examples include ancient pagan temples filled with idols versus the portable Ark of the Covenant, which represented God's presence but was not an image of God Himself. In a practical sense today, it serves as a warning against any reduction of God to something comprehensible by human senses or controlled by human efforts, reminding us to worship God in spirit and truth, revering His uncontainable glory.