Deuteronomy 4:16

16 that you do not sin by making for yourselves an idol in any form at all - whether man or woman, 1

Deuteronomy 4:16 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 4:16

Lest ye corrupt yourselves
And not themselves only, but the word and worship of God, by idolatry, than which nothing is more corrupting and defiling, nor more abominable to God:

and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure;
a graven image, in the likeness of any figure, an idea of which they had formed in their minds;

the likeness of male or female;
of a man or a woman; so some of the Heathen deities were in the likeness of men, as Jupiter, Mars, Hercules, Apollo and others in the likeness of women, as Juno, Diana, Venus Some think Osiris and Isis, Egyptian deities, the one male, the other female, are respected; but it is not certain that these were worshipped by them so early.

Deuteronomy 4:16 In-Context

14 The Lord told me to teach you all the laws that you are to obey in the land that you are about to invade and occupy.
15 "When the Lord spoke to you from the fire on Mount Sinai, you did not see any form. For your own good, then, make certain
16 that you do not sin by making for yourselves an idol in any form at all - whether man or woman,
17 animal or bird,
18 reptile or fish.

Cross References 1

  • 1. 4.16Exodus 20.4;Leviticus 26.1;Deuteronomy 5.8; 27.15.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.