Deuteronomy 4:18

18 a small animal that scurries along the ground, or a fish in the deepest sea.

Deuteronomy 4:18 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 4:18

The likeness of anything that creepeth on the ground
As serpents by many; and indeed that creature is introduced into almost all the idolatries of the Heathens, which seems to take its rise from the serpent Satan made use of to deceive our first parents:

the likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth;
as the crocodile and hippopotamus, or river horse, by the Egyptians; and Dagon and Derceto, supposed to be figures in the form of a fish, among the Phoenicians.

Deuteronomy 4:18 In-Context

16 So do not corrupt yourselves by making an idol in any form—whether of a man or a woman,

17 an animal on the ground, a bird in the sky,

18 a small animal that scurries along the ground, or a fish in the deepest sea.

19 And when you look up into the sky and see the sun, moon, and stars—all the forces of heaven—don’t be seduced into worshiping them. The LORD your God gave them to all the peoples of the earth.

20 Remember that the LORD rescued you from the iron-smelting furnace of Egypt in order to make you his very own people and his special possession, which is what you are today.