Devarim 11:16

16 Take heed to yourselves, that your lev be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve elohim acherim, and worship them;

Devarim 11:16 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 11:16

Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived
By observing the influence of the heavens upon the fruitfulness of the earth, and so be drawn to the worship of the host of them, the sun, moon, and stars; or by the examples of nations round about them; and by the plausible arguments they may make use of, taken from the traditions of ancestors, from antiquity, and the consent of nations, and the great numbers of worshippers, and the like:

and ye turn aside;
from the true God, and the worship of him; or from the law, as Jarchi, which directs to the worship of one God, and forbids idolatry, or the worshipping of images:

and serve other gods, and worship them;
other gods than the one only living and true God; gods that made not the heavens and the earth, and which cannot give rain, nor any blessing and mercy of life, nor help and deliver their worshippers when in distress.

Devarim 11:16 In-Context

14 That I will give you the matar (rain) of your land in its due season, the yoreh (early rain) and the malkosh (latter rain, spring rain), that thou mayest gather in thy dagan (grain), and thy tirosh (new wine), and thine yitzhar (fresh oil).

15 And I will send esev in thy fields for thy cattle, that thou mayest eat and be full.

16 Take heed to yourselves, that your lev be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve elohim acherim, and worship them;

17 And then Hashem’s wrath be kindled against you, and He shut up the Shomayim, that there be no matar, and that ha’aretz yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish meherah (quickly) from off ha’aretz hatovah which Hashem giveth you.

18 Therefore shall ye lay up these My devarim in your lev and in your nefesh, and bind them for an ot upon your hand, that they may be as totafos (ornaments, Shemot 13:16, Shabbos 57a) between your eyes.