Devarim 4:17

17 The likeness of any behemah that is on ha’aretz, the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air,

Devarim 4:17 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 4:17

The likeness of any beast that is on the earth
As there are scarce any but the likeness of them has been made and worshipped, or the creatures themselves, as the ox by the Egyptians, the sheep by the Thebans, the goat by the Mendesians, and others by different people:

the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air;
as the hawk, and the bird called Ibis, and another by the name of Cneph by the Egyptians, and the eagle by others.

Devarim 4:17 In-Context

15 Be shomer over yourselves, therefore; for ye saw no manner of temunah on the yom that Hashem spoke unto you in Chorev out of the midst of the eish;

16 Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a pesel, the temunah of any semel, the likeness of zachar or nekevah,

17 The likeness of any behemah that is on ha’aretz, the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air,

18 The likeness of anything that creepeth on the adamah, the likeness of any dag (fish) that is in the waters below;

19 And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto Shomayim, and when thou seest the shemesh, and the yarei’ach, and the kokhavim, even all the tz’va HaShomayim, shouldest be driven to hishtachaveh (bow down, worship) them, and serve them which Hashem Eloheicha hath divided unto kol HaGoyim under kol HaShomayim.