Deuteronomy 12:4

4 You must not worship the LORD your God in their way.

Deuteronomy 12:4 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
4 Ye shall not do so unto the LORD your God.
English Standard Version (ESV)
4 You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way.
New Living Translation (NLT)
4 “Do not worship the LORD your God in the way these pagan peoples worship their gods.
The Message Bible (MSG)
4 Stay clear of those places - don't let what went on there contaminate the worship of God, your God.
American Standard Version (ASV)
4 Ye shall not do so unto Jehovah your God.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
4 Never worship the LORD your God in the way they worship their gods.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
4 Don't worship the Lord your God this way.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
4 You must not worship the LORD your God the way those nations worship their gods.

Deuteronomy 12:4 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 12:4

Ye shall not do so unto the Lord your God.
] Not sacrifice to him on hills and mountains, and under green trees; though the Jews commonly refer this to the destruction of the names of God, and of any thing appertaining to the temple; that though the temples and the altars of the Heathens were to be overthrown, yet not a stone was to be taken from the house of God, or that belonged to it, nor any of his names to be blotted out; so the Targum of Jonathan and Maimonides F26, who also observes F1, that whoever removes a stone by way of destruction from the altar, or from the temple, or from the court, is to be beaten; so he that burns the holy wood.


FOOTNOTES:

F26 Yesode Hattorah, c. 6. sect. 7, 9.
F1 Ibid. sect. 8.

Deuteronomy 12:4 In-Context

2 Destroy completely all the places on the high mountains, on the hills and under every spreading tree, where the nations you are dispossessing worship their gods.
3 Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and burn their Asherah poles in the fire; cut down the idols of their gods and wipe out their names from those places.
4 You must not worship the LORD your God in their way.
5 But you are to seek the place the LORD your God will choose from among all your tribes to put his Name there for his dwelling. To that place you must go;
6 there bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, what you have vowed to give and your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks.

Cross References 1

  • 1. ver 30; 2 Kings 17:15; Jeremiah 10:2
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