Deuteronomy 4:16

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

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 It was at that time that the LORD commanded me to teach you his decrees and regulations so you would obey them in the land you are about to enter and occupy.

15 “But be very careful! You did not see the LORD ’s form on the day he spoke to you from the heart of the fire at Mount Sinai.

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.