Devarim 4:23

23 Be shomer over yourselves, lest ye forget the Brit Hashem Eloheichem, which He cut with you, and make you a pesel (idol, image), or the likeness of anything, which Hashem Eloheicha hath forbidden thee.

Devarim 4:23 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 4:23

Take heed unto yourselves
Since he should not be long with them, to advise, instruct, and caution them:

lest ye forget the covenant of the Lord your God,
which he made with you; what that required of them, and what was promised unto them on the performance of it, and what they must expect should they break it, and particularly be so forgetful of it, and the first articles in it, as follows:

and make you a graven image, or the likeness of anything which the
Lord thy God hath forbidden thee;
a graven image in the likeness of men or women, of any beast on the earth, or fowl in heaven, or fish in the sea.

Devarim 4:23 In-Context

21 Furthermore Hashem was angry with me for your sakes, and swore that I should not go over Yarden, and that I should not go in unto that ha’aretz hatovah, which Hashem Eloheicha giveth thee for a nachalah (inheritance);

22 But I must die in this land, I must not go over Yarden; but ye shall go over, and possess that ha’aretz hatovah.

23 Be shomer over yourselves, lest ye forget the Brit Hashem Eloheichem, which He cut with you, and make you a pesel (idol, image), or the likeness of anything, which Hashem Eloheicha hath forbidden thee.

24 For Hashem Eloheicha is a consuming eish, even an El Kannah.

25 When thou shalt father banim, and bnei banim, and ye shall have remained long in Ha’Aretz, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a pesel, or the likeness of anything, and shall do evil in the sight of Hashem Eloheicha, to provoke Him to anger;