Deuteronomy 4:16

16 so that you do not become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol, an image of any shape, whether formed like a man or a woman,

Deuteronomy 4:16 in Other Translations

KJV
16 Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female,
ESV
16 beware lest you act corruptly by making a carved image for yourselves, in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female,
NLT
16 So do not corrupt yourselves by making an idol in any form—whether of a man or a woman,
MSG
16 so that you don't turn corrupt and make a form, carving a figure
CSB
16 not to act corruptly and make an idol for yourselves in the shape of any figure: a male or female form,

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 And the LORD directed me at that time to teach you the decrees and laws you are to follow in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess.
15 You saw no form of any kind the day the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the fire. Therefore watch yourselves very carefully,
16 so that you do not become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol, an image of any shape, whether formed like a man or a woman,
17 or like any animal on earth or any bird that flies in the air,
18 or like any creature that moves along the ground or any fish in the waters below.

Cross References 2

  • 1. S Genesis 6:11-12; Deuteronomy 9:12; Deuteronomy 31:29; Deuteronomy 32:5; Judges 2:19
  • 2. Exodus 20:4-5; Exodus 32:7; Deuteronomy 5:8; Romans 1:23
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