Leviticus 19:4

4 Do not ye be turned to idols, neither ye shall make to you molten gods; I am your Lord God. (Do not ye turn to idols; nor make ye gods out of metal for yourselves; I am the Lord your God.)

Leviticus 19:4 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 19:4

Turn ye not unto idols
From the one only true and living God to them that are not gods, as the word used signifies, who are nothing; for, as the apostle says, an idol is nothing in the world, ( 1 Corinthians 8:4 ) , is of no worth and value, of no consequence and importance, of no avail and usefulness to its devotees; wherefore to turn from the true God to such as these is the greatest stupidity, as well as wickedness: or "look not" at them F7 for help or assistance, for they are not able to give it: and to look at them so as to view them attentively, and consider their likeness, the Jews say F8 is forbidden; and even in the heart and mind, as Aben Ezra observes, to have respect unto them was not right; or in the thoughts, as Gersom: nor make to yourselves molten gods;
of gold, silver, or brass, melted and cast into a mould, as the golden calf was, to which respect may be had. These laws have a respect unto the first and second commandments, ( Exodus 20:3 Exodus 20:4 ) : I [am] the Lord, your God;
who only is to be worshipped, and who has forbid the making and worshipping any image, molten or graven, and who will therefore resent idolatry of every sort, and punish for it.


FOOTNOTES:

F7 (wnpt la) "ne respiciatis", Montanus, Tigurine version, Drusius.
F8 Pesichta, Maimonides.

Leviticus 19:4 In-Context

2 Speak thou to all the company of the sons of Israel, and thou shalt say to them, Be ye holy, for I am holy, your Lord. God. (Speak thou to all the congregation of the Israelites, and thou shalt say to them, Be ye holy, for I am holy, the Lord your God.)
3 Each man dread his father, and his mother. Keep ye my sabbaths; I am your Lord God. (Everyone honour his father, and his mother. Keep ye my sabbaths; I am the Lord your God.)
4 Do not ye be turned to idols, neither ye shall make to you molten gods; I am your Lord God. (Do not ye turn to idols; nor make ye gods out of metal for yourselves; I am the Lord your God.)
5 If ye offer a sacrifice of peaceable things to the Lord, that it be quemeful, (If ye offer a peace offering to the Lord, so that it be acceptable,)
6 ye shall eat it in that day, in which it is offered, and in the tother day (ye shall eat it on the day, on which it is offered, and on the next day); soothly whatever thing is left into the third day, ye shall burn it in (the) fire.
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.