Deuteronomy 4:16
New International Version
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,

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

English Standard Version
beware lest you act corruptly by making a carved image for yourselves, in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female,

Berean Standard Bible
that you do not act corruptly and make an idol for yourselves of any form or shape, whether in the likeness of a male or female,

King James Bible
Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female,

New King James Version
lest you act corruptly and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of any figure: the likeness of male or female,

New American Standard Bible
so that you do not act corruptly and make a carved image for yourselves in the form of any figure, a representation of male or female,

NASB 1995
so that you do not act corruptly and make a graven image for yourselves in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female,

NASB 1977
lest you act corruptly and make a graven image for yourselves in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female,

Legacy Standard Bible
lest you act corruptly and make a graven image for yourselves in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female,

Amplified Bible
so that you do not act corruptly and make for yourselves a carved or sculpted image [to worship] in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female,

Christian Standard Bible
so you don’t act corruptly and make an idol for yourselves in the shape of any figure: a male or female form,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
not to act corruptly and make an idol for yourselves in the shape of any figure: a male or female form,

American Standard Version
lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female,

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
So that you would not become corrupt and make for yourselves images and forms of every kind, a form of males or of females,

Brenton Septuagint Translation
lest ye transgress, and make to yourselves a carved image, any kind of figure, the likeness of male or female,

Contemporary English Version
not to commit the sin of worshiping idols. Don't make idols to be worshiped, whether they are shaped like men, women,

Douay-Rheims Bible
Lest perhaps being deceived you might make you a graven similitude, or image of male or female,

English Revised Version
lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
that you don't become corrupt and make your own carved idols. Don't make statues that represent men or women,

Good News Translation
that you do not sin by making for yourselves an idol in any form at all--whether man or woman,

International Standard Version
Be careful! Otherwise, you will be destroyed when you make carved images for yourself—all sorts of images in the form of man, woman,

JPS Tanakh 1917
lest ye deal corruptly, and make you a graven image, even the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female,

Literal Standard Version
lest you do corruptly, and have made for yourselves a carved image, a likeness of any figure: a form of male or female,

Majority Standard Bible
that you do not act corruptly and make an idol for yourselves of any form or shape, whether in the likeness of a male or female,

New American Bible
not to act corruptly by fashioning an idol for yourselves to represent any figure, whether it be the form of a man or of a woman,

NET Bible
I say this so you will not corrupt yourselves by making an image in the form of any kind of figure. This includes the likeness of a human male or female,

New Revised Standard Version
so that you do not act corruptly by making an idol for yourselves, in the form of any figure—the likeness of male or female,

New Heart English Bible
Lest you corrupt yourselves, and make yourself an engraved image in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female,

Webster's Bible Translation
Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make to you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female,

World English Bible
lest you corrupt yourselves, and make yourself a carved image in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female,

Young's Literal Translation
lest ye do corruptly, and have made to you a graven image, a similitude of any figure, a form of male or female --

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Warning Against Idolatry
15So since you saw no form of any kind on the day the LORD spoke to you out of the fire at Horeb, be careful 16that you do not act corruptly and make an idol for yourselves of any form or shape, whether in the likeness of a male or female, 17of any beast that is on the earth or bird that flies in the air,…

Cross References
Romans 1:23
and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

Exodus 20:4
You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath.

Leviticus 26:1
"You must not make idols for yourselves or set up a carved image or sacred pillar; you must not place a sculpted stone in your land to bow down to it. For I am the LORD your God.

Deuteronomy 4:23
Be careful that you do not forget the covenant of the LORD your God that He made with you; do not make an idol for yourselves in the form of anything He has forbidden you.

Deuteronomy 4:25
After you have children and grandchildren and you have been in the land a long time, if you then act corruptly and make an idol of any form--doing evil in the sight of the LORD your God and provoking Him to anger--

Deuteronomy 5:8
You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath.

Deuteronomy 5:9
You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,


Treasury of Scripture

Lest you corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female,

corrupt

Deuteronomy 4:8,9
And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day? …

Exodus 20:4,5
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: …

Exodus 32:7
And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves:

Deuteronomy 4:23
Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee.

Isaiah 40:18
To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?

John 4:24
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

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Deuteronomy 4
1. An exhortation to obedience
41. Moses appoints the three cities of refuge on that side of Jordan
44. Recapitulation














(16) Lest ye corrupt . . . and make.--The connection between idolatry and corruption is twofold. First, it changes "the glory of the incorruptible God" into an image of His corruptible creatures. Secondly, it always ends in corrupting the idolater. Man was made to have dominion over the works of God's hands. He cannot worship anything in creation, which he was not intended to rule. He can only fulfil his destiny when he strives after the Divine likeness, rising to that which is above him, instead of stooping to that which is below.

(17,18) Likeness of any beast . . . fowl . . .--There may be an allusion to the animal idolatry of Egypt here.

Verse 16. - Graven image (פֶסֶל), carved work or sculpture, whether of wood, or metal, or stone - the similitude of any figure - the form of any idol (סֶמֶל, form, statue, idol) - the likeness - figure (תַבְנִית, a building, a model, a form, or figure) - of male or female - in apposition to graven image, and illustrative of it.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
that you do not
פֶּ֨ן־ (pen-)
Conjunction
Strong's 6435: Removal, lest

act corruptly
תַּשְׁחִת֔וּן (taš·ḥi·ṯūn)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nun
Strong's 7843: Perhaps to go to ruin

and make
וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֥ם (wa·‘ă·śî·ṯem)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 6213: To do, make

an idol
פֶּ֖סֶל (pe·sel)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6459: An idol, image

for yourselves
לָכֶ֛ם (lā·ḵem)
Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew

of any form
תְּמוּנַ֣ת (tə·mū·naṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 8544: Something portioned, out, as a, shape, phantom, embodiment, manifestation

or
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

shape,
סָ֑מֶל (sā·mel)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5566: An image, statue

whether in the likeness
תַּבְנִ֥ית (taḇ·nîṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 8403: Structure, a model, resemblance

of a male
זָכָ֖ר (zā·ḵār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2145: Remembered, a male

or
א֥וֹ (’ōw)
Conjunction
Strong's 176: Desire, if

female,
נְקֵבָֽה׃ (nə·qê·ḇāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5347: A female


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 4:16 Lest you corrupt yourselves and make yourself (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 4:15
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