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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>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.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/exodus/20-4.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/5/02_Exo_20_04.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Exodus 20:4 - The Ten Commandments" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="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." /><script 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id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/exodus/20-3.htm" title="Exodus 20:3">◄</a> Exodus 20:4 <a href="/exodus/20-5.htm" title="Exodus 20:5">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Study Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Crossref </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Hebrew </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/exodus/20.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/exodus/20.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />&#8220You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/exodus/20.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />“You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/exodus/20.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/exodus/20.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/exodus/20.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness <i>of any thing</i> that <i>is</i> in heaven above, or that <i>is</i> in the earth beneath, or that <i>is</i> in the water under the earth:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/exodus/20.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />“You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness <i>of anything</i> that <i>is</i> in heaven above, or that <i>is</i> in the earth beneath, or that <i>is</i> in the water under the earth;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/exodus/20.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />“You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/exodus/20.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/exodus/20.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/exodus/20.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />“You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/exodus/20.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />“You shall not make for yourself any idol, or any likeness (form, manifestation) of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth [as an object to worship].<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/exodus/20.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/exodus/20.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/exodus/20.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor 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:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/exodus/20.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Do not make idols that look like anything in the sky or on earth or in the ocean under the earth. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/exodus/20.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor the likeness of any form that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/exodus/20.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Never make your own carved idols or statues that represent any creature in the sky, on the earth, or in the water.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/exodus/20.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />"Do not make for yourselves images of anything in heaven or on earth or in the water under the earth. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/exodus/20.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />"You are not to make for yourselves an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above, or on earth below, or in the water under the earth. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/exodus/20.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/exodus/20.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />"You shall not make for yourself a carved image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above or that is on the earth beneath or that is in the water below.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/exodus/20.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />"Do not make for yourselves an idol, nor any image of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/exodus/20.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Thou shalt not make to 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:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/exodus/20.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />“You shall not make for yourselves an idol, nor any image of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/exodus/20.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />You do not make a carved image for yourself, or any likeness which [is] in the heavens above, or which [is] in the earth beneath, or which [is] in the waters under the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/exodus/20.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Thou dost not make to thyself a graven image, or any likeness which is in the heavens above, or which is in the earth beneath, or which is in the waters under the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/exodus/20.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Thou shalt not make to thee a carved image, and every appearance that is in the heavens above, and that is in the earth beneath, and that is in the water under the earth.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/exodus/20.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Thou shalt not make to thyself a graven thing, nor the likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, nor of those things that are in the waters under the earth. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/exodus/20.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />You shall not make for yourself a graven image, nor a likeness of anything that is in heaven above or on earth below, nor of those things which are in the waters under the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/exodus/20.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />You shall not make for yourself an idol or a likeness of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/exodus/20.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/exodus/20.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />You shall not make for yourself any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above or that is in the earth beneath or that is in the water under the earth;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/exodus/20.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />You shall not make for you any image or any form that is in Heaven from above or what is in the earth from beneath or what is in the water beneath the Earth:<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/exodus/20.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor any manner of 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;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/exodus/20.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Thou shalt not make to thyself an idol, nor likeness of anything, whatever things are in the heaven above, and whatever are in the earth beneath, and whatever are in the waters under the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/exodus/20-4.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kVae3PiKqhs?start=4956" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/exodus/20.htm">The Ten Commandments</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">3</span>You shall have no other gods before Me. <span class="reftext">4</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">You shall not</a> <a href="/hebrew/6213.htm" title="6213: ṯa·‘ă·śeh- (V-Qal-Imperf-2ms) -- To do, make. A primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application.">make</a> <a href="/hebrew/lə·ḵā (Prep:: 2ms) -- ">for yourself</a> <a href="/hebrew/6459.htm" title="6459: p̄ɛ·sɛl (N-ms) -- An idol, image. From pacal; an idol.">an idol</a> <a href="/hebrew/3605.htm" title="3605: wə·ḵāl (Conj-w:: N-msc) -- The whole, all. Or kowl; from kalal; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every.">in the form</a> <a href="/hebrew/8544.htm" title="8544: tə·mū·nāh (N-fs) -- Likeness, form. Or tmunah; from miyn; something portioned out, as a shape, i.e. phantom, or embodiment, or manifestation.">of anything</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ʾă·šɛr (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc."></a> <a href="/hebrew/8064.htm" title="8064: baš·šå̄·ma·yim (Prep-b, Art:: N-mp) -- Heaven, sky. Dual of an unused singular shameh; from an unused root meaning to be lofty; the sky.">in the heavens</a> <a href="/hebrew/4605.htm" title="4605: mim·ma·‘al (Prep-m:: Adv) -- From alah; properly, the upper part, used only adverbially with prefix upward, above, overhead, from the top, etc.">above,</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: wa·’ă·šer (Conj-w:: Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc."></a> <a href="/hebrew/776.htm" title="776: bā·’ā·reṣ (Prep-b, Art:: N-fs) -- Earth, land. From an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth.">on the earth</a> <a href="/hebrew/8478.htm" title="8478: mit·tå̄·ḥaṯ (Prep-m:: Adv) -- Underneath, below, instead of. From the same as Towach; the bottom; only adverbially, below, in lieu of, etc.">below,</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: wa·’ă·šer (Conj-w:: Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc."></a> <a href="/hebrew/4325.htm" title="4325: bam·ma·yim (Prep-b, Art:: N-mp) -- Waters, water. Dual of a primitive noun; water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen.">or in the waters</a> <a href="/hebrew/8478.htm" title="8478: mit·ta·ḥaṯ (Prep-m) -- Underneath, below, instead of. From the same as Towach; the bottom; only adverbially, below, in lieu of, etc.">beneath.</a> <a href="/hebrew/776.htm" title="776: lå̄·ʾå̄·rɛṣ (Prep-l, Art:: N-fs) -- Earth, land. From an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth."></a> </span><span class="reftext">5</span>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,…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/5-8.htm">Deuteronomy 5:8</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/26-1.htm">Leviticus 26:1</a></span><br />“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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/44-9.htm">Isaiah 44:9-20</a></span><br />All makers of idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Their witnesses fail to see or comprehend, so they are put to shame. / Who fashions a god or casts an idol which profits him nothing? / Behold, all his companions will be put to shame, for the craftsmen themselves are only human. Let them all assemble and take their stand; they will all be brought to terror and shame. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/115-4.htm">Psalm 115:4-8</a></span><br />Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. / They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; / they have ears, but cannot hear; they have noses, but cannot smell; ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/135-15.htm">Psalm 135:15-18</a></span><br />The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. / They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; / they have ears, but cannot hear; nor is there breath in their mouths. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/4-15.htm">Deuteronomy 4:15-19</a></span><br />So since you saw no form of any kind on the day the LORD spoke to you out of the fire at Horeb, be careful / 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, / of any beast that is on the earth or bird that flies in the air, ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/17-12.htm">2 Kings 17:12</a></span><br />They served idols, although the LORD had told them, “You shall not do this thing.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/10-3.htm">Jeremiah 10:3-5</a></span><br />For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut down a tree from the forest; it is shaped with a chisel by the hands of a craftsman. / They adorn it with silver and gold and fasten it with hammer and nails, so that it will not totter. / Like scarecrows in a cucumber patch, their idols cannot speak. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them, for they can do no harm, and neither can they do any good.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/17-29.htm">Acts 17:29</a></span><br />Therefore, being offspring of God, we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by man’s skill and imagination.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/1-22.htm">Romans 1:22-23</a></span><br />Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, / and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/10-19.htm">1 Corinthians 10:19-20</a></span><br />Am I suggesting, then, that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? / No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_john/5-21.htm">1 John 5:21</a></span><br />Little children, keep yourselves from idols.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/40-18.htm">Isaiah 40:18-20</a></span><br />To whom will you liken God? To what image will you compare Him? / To an idol that a craftsman casts and a metalworker overlays with gold and fits with silver chains? / One lacking such an offering chooses wood that will not rot. He seeks a skilled craftsman to set up an idol that will not topple.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/42-8.htm">Isaiah 42:8</a></span><br />I am the LORD; that is My name! I will not yield My glory to another or My praise to idols.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/20-32.htm">Ezekiel 20:32</a></span><br />When you say, ‘Let us be like the nations, like the peoples of the lands, serving wood and stone,’ what you have in mind will never come to pass.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">You shall not make to you 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.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/32-1.htm">Exodus 32:1,8,23</a></b></br> And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for <i>as for</i> this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/34-17.htm">Exodus 34:17</a></b></br> Thou shalt make thee no molten gods.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/leviticus/19-4.htm">Leviticus 19:4</a></b></br> Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I <i>am</i> the LORD your God.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/genesis/49-25.htm">Below</a> <a href="/genesis/49-25.htm">Beneath</a> <a href="/exodus/19-5.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/genesis/41-18.htm">Form</a> <a href="/acts/17-29.htm">Graven</a> <a href="/exodus/17-14.htm">Heaven</a> <a href="/exodus/10-22.htm">Heavens</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/10-28.htm">Idol</a> <a href="/genesis/9-6.htm">Image</a> <a href="/genesis/5-3.htm">Likeness</a> <a href="/exodus/12-16.htm">Manner</a> <a href="/romans/5-14.htm">Picture</a> <a href="/exodus/19-23.htm">Thyself</a> <a href="/exodus/17-6.htm">Water</a> <a href="/exodus/17-6.htm">Waters</a> <a href="/exodus/19-15.htm">Yourselves</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/exodus/30-4.htm">Below</a> <a href="/exodus/26-24.htm">Beneath</a> <a href="/exodus/20-11.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/exodus/24-10.htm">Form</a> <a href="/exodus/32-16.htm">Graven</a> <a href="/exodus/20-11.htm">Heaven</a> <a href="/exodus/20-11.htm">Heavens</a> <a href="/exodus/32-4.htm">Idol</a> <a href="/exodus/32-4.htm">Image</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/4-17.htm">Likeness</a> <a href="/exodus/20-10.htm">Manner</a> <a href="/1_samuel/8-9.htm">Picture</a> <a href="/exodus/20-5.htm">Thyself</a> <a href="/exodus/23-25.htm">Water</a> <a href="/exodus/32-20.htm">Waters</a> <a href="/exodus/20-22.htm">Yourselves</a><div class="vheading2">Exodus 20</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/20-1.htm">The ten commandments are spoken by Jehovah</a></span><br><span class="reftext">18. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/20-18.htm">The people are afraid, but Moses comforts them</a></span><br><span class="reftext">21. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/20-21.htm">Idolatry is forbidden</a></span><br><span class="reftext">23. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/20-23.htm">Of what sort the altar should be</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script><br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading"><a href="/study/exodus/20.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div><b>You shall not make</b><br />The phrase "You shall not make" is a direct command from God, emphasizing the prohibition against creating something with one's own hands that would serve as an object of worship. The Hebrew root for "make" is "עָשָׂה" (asah), which means to fashion or create. This command underscores the importance of worshiping the Creator rather than the creation, highlighting the distinction between the divine and human capabilities. It serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty and the futility of human attempts to encapsulate His essence in physical form.<p><b>for yourself</b><br />The phrase "for yourself" indicates a personal responsibility and accountability in the act of idol-making. It suggests that the creation of idols is a self-serving act, driven by human desires rather than divine instruction. This personal aspect of the commandment calls believers to examine their own hearts and motivations, ensuring that their worship is directed solely towards God and not towards self-made representations or desires.<p><b>an idol</b><br />The term "idol" comes from the Hebrew word "פֶּסֶל" (pesel), which refers to a carved or graven image. In the ancient Near Eastern context, idols were common in religious practices, often representing deities or spiritual forces. This commandment is a clear denouncement of such practices, emphasizing that God is beyond physical representation. It serves as a call to spiritual purity and fidelity, urging believers to reject any form of idolatry that detracts from the worship of the one true God.<p><b>in the form of anything</b><br />This phrase broadens the scope of the prohibition, indicating that no physical form, regardless of its nature, is suitable for representing God. The Hebrew word "תְּמוּנָה" (temunah) means likeness or form, suggesting that any attempt to depict God through physical means is inherently flawed. This highlights the transcendence and incomprehensibility of God, who cannot be confined to any earthly representation.<p><b>in the heavens above</b><br />The reference to "the heavens above" encompasses all celestial bodies and phenomena, such as the sun, moon, stars, and planets. In ancient cultures, these were often deified and worshiped. By prohibiting the creation of idols in their likeness, God asserts His authority over all creation, reminding believers that He alone is the Creator of the heavens and worthy of worship.<p><b>or on the earth below</b><br />This phrase extends the prohibition to include all earthly creatures and objects. The earth, with its vast array of life and natural wonders, was often a source of inspiration for idol-making. By forbidding the creation of idols in the likeness of anything on earth, God calls His people to recognize His supremacy over all earthly things and to worship Him alone.<p><b>or in the waters beneath</b><br />The inclusion of "the waters beneath" refers to the seas, rivers, and all aquatic life. In many ancient religions, water was seen as a source of life and mystery, often associated with various deities. By prohibiting idols in the likeness of anything in the waters, God emphasizes His dominion over all aspects of creation, both seen and unseen, and calls His people to exclusive devotion to Him.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/exodus/20.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(4) <span class= "bld">Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.</span>--The two main clauses of the second commandment are to be read together, so as to form one sentence: "Thou shalt not make to thee any graven image, &c., so as to worship it." (See the explanation of Josephus, <span class= "ital">Ant. Jud., </span>iii. 5, ? 5: '<span class= "greekheb">? ???????? ?</span>垄<span class= "greekheb">??? ??????? ??????? ?????? ???? ?????????? ??????????</span>.) It was not until the days of Hebrew decline and degeneracy that a narrow literalism pressed the words into an absolute prohibition of the arts of painting and sculpture (Philo, <span class= "ital">De Oraculis, </span>? 29). Moses himself sanctioned the cherubic forms above the mercy-seat, the brazen serpent, and the lilies and pomegranates of the golden candlestick. Solomon had lions on the steps of his throne, oxen under his "molten sea," and palm-trees, flowers, and cherubim on the walls of the Temple, "within and without" (<a href="/1_kings/6-29.htm" title="And he carved all the walls of the house round about with carved figures of cherubim and palm trees and open flowers, within and without.">1Kings 6:29</a>). What the second commandment forbade was the worship of God under a material form. It asserted the spirituality of Jehovah. While in the rest of the ancient world there was scarcely a single nation or tribe which did not "make to itself" images of the gods, and regard the images themselves with superstitious veneration, in Judaism alone was this seductive practice disallowed. God would have no likeness made of Him, no representation that might cloud the conception of His entire separation from matter, His purely spiritual essence.<p><span class= "bld">In heaven above . . . in the earth beneath . . . in the water under the earth.</span>--Comp. <a href="/context/genesis/1-1.htm" title="In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.">Genesis 1:1-7</a>. The triple division is regarded as embracing the whole material universe. In the Egyptian idolatry images of all three kinds were included.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/exodus/20.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 4.</span> As the first commandment asserts the unity of God, and is a protest against polytheism, so the second asserts his spirituality, and is a protest against idolatry and materialism. Verses 4 and 5 are to be taken together, the prohibition being intended, not to forbid the arts of sculpture and painting, or even to condemn the religious use of them, but to disallow the worship of God under material forms. When the later Jews condemned all representations of natural objects (Philo, <span class="accented">De Orac</span>. 29; Joseph. <span class="accented">Ant. Jud.</span> 8:7, § 5), they not only enslaved themselves to a literalism, which is alien from the spirit of both covenants, but departed from the practice of more primitive times - representations of such objects having had their place both in the tabernacle (<a href="/exodus/25-31.htm">Exodus 25:31-34</a>; <a href="/exodus/28-33.htm">Exodus 28:33, 34</a>) and in the first temple (<a href="/1_kings/6-18.htm">1 Kings 6:18, 29, 32</a>, etc.). Indeed, Moses himself, when he erected the "brazen serpent" (<a href="/numbers/21-9.htm">Numbers 21:9</a>) made it clear that representations of natural objects were not disallowed by the law. To moderns in civilized countries it seems almost incredible that there should ever have been anywhere a real worship of images. But acquaintance with ancient history or even with the present condition of man in savage or backward countries, renders it apparent that there is a subtle fascination in such material forms, and that imperfectly developed minds will rest in them not as mere emblems of divinity, but as actually possessed of Divine powers The protest raised by the second commandment is still as necessary as ever, not only in the world, but in the very Christian Church itself, where there exists even at the present day a superstitious regard for images and pictures, which is not only irrational, but which absorbs the religious feelings that should have been directed to higher objects. <span class="cmt_word">Any graven image</span>. Perhaps it would be better to translate "any image," for the term used (<span class="accented">pesel</span>) is applied, not only to "graven" but also to "molten images" (<a href="/isaiah/40-19.htm">Isaiah 40:19</a>; <a href="/isaiah/44-10.htm">Isaiah 44:10</a>; <a href="/jeremiah/10-14.htm">Jeremiah 10:14</a>; etc.), since these last were in almost every instance <span class="accented">finished</span> by the graving tool. <span class="cmt_word">Or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above</span> - <span class="accented">i.e.</span>, "any likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air." Compare <a href="/deuteronomy/4-17.htm">Deuteronomy 4:17</a>. <span class="cmt_word">The water under the earth</span>. See <a href="/genesis/1-6.htm">Genesis 1:6, 7</a>. The triple division here and elsewhere made, is intended to embrace the whole material universe. Much of the Egyptian religion consisted in the worship of animals and their images. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/exodus/20-4.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">{You shall} not</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹֽ֣א</span> <span class="translit">(lō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">make</span><br /><span class="heb">תַֽעֲשֶׂ֨ה־</span> <span class="translit">(ṯa·‘ă·śeh-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6213.htm">Strong's 6213: </a> </span><span class="str2">To do, make</span><br /><br /><span class="word">for yourself</span><br /><span class="heb">לְךָ֥֣</span> <span class="translit">(lə·ḵā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> </span><span class="str2"></span><br /><br /><span class="word">an idol</span><br /><span class="heb">פֶ֣֙סֶל֙ ׀‪‬</span> <span class="translit">(p̄e·sel)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6459.htm">Strong's 6459: </a> </span><span class="str2">An idol, image</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of any kind,</span><br /><span class="heb">וְכָל־</span> <span class="translit">(wə·ḵāl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3605.htm">Strong's 3605: </a> </span><span class="str2">The whole, all, any, every</span><br /><br /><span class="word">or an image</span><br /><span class="heb">תְּמוּנָ֡֔ה</span> <span class="translit">(tə·mū·nāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8544.htm">Strong's 8544: </a> </span><span class="str2">Something portioned, out, as a, shape, phantom, embodiment, manifestation</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of anything</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲשֶׁ֤֣ר</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·šer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - relative<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_834.htm">Strong's 834: </a> </span><span class="str2">Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in the heavens</span><br /><span class="heb">בַּשָּׁמַ֣֙יִם֙ ׀</span> <span class="translit">(baš·šā·ma·yim)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8064.htm">Strong's 8064: </a> </span><span class="str2">Heaven, sky</span><br /><br /><span class="word">above,</span><br /><span class="heb">מִמַּ֡֔עַל</span> <span class="translit">(mim·ma·‘al)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4605.htm">Strong's 4605: </a> </span><span class="str2">The upper part, with prefix upward, above, overhead, from the top</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the earth</span><br /><span class="heb">בָּאָ֖֨רֶץ</span> <span class="translit">(bā·’ā·reṣ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_776.htm">Strong's 776: </a> </span><span class="str2">Earth, land</span><br /><br /><span class="word">below,</span><br /><span class="heb">מִתַָּ֑֜חַת‪‬</span> <span class="translit">(mit·ta·ḥaṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8478.htm">Strong's 8478: </a> </span><span class="str2">The bottom, below, in lieu of</span><br /><br /><span class="word">or the waters</span><br /><span class="heb">בַּמַּ֖֣יִם ׀</span> <span class="translit">(bam·ma·yim)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4325.htm">Strong's 4325: </a> </span><span class="str2">Water, juice, urine, semen</span><br /><br /><span class="word">under</span><br /><span class="heb">מִתַּ֥֣חַת</span> <span class="translit">(mit·ta·ḥaṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8478.htm">Strong's 8478: </a> </span><span class="str2">The bottom, below, in lieu of</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the earth.</span><br /><span class="heb">לָאָֽ֗רֶץ‪‬</span> <span class="translit">(lā·’ā·reṣ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_776.htm">Strong's 776: </a> </span><span class="str2">Earth, land</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/exodus/20-4.htm">Exodus 20:4 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/exodus/20-4.htm">Exodus 20:4 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/exodus/20-4.htm">Exodus 20:4 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/exodus/20-4.htm">Exodus 20:4 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/exodus/20-4.htm">Exodus 20:4 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/exodus/20-4.htm">Exodus 20:4 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/exodus/20-4.htm">Exodus 20:4 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/exodus/20-4.htm">Exodus 20:4 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/exodus/20-4.htm">Exodus 20:4 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/exodus/20-4.htm">Exodus 20:4 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/exodus/20-4.htm">OT Law: Exodus 20:4 You shall not make for yourselves (Exo. Ex) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/exodus/20-3.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Exodus 20:3"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Exodus 20:3" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/exodus/20-5.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Exodus 20:5"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Exodus 20:5" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>