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cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad8.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/deuteronomy/4-27.htm" title="Deuteronomy 4:27">◄</a> Deuteronomy 4:28 <a href="/deuteronomy/4-29.htm" title="Deuteronomy 4:29">►</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="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/deuteronomy/4.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/deuteronomy/4.htm">New International Version</a> There you will worship man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell. <a href="/nlt/deuteronomy/4.htm">New Living Translation</a> There, in a foreign land, you will worship idols made from wood and stone—gods that neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell. <a href="/esv/deuteronomy/4.htm">English Standard Version</a> And there you will serve gods of wood and stone, the work of human hands, that neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. <a href="/bsb/deuteronomy/4.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> And there you will serve man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell. <a href="/kjv/deuteronomy/4.htm">King James Bible</a> And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. <a href="/nkjv/deuteronomy/4.htm">New King James Version</a> And there you will serve gods, the work of men’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell. <a href="/nasb_/deuteronomy/4.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> There you will serve gods, the work of human hands, wood and stone, which neither see nor hear, nor eat nor smell anything. <a href="/nasb/deuteronomy/4.htm">NASB 1995</a> &#8220There you will serve gods, the work of man&#8217s hands, wood and stone, which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell. <a href="/nasb77/deuteronomy/4.htm">NASB 1977 </a> “And there you will serve gods, the work of man’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell. <a href="/lsb/deuteronomy/4.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> And there you will serve gods, the work of man’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell. <a href="/amp/deuteronomy/4.htm">Amplified Bible</a> And there you will serve [false and foreign] gods, the work of human hands, [lifeless images of] wood and stone, which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell [the offerings of food given to them]. <a href="/csb/deuteronomy/4.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> There you will worship man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see, hear, eat, or smell. <a href="/hcsb/deuteronomy/4.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> There you will worship man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see, hear, eat, or smell. <a href="/asv/deuteronomy/4.htm">American Standard Version</a> And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. <a href="/cev/deuteronomy/4.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> There you will have to worship gods made of wood and stone, and these are nothing but idols that can't see or hear or eat or smell. <a href="/erv/deuteronomy/4.htm">English Revised Version</a> And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. <a href="/gwt/deuteronomy/4.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> There you will worship wooden and stone gods made by human hands. These gods can't see, hear, eat, or smell. <a href="/gnt/deuteronomy/4.htm">Good News Translation</a> There you will serve gods made by human hands, gods of wood and stone, gods that cannot see or hear, eat or smell. <a href="/isv/deuteronomy/4.htm">International Standard Version</a> There you'll serve gods made by human hands, serving trees and stones that cannot see, hear, eat, nor smell. <a href="/msb/deuteronomy/4.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> And there you will serve man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell. <a href="/net/deuteronomy/4.htm">NET Bible</a> There you will worship gods made by human hands--wood and stone that can neither see, hear, eat, nor smell. <a href="/nheb/deuteronomy/4.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> There you shall serve other gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. <a href="/wbt/deuteronomy/4.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. <a href="/web/deuteronomy/4.htm">World English Bible</a> There you will serve gods, the work of men’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/deuteronomy/4.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> and you have served gods there, work of man’s hands, wood and stone, which do not see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. <a href="/ylt/deuteronomy/4.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> and ye have served there gods, work of man's hands, wood and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. <a href="/slt/deuteronomy/4.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And ye served there gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which shall not see, and shall not hear, and shall not eat, and shall not breathe.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/deuteronomy/4.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> And there you shah serve gods, that were framed with men's hands: wood and stone, that neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. <a href="/cpdv/deuteronomy/4.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> And there, you will serve gods which were fabricated by the hands of men: gods of wood and of stone, who neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. <a href="/nabre/deuteronomy/4.htm">New American Bible</a> There you shall serve gods that are works of human hands, of wood and stone, gods which can neither see nor hear, neither eat nor smell. <a href="/nrsvce/deuteronomy/4.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> There you will serve other gods made by human hands, objects of wood and stone that neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/deuteronomy/4.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And there you shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, of wood and stone, which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell. <a href="/hpbt/deuteronomy/4.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> And you shall serve gods there, the work of the hands of the children of men, of wood and of stone that do not see and do not hear and do not eat and they do not smell.<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/deuteronomy/4.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. <a href="/sep/deuteronomy/4.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> And ye shall there serve other gods, the works of the hands of men, wood and stones, which cannot see, nor can they hear, nor eat, nor smell. <a href="/parallel/deuteronomy/4-28.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IRhBtZaVxJ0?start=1391" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/deuteronomy/4.htm">Warning Against Idolatry</a> …27Then the LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and only a few of you will survive among the nations to which the LORD will drive you. 28<a href="/hebrew/8033.htm" title="8033: šām (Adv) -- There, thither. A primitive particle; there then; often thither, or thence.">And there</a> <a href="/hebrew/5647.htm" title="5647: wa·‘ă·ḇaḏ·tem- (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-2mp) -- To work, serve. A primitive root; to work; by implication, to serve, till, enslave, etc.">you will serve</a> <a href="/hebrew/4639.htm" title="4639: ma·‘ă·śêh (N-msc) -- A deed, work. From asah; an action; generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication, a product or property.">man-made</a> <a href="/hebrew/3027.htm" title="3027: yə·ḏê (N-fdc) -- Hand (indicating power, means, direction, etc.)"></a> <a href="/hebrew/120.htm" title="120: ’ā·ḏām (N-ms) -- Man, mankind. From 'adam; ruddy i.e. A human being."></a> <a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: ’ĕ·lō·hîm (N-mp) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">gods</a> <a href="/hebrew/6086.htm" title="6086: ‘êṣ (N-ms) -- Tree, trees, wood. From atsah; a tree; hence, wood.">of wood</a> <a href="/hebrew/68.htm" title="68: wā·’e·ḇen (Conj-w:: N-fs) -- A stone. From the root of banah through the meaning to build; a stone.">and stone,</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.">which</a> <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.">cannot</a> <a href="/hebrew/7200.htm" title="7200: yir·’ūn (V-Qal-Imperf-3mp:: Pn) -- To see. A primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively.">see</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: wə·lō (Conj-w:: Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">or</a> <a href="/hebrew/8085.htm" title="8085: yiš·mə·‘ūn (V-Qal-Imperf-3mp:: Pn) -- To hear. A primitive root; to hear intelligently.">hear</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: wə·lō (Conj-w:: Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">or</a> <a href="/hebrew/398.htm" title="398: yō·ḵə·lūn (V-Qal-Imperf-3mp:: Pn) -- To eat. A primitive root; to eat.">eat</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: wə·lō (Conj-w:: Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">or</a> <a href="/hebrew/7306.htm" title="7306: yə·rî·ḥun (V-Hifil-Imperf-3mp:: Pn) -- A primitive root; properly, to blow, i.e. Breathe; only to smell or (figuratively, to anticipate, enjoy).">smell.</a> 29But if from there you will seek the LORD your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/psalms/115-4.htm">Psalm 115:4-8</a> 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; ... <a href="/isaiah/44-9.htm">Isaiah 44:9-20</a> 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. ... <a href="/jeremiah/10-3.htm">Jeremiah 10:3-5</a> 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.” <a href="/psalms/135-15.htm">Psalm 135:15-18</a> 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. ... <a href="/isaiah/46-6.htm">Isaiah 46:6-7</a> They pour out their bags of gold and weigh out silver on scales; they hire a goldsmith to fashion it into a god, so they can bow down and worship. / They lift it to their shoulder and carry it along; they set it in its place, and there it stands, not budging from that spot. They cry out to it, but it does not answer; it saves no one from his troubles. <a href="/2_kings/17-15.htm">2 Kings 17:15</a> They rejected His statutes and the covenant He had made with their fathers, as well as the decrees He had given them. They pursued worthless idols and became worthless themselves, going after the surrounding nations that the LORD had commanded them not to imitate. <a href="/jeremiah/2-27.htm">Jeremiah 2:27-28</a> say to a tree, ‘You are my father,’ and to a stone, ‘You gave me birth.’ They have turned their backs to Me and not their faces. Yet in the time of trouble, they say, ‘Rise up and save us!’ / But where are the gods you made for yourselves? Let them rise up in your time of trouble and save you if they can; for your gods are as numerous as your cities, O Judah. <a href="/hosea/8-4.htm">Hosea 8:4-6</a> They set up kings, but not by Me. They make princes, but without My approval. With their silver and gold they make themselves idols, to their own destruction. / He has rejected your calf, O Samaria. My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of innocence? / For this thing is from Israel—a craftsman made it, and it is not God. It will be broken to pieces, that calf of Samaria. <a href="/habakkuk/2-18.htm">Habakkuk 2:18-19</a> What use is an idol, that a craftsman should carve it—or an image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak. / Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Awake!’ or to silent stone, ‘Arise!’ Can it give guidance? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, yet there is no breath in it at all.” <a href="/1_corinthians/12-2.htm">1 Corinthians 12:2</a> You know that when you were pagans, you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. <a href="/acts/17-29.htm">Acts 17:29</a> 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. <a href="/romans/1-22.htm">Romans 1:22-23</a> 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. <a href="/revelation/9-20.htm">Revelation 9:20</a> Now the rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the works of their hands. They did not stop worshiping demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk. <a href="/1_kings/18-26.htm">1 Kings 18:26-29</a> And they took the bull that was given them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, shouting, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no sound, and no one answered as they leaped around the altar they had made. / At noon Elijah began to taunt them, saying, “Shout louder, for he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or occupied, or on a journey. Perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened!” / So they shouted louder and cut themselves with knives and lances, as was their custom, until the blood gushed over them. ... <a href="/isaiah/2-8.htm">Isaiah 2:8</a> Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And there you shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.ye shall<a href="/deuteronomy/28-36.htm">Deuteronomy 28:36,64</a> The LORD shall bring thee, and thy king which thou shalt set over thee, unto a nation which neither thou nor thy fathers have known; and there shalt thou serve other gods, wood and stone… <a href="/1_samuel/26-19.htm">1 Samuel 26:19</a> Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the LORD have stirred thee up against me, let him accept an offering: but if they be the children of men, cursed be they before the LORD; for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, Go, serve other gods.<a href="/jeremiah/16-13.htm">Jeremiah 16:13</a> Therefore will I cast you out of this land into a land that ye know not, neither ye nor your fathers; and there shall ye serve other gods day and night; where I will not shew you favour.neither see<a href="/psalms/115-4.htm">Psalm 115:4-7</a> Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands… <a href="/psalms/135-15.htm">Psalm 135:15,16</a> The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands… <a href="/isaiah/44-9.htm">Isaiah 44:9</a> They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/deuteronomy/2-28.htm">Eat</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/3-3.htm">Hands</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/4-10.htm">Hear</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/4-12.htm">Hearing</a> <a href="/hebrews/9-24.htm">Man-Made</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/3-24.htm">Power</a> <a href="/numbers/32-31.htm">Servants</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/4-19.htm">Serve</a> <a href="/numbers/15-14.htm">Smell</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/12-17.htm">Smelling</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/4-13.htm">Stone</a> <a href="/numbers/35-18.htm">Wood</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/2-7.htm">Work</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/4-19.htm">Worship</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/deuteronomy/6-11.htm">Eat</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/6-8.htm">Hands</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/4-33.htm">Hear</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/4-33.htm">Hearing</a> <a href="/mark/14-58.htm">Man-Made</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/4-37.htm">Power</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/5-6.htm">Servants</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/5-9.htm">Serve</a> <a href="/ezra/6-10.htm">Smell</a> <a href="/job/39-25.htm">Smelling</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/5-22.htm">Stone</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/10-1.htm">Wood</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/5-13.htm">Work</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/5-9.htm">Worship</a><div class="vheading2">Deuteronomy 4</div>1. <a href="/deuteronomy/4-1.htm">An exhortation to obedience</a> 41. <a href="/deuteronomy/4-41.htm">Moses appoints the three cities of refuge on that side of Jordan</a> 44. <a href="/deuteronomy/4-44.htm">Recapitulation</a> </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>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/deuteronomy/4.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/deuteronomy/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/deuteronomy/4.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>And there you will serve man-made gods of wood and stone This phrase highlights the consequence of Israel's disobedience and idolatry. The context is Moses warning the Israelites about the dangers of turning away from God. The "man-made gods" refer to idols crafted by human hands, a common practice among surrounding pagan nations. These idols were often made from materials like wood and stone, emphasizing their lifelessness and inability to interact with the world. This serves as a stark contrast to the living God of Israel, who is active and present. The warning is prophetic, as Israel would later experience exile and captivity, where they would be surrounded by such idols (<a href="/2_kings/17-7.htm">2 Kings 17:7-23</a>). The futility of idol worship is a recurring theme in the Bible, as seen in <a href="/isaiah/44-9.htm">Isaiah 44:9-20</a>, where the prophet mocks the absurdity of worshipping objects made by human hands.which cannot see or hear or eat or smell This part of the verse underscores the impotence and lifelessness of idols. Unlike the God of Israel, who is omniscient and omnipresent, these idols lack sensory perception and the ability to respond to worshippers. This is a direct challenge to the belief systems of the surrounding nations, which attributed divine powers to these inanimate objects. The inability of idols to "see or hear" is echoed in <a href="/psalms/115-4.htm">Psalm 115:4-8</a> and <a href="/psalms/135-15.htm">Psalm 135:15-18</a>, where the psalmist contrasts the living God with the dead idols. This also points to the uniqueness of the God of Israel, who is described as having eyes that see (<a href="/2_chronicles/16-9.htm">2 Chronicles 16:9</a>), ears that hear (<a href="/psalms/34-15.htm">Psalm 34:15</a>), and a mouth that speaks (<a href="/deuteronomy/8-3.htm">Deuteronomy 8:3</a>). The phrase serves as a reminder of the futility of idolatry and the superiority of worshipping the one true God.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/m/moses.htm">Moses</a> The author of Deuteronomy, delivering God's laws and warnings to the Israelites. 2. <a href="/topical/i/israelites.htm">Israelites</a> The chosen people of God, receiving instructions and warnings before entering the Promised Land. 3. <a href="/topical/c/canaan.htm">Canaan</a> The land where the Israelites are headed, filled with pagan nations and their idols. 4. <a href="/topical/i/idols.htm">Idols</a> Man-made gods of wood and stone, representing false worship and the spiritual danger of idolatry. 5. <a href="/topical/e/exile.htm">Exile</a> A future event where the Israelites would be scattered and serve foreign gods due to disobedience.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_idolatry.htm">The Danger of Idolatry</a> Idolatry is not just a historical issue but a present danger. Anything that takes the place of God in our lives can become an idol. <a href="/topical/t/the_futility_of_false_gods.htm">The Futility of False Gods</a> Just as the idols of wood and stone cannot see, hear, or act, modern-day idols (wealth, power, fame) are ultimately powerless to fulfill our deepest needs. <a href="/topical/o/obedience_and_consequences.htm">Obedience and Consequences</a> The Israelites were warned of the consequences of disobedience. Similarly, we must heed God's Word to avoid spiritual exile and separation from Him. <a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_and_jealousy.htm">God's Sovereignty and Jealousy</a> God demands exclusive worship. Understanding His sovereignty and jealousy helps us prioritize our relationship with Him above all else. <a href="/topical/r/repentance_and_restoration.htm">Repentance and Restoration</a> Even when we fall into idolatry, God offers a path to repentance and restoration, as seen throughout the history of Israel.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_deuteronomy_4.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Deuteronomy 4</a> <a href="/q/what_are_sacred_stones_in_the_bible.htm">What does the Bible say about sacred stones?</a> <a href="/q/what's_caesarea_philippi's_biblical_role.htm">What are Stones of Remembrance?</a> <a href="/q/what_defines_pagan_revelry.htm">What defines pagan revelry?</a> <a href="/q/why_does_jacob_bargain_with_god.htm">Why does Jacob appear to 'bargain' with God, seemingly contradicting other passages that discourage testing God (Genesis 28:20-22)?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/deuteronomy/4.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(28) And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men's hands.--That is, "you shall be in bondage to them," being ruled by their worshippers. And so Rashi explains it. Captivity was the means of eradicating idolatry from Israel rather than encouraging it. But the cause of a people and its idols is so constantly identified in the Old Testament, that those who are in bondage to a nation may naturally be described as in bondage to its gods. The gods were even held to be sharers in the captivity of the nation. It is said of Bel and Nebo, in <a href="/isaiah/46-2.htm" title="They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity.">Isaiah 46:2</a>, "They could not deliver . . . but themselves are gone into captivity"(29, 30, 31) Comp. <a href="/context/deuteronomy/30-1.htm" title="And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come on you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you shall call them to mind among all the nations, where the LORD your God has driven you,">Deuteronomy 30:1-5</a> for a more explicit promise and prophecy of the same thing, and see Note on that passage. <a href="/commentaries/deuteronomy/4-28.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>And there שָׁ֣ם (šām) Adverb <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8033.htm">Strong's 8033: </a> There, then, thither you will serve וַעֲבַדְתֶּם־ (wa·‘ă·ḇaḏ·tem-) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5647.htm">Strong's 5647: </a> To work, to serve, till, enslave man-made מַעֲשֵׂ֖ה (ma·‘ă·śêh) Noun - masculine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4639.htm">Strong's 4639: </a> An action, a transaction, activity, a product, property gods אֱלֹהִ֔ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm) Noun - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative of wood עֵ֣ץ (‘êṣ) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6086.htm">Strong's 6086: </a> Tree, trees, wood and stone, וָאֶ֔בֶן (wā·’e·ḇen) Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_68.htm">Strong's 68: </a> A stone which אֲשֶׁ֤ר (’ă·šer) Pronoun - relative <a href="/hebrew/strongs_834.htm">Strong's 834: </a> Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that cannot לֹֽא־ (lō-) Adverb - Negative particle <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> Not, no see יִרְאוּן֙ (yir·’ūn) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nun <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7200.htm">Strong's 7200: </a> To see [or] וְלֹ֣א (wə·lō) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> Not, no hear יִשְׁמְע֔וּן (yiš·mə·‘ūn) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nun <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8085.htm">Strong's 8085: </a> To hear intelligently [or] וְלֹ֥א (wə·lō) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> Not, no eat יֹֽאכְל֖וּן (yō·ḵə·lūn) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nun <a href="/hebrew/strongs_398.htm">Strong's 398: </a> To eat [or] וְלֹ֥א (wə·lō) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> Not, no smell. יְרִיחֻֽן׃ (yə·rî·ḥun) Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nun <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7306.htm">Strong's 7306: </a> Accept, smell, touch, make of quick understanding <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/deuteronomy/4-28.htm">Deuteronomy 4:28 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/deuteronomy/4-28.htm">Deuteronomy 4:28 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/deuteronomy/4-28.htm">Deuteronomy 4:28 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/deuteronomy/4-28.htm">Deuteronomy 4:28 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/deuteronomy/4-28.htm">Deuteronomy 4:28 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/deuteronomy/4-28.htm">Deuteronomy 4:28 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/deuteronomy/4-28.htm">Deuteronomy 4:28 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/deuteronomy/4-28.htm">Deuteronomy 4:28 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/deuteronomy/4-28.htm">Deuteronomy 4:28 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/deuteronomy/4-28.htm">Deuteronomy 4:28 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/4-28.htm">OT Law: Deuteronomy 4:28 There you shall serve gods the work (Deut. De Du)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/deuteronomy/4-27.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Deuteronomy 4:27"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Deuteronomy 4:27" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/deuteronomy/4-29.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Deuteronomy 4:29"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Deuteronomy 4:29" /></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>