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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>Deuteronomy 4:15 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</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/4-15.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/18/05_Deu_04_15.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Deuteronomy 4:15 - Warning Against Idolatry" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="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" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/deuteronomy/4-15.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/deuteronomy/4-15.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/deuteronomy/">Deuteronomy</a> > <a href="/deuteronomy/4.htm">Chapter 4</a> > Verse 15</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad15.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/4-14.htm" title="Deuteronomy 4:14">◄</a> Deuteronomy 4:15 <a href="/deuteronomy/4-16.htm" title="Deuteronomy 4:16">►</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"><b>Verse</b><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"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/deuteronomy/4.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />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,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/deuteronomy/4.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />“But be very careful! You did not see the LORD’s form on the day he spoke to you from the heart of the fire at Mount Sinai.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/deuteronomy/4.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />“Therefore watch yourselves very carefully. Since you saw no form on the day that the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/deuteronomy/4.htm">Berean Standard Bible</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<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/deuteronomy/4.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day <i>that</i> the LORD spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/deuteronomy/4.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />“Take careful heed to yourselves, for you saw no form when the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/deuteronomy/4.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />“So be very careful yourselves, since you did not see any form on the day the LORD spoke to you at Horeb from the midst of the fire,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/deuteronomy/4.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220So watch yourselves carefully, since you did not see any form on the day the LORD spoke to you at Horeb from the midst of the fire,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/deuteronomy/4.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“So watch yourselves carefully, since you did not see any form on the day the LORD spoke to you at Horeb from the midst of the fire,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/deuteronomy/4.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />“So keep your souls very carefully, since you did not see any form on the day Yahweh spoke to you at Horeb from the midst of the fire,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/deuteronomy/4.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />“So pay attention <i>and</i> watch yourselves carefully—for you did not see any form [of God] on the day the LORD spoke to you at Horeb from the midst of the fire—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/deuteronomy/4.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />“Diligently watch yourselves—because you did not see any form on the day the LORD spoke to you out of the fire at Horeb—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/deuteronomy/4.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />For your own good, be extremely careful—because you did not see any form on the day the LORD spoke to you out of the fire at Horeb—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/deuteronomy/4.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of form on the day that Jehovah spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/deuteronomy/4.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />When God spoke to you from the fire, he was invisible. So be careful <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/deuteronomy/4.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of form on the day that the LORD spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/deuteronomy/4.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />You didn't see the LORD the day he spoke to you from the fire at Mount Horeb. So be very careful<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/deuteronomy/4.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />"When the LORD spoke to you from the fire on Mount Sinai, you did not see any form. For your own good, then, make certain <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/deuteronomy/4.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />"Therefore, for your own sake, be very careful, since you did not see any form on the day that the LORD your God spoke to you in Horeb from the midst of the fire. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/deuteronomy/4.htm">Majority Standard Bible</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<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/deuteronomy/4.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Be very careful, then, because you saw no form at the time the LORD spoke to you at Horeb from the middle of the fire.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/deuteronomy/4.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Therefore watch yourselves carefully; for you saw no kind of form on the day that the LORD spoke to you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/deuteronomy/4.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Take ye therefore good heed to yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the LORD spoke to you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/deuteronomy/4.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Be very careful, for you saw no kind of form on the day that Yahweh spoke to you in Horeb out of the middle of the fire, <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/deuteronomy/4.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And you have been very watchful of your souls, for you have not seen any likeness in the day of YHWH’s speaking to you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/deuteronomy/4.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and ye have been very watchful of your souls, for ye have not seen any similitude in the day of Jehovah's speaking unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/deuteronomy/4.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And watch ye greatly to your souls, for ye saw not any appearance in the day Jehovah spoke to you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire:<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/deuteronomy/4.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Keep therefore your souls carefully. You saw not any similitude in the day that the Lord God spoke to you in Horeb from the midst of the fire: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/deuteronomy/4.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And so, guard your souls carefully. You saw no likeness on the day that the Lord God spoke to you on Horeb from the midst of fire.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/deuteronomy/4.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Because you saw no form at all on the day the LORD spoke to you at Horeb from the midst of the fire, be strictly on your guard<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/deuteronomy/4.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Since you saw no form when the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the fire, take care and watch yourselves closely,<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/deuteronomy/4.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Take therefore good heed to yourselves; for you saw no manner of form on the day that the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/deuteronomy/4.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Be very aware in your souls because you did not see a form in the day when LORD JEHOVAH spoke with you in Khoreeb from within the fire:<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/deuteronomy/4.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves--for ye saw no manner of form on the day that the LORD spoke unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire--<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/deuteronomy/4.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And take good heed to your hearts, for ye saw no similitude in the day in which the Lord spoke to you in Choreb in the mountain out of the midst of the fire:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/deuteronomy/4-15.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IRhBtZaVxJ0?start=1258" 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/deuteronomy/4.htm">Warning Against Idolatry</a></span><br> <span class="reftext">15</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">So since</a> <a href="/hebrew/7200.htm" title="7200: rə·’î·ṯem (V-Qal-Perf-2mp) -- To see. A primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively.">you saw</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.">no</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.">form</a> <a href="/hebrew/3605.htm" title="3605: kāl- (N-msc) -- The whole, all. Or kowl; from kalal; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every.">of any kind</a> <a href="/hebrew/3117.htm" title="3117: bə·yō·wm (Prep-b:: N-ms) -- Day. From an unused root meaning to be hot; a day, whether literal, or figurative.">on the day</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">the LORD</a> <a href="/hebrew/1696.htm" title="1696: dib·ber (V-Piel-Perf-3ms) -- To speak. A primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively, to speak; rarely to subdue.">spoke</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’ă·lê·ḵem (Prep:: 2mp) -- To, into, towards. ">to you</a> <a href="/hebrew/8432.htm" title="8432: mit·tō·wḵ (Prep-m:: N-msc) -- Midst. From an unused root meaning to sever; a bisection, i.e. the centre.">out of</a> <a href="/hebrew/784.htm" title="784: hā·’êš (Art:: N-cs) -- A fire. A primitive word; fire.">the fire</a> <a href="/hebrew/2722.htm" title="2722: bə·ḥō·rêḇ (Prep-b:: N-proper-fs) -- Waste, a mountain in Sinai. From charab; desolate; Choreb, a name for the Sinaitic mountains.">at Horeb,</a> <a href="/hebrew/8104.htm" title="8104: wə·niš·mar·tem (Conj-w:: V-Nifal-ConjPerf-2mp) -- To keep, watch, preserve. A primitive root; properly, to hedge about, i.e. Guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.">be careful</a> <a href="/hebrew/5315.htm" title="5315: lə·nap̄·šō·ṯê·ḵem (Prep-l:: N-fpc:: 2mp) -- From naphash; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. Animal of vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3966.htm" title="3966: mə·’ōḏ (Adv) -- Muchness, force, abundance. From the same as 'uwd; properly, vehemence, i.e. vehemently; by implication, wholly, speedily, etc."></a> </span><span class="reftext">16</span>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,…<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="/exodus/20-4.htm">Exodus 20:4-5</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. / 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,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/40-18.htm">Isaiah 40:18-19</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?<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="/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="/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="/1_corinthians/10-14.htm">1 Corinthians 10:14</a></span><br />Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.<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="/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="/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="/jeremiah/10-14.htm">Jeremiah 10:14-15</a></span><br />Every man is senseless and devoid of knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols. For his molten images are a fraud, and there is no breath in them. / They are worthless, a work to be mocked. In the time of their punishment they will perish.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/17-15.htm">2 Kings 17:15-17</a></span><br />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. / They abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God and made for themselves two cast idols of calves and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the host of heaven and served Baal. / They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire and practiced divination and soothsaying. They devoted themselves to doing evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/colossians/3-5.htm">Colossians 3:5</a></span><br />Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/46-5.htm">Isaiah 46:5-7</a></span><br />To whom will you liken Me or count Me equal? To whom will you compare Me, that we should be alike? / 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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/8-10.htm">Ezekiel 8:10-12</a></span><br />So I went in and looked, and engraved all around the wall was every kind of crawling creature and detestable beast, along with all the idols of the house of Israel. / Before them stood seventy elders of the house of Israel, with Jaazaniah son of Shaphan standing among them. Each had a censer in his hand, and a fragrant cloud of incense was rising. / “Son of man,” He said to me, “do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the darkness, each at the shrine of his own idol? For they are saying, ‘The LORD does not see us; the LORD has forsaken the land.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/12-28.htm">1 Kings 12:28-30</a></span><br />After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves and said to the people, “Going up to Jerusalem is too much for you. Here, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” / One calf he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. / And this thing became a sin; the people walked as far as Dan to worship before one of the calves.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Take you therefore good heed to yourselves; for you saw no manner of similitude on the day that the LORD spoke to you in Horeb out of the middle of the fire:</p><p class="hdg">Take ye</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/4-9.htm">Deuteronomy 4:9,23</a></b></br> Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons; … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/joshua/23-11.htm">Joshua 23:11</a></b></br> Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_chronicles/28-9.htm">1 Chronicles 28:9,10</a></b></br> And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever… </p><p class="hdg">of similitude</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/4-12.htm">Deuteronomy 4:12</a></b></br> And the LORD spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only <i>ye heard</i> a voice.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/40-18.htm">Isaiah 40:18</a></b></br> To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_corinthians/4-4.htm">2 Corinthians 4:4-6</a></b></br> In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/deuteronomy/1-9.htm">Care</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/4-6.htm">Carefully</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/4-11.htm">Heart</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/4-9.htm">Heed</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/4-10.htm">Horeb</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/1-27.htm">Jehovah's</a> <a href="/numbers/28-8.htm">Kind</a> <a href="/numbers/31-51.htm">Manner</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/4-12.htm">Midst</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/4-12.htm">Similitude</a> <a href="/numbers/28-18.htm">Sort</a> <a href="/numbers/31-50.htm">Souls</a> <a href="/numbers/36-5.htm">Speaking</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/4-12.htm">Voice</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-18.htm">Watch</a> <a href="/exodus/23-21.htm">Watchful</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/4-1.htm">Yourselves</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/deuteronomy/4-23.htm">Care</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/5-1.htm">Carefully</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/4-29.htm">Heart</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/4-23.htm">Heed</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/5-2.htm">Horeb</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/9-28.htm">Jehovah's</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/10-19.htm">Kind</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/5-8.htm">Manner</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/4-33.htm">Midst</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/4-16.htm">Similitude</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/8-13.htm">Sort</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/10-22.htm">Souls</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/4-33.htm">Speaking</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/4-30.htm">Voice</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/4-23.htm">Watch</a> <a href="/joshua/23-11.htm">Watchful</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/4-16.htm">Yourselves</a><div class="vheading2">Deuteronomy 4</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/deuteronomy/4-1.htm">An exhortation to obedience</a></span><br><span class="reftext">41. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/deuteronomy/4-41.htm">Moses appoints the three cities of refuge on that side of Jordan</a></span><br><span class="reftext">44. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/deuteronomy/4-44.htm">Recapitulation</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 /> <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> <br /><br /> </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><b>So since you saw no form of any kind</b><br>This phrase emphasizes the formlessness of God as experienced by the Israelites. In the ancient Near East, many cultures worshiped deities represented by physical idols or images. The Israelites' experience at Horeb (Mount Sinai) was distinct because God did not reveal Himself in any physical form. This absence of form underscores the transcendence and invisibility of God, aligning with the commandment against idolatry (<a href="/exodus/20-4.htm">Exodus 20:4-5</a>). It highlights the uniqueness of Yahweh compared to other gods of the time, who were often depicted in human or animal forms.<p><b>on the day the LORD spoke to you</b><br>This refers to the event at Mount Horeb, where God communicated directly with the Israelites. The direct communication from God to His people was a significant moment in Israelite history, marking the establishment of the covenant. It underscores the personal relationship God sought with Israel, contrasting with the distant and impersonal nature of pagan deities. This direct revelation is foundational for understanding the authority of the Law given to Moses.<p><b>out of the fire at Horeb</b><br>The fire at Horeb symbolizes God's presence and holiness. Fire is a recurring motif in the Bible, often associated with God's presence, purification, and judgment (<a href="/exodus/3-2.htm">Exodus 3:2</a>, <a href="/1_kings/18-38.htm">1 Kings 18:38</a>). Horeb, another name for Mount Sinai, is geographically located in the Sinai Peninsula. This location is significant as the place where the Israelites received the Ten Commandments, forming the basis of their covenant with God. The fire also serves as a reminder of God's power and the awe-inspiring nature of His revelation.<p><b>be careful</b><br>This is a warning to the Israelites to remain vigilant in their faithfulness to God. The caution reflects the human tendency to stray from God's commands and the allure of idolatry. It serves as a reminder of the covenant obligations and the need for obedience to God's laws. This exhortation to be careful is echoed throughout Deuteronomy and the rest of the Old Testament, emphasizing the importance of adherence to God's commandments to maintain the blessings of the covenant (<a href="/deuteronomy/6-12.htm">Deuteronomy 6:12</a>, <a href="/joshua/23-11.htm">Joshua 23:11</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/m/moses.htm">Moses</a></b><br>The leader of the Israelites who is delivering God's commandments and warnings to the people.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/i/israelites.htm">Israelites</a></b><br>The chosen people of God, receiving the law and instructions from Moses.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/h/horeb.htm">Horeb</a></b><br>Another name for Mount Sinai, where God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD (Yahweh)</a></b><br>The God of Israel, who spoke to the people from the fire.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_fire.htm">The Fire</a></b><br>Represents God's presence and His method of communication with the Israelites at Horeb.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/g/guard_against_idolatry.htm">Guard Against Idolatry</a></b><br>The absence of a physical form of God at Horeb serves as a reminder to avoid creating idols or images that attempt to represent God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/reverence_for_god's_holiness.htm">Reverence for God's Holiness</a></b><br>Recognize the holiness and otherness of God, who cannot be contained or represented by human means.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/spiritual_vigilance.htm">Spiritual Vigilance</a></b><br>"Watch yourselves very carefully" is a call to be spiritually vigilant and discerning in our worship and daily lives.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/faith_in_the_invisible_god.htm">Faith in the Invisible God</a></b><br>Trust in God's presence and power, even when He is not seen, as He is always at work in the lives of believers.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/o/obedience_to_god's_commands.htm">Obedience to God's Commands</a></b><br>Emphasize the importance of adhering to God's commandments as a response to His revelation and covenant with His people.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_deuteronomy_4.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Deuteronomy 4</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_defines_critical_race_theory.htm">What is Mount Horeb's significance in the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_defines_iconoclasm.htm">What defines iconoclasm?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_'god_is_spirit'_mean.htm">What does "God is spirit" mean?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_1_kings_19_fit_with_elijah's_story.htm">How does 1 Kings 19 fit with other biblical accounts of Elijah and the broader historical context, considering potential timeline or narrative discrepancies? (1 Kings 19)</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>(15) <span class= "bld">Ye saw no manner of similitude.</span>--The worship of the <span class= "ital">invisible </span>Jehovah is here specially insisted on. The difficulty of learning to worship one whom we cannot see is, happily, one which our education does not enable us to realise in its relation to Israel of old. All nations had their visible symbols of deity. Centuries afterwards the world described the followers of Christ as <span class= "ital">Atheists, </span>because they had no visible God. It is especially recorded in praise of Moses that "he endured as seeing Him who is invisible" (<a href="/hebrews/11-27.htm" title="By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.">Hebrews 11:27</a>).<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/deuteronomy/4.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 15-20.</span> - As the people had seen no form or figure when God spake to them, so they were to beware for their very lives (cf. ver. 9) of acting corruptly by making any kind of image, whether of man or of beast, for the purpose of worshipping God as represented by it; they were also to beware of being so attracted by the splendor of the heavenly bodies as to be forcibly seduced to worship them and offer them religious service. They were not in this respect to imitate the heathen; for God, who had delivered them out of the furnace of Egyptian bondage, had taken them for himself to be his special possession; and therefore they were to take heed not to forget the covenant of Jehovah their God, nor to offend him by making any image or representation of him as the object of worship. Among the heathen, and especially in Egypt, images were the very pillar and support of religion; but in Israel, as God had revealed himself to them without form, it was as a spirit he was to be worshipped, and not under any outward representation. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/deuteronomy/4-15.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">So since</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּ֣י</span> <span class="translit">(kî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">you saw</span><br /><span class="heb">רְאִיתֶם֙</span> <span class="translit">(rə·’î·ṯem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7200.htm">Strong's 7200: </a> </span><span class="str2">To see</span><br /><br /><span class="word">no</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹ֤א</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">form</span><br /><span class="heb">תְּמוּנָ֔ה</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 any kind</span><br /><span class="heb">כָּל־</span> <span class="translit">(kāl-)</span><br /><span class="parse">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">on the day</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּי֗וֹם</span> <span class="translit">(bə·yō·wm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3117.htm">Strong's 3117: </a> </span><span class="str2">A day</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the LORD</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוָ֧ה</span> <span class="translit">(Yah·weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> </span><span class="str2">LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">spoke</span><br /><span class="heb">דִּבֶּ֨ר</span> <span class="translit">(dib·ber)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1696.htm">Strong's 1696: </a> </span><span class="str2">To arrange, to speak, to subdue</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to you</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲלֵיכֶ֛ם</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·lê·ḵem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">out of</span><br /><span class="heb">מִתּ֥וֹךְ</span> <span class="translit">(mit·tō·wḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8432.htm">Strong's 8432: </a> </span><span class="str2">A bisection, the centre</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the fire</span><br /><span class="heb">הָאֵֽשׁ׃</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’êš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_784.htm">Strong's 784: </a> </span><span class="str2">A fire</span><br /><br /><span class="word">at Horeb,</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּחֹרֵ֖ב</span> <span class="translit">(bə·ḥō·rêḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2722.htm">Strong's 2722: </a> </span><span class="str2">Horeb -- 'waste', a mountain in Sinai</span><br /><br /><span class="word">be careful</span><br /><span class="heb">וְנִשְׁמַרְתֶּ֥ם</span> <span class="translit">(wə·niš·mar·tem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8104.htm">Strong's 8104: </a> </span><span class="str2">To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/deuteronomy/4-15.htm">Deuteronomy 4:15 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/deuteronomy/4-15.htm">Deuteronomy 4:15 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/deuteronomy/4-15.htm">Deuteronomy 4:15 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/deuteronomy/4-15.htm">Deuteronomy 4:15 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/deuteronomy/4-15.htm">Deuteronomy 4:15 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/deuteronomy/4-15.htm">Deuteronomy 4:15 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/deuteronomy/4-15.htm">Deuteronomy 4:15 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/deuteronomy/4-15.htm">Deuteronomy 4:15 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/deuteronomy/4-15.htm">Deuteronomy 4:15 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/deuteronomy/4-15.htm">Deuteronomy 4:15 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/deuteronomy/4-15.htm">OT Law: Deuteronomy 4:15 Take therefore good heed to yourselves (Deut. De Du)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/deuteronomy/4-14.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Deuteronomy 4:14"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Deuteronomy 4:14" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/deuteronomy/4-16.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Deuteronomy 4:16"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Deuteronomy 4:16" /></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>