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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>Leviticus 19:4 Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves molten gods. I am the LORD your God.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/leviticus/19-4.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/11/03_Lev_19_04.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Leviticus 19:4 - Idolatry Forbidden" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves molten gods. 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I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/leviticus/19.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />“Do not put your trust in idols or make metal images of gods for yourselves. I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/leviticus/19.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves any gods of cast metal: I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/leviticus/19.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves molten gods. I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/leviticus/19.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I <i>am</i> the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/leviticus/19.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />‘Do not turn to idols, nor make for yourselves molded gods: I <i>am</i> the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/leviticus/19.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves cast metal gods; I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/leviticus/19.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8216Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves molten gods; I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/leviticus/19.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />‘Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves molten gods; I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/leviticus/19.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves molten gods; I am Yahweh your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/leviticus/19.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves molten gods (images cast in metal); I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/leviticus/19.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Do not turn to worthless idols or make cast images of gods for yourselves; I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/leviticus/19.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Do not turn to idols or make cast images of gods for yourselves; I am Yahweh your God.&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/leviticus/19.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I am Jehovah your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/leviticus/19.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/leviticus/19.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />"Don't turn to worthless gods or cast metal idols. Never make any gods for yourselves. I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/leviticus/19.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />"Do not abandon me and worship idols; do not make gods of metal and worship them. I am the LORD your God. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/leviticus/19.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />"You are not to turn to their idols or cast gods out of melted metal for yourselves. I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/leviticus/19.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Do not turn to idols, and you must not make for yourselves gods of cast metal. I am the LORD your God. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/leviticus/19.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />"'Do not turn to idols, nor make molten gods for yourselves. I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/leviticus/19.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Turn ye not to idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I am the LORD your God.<div class="vheading2"><b>Majority Text Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/leviticus/19.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves molten gods. I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/leviticus/19.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />“‘Don’t turn to idols, nor make molten gods for yourselves. I am Yahweh your God. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/leviticus/19.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />You do not turn to the idols, and you do not make a molten god for yourselves; I [am] your God YHWH.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/leviticus/19.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Ye do not turn unto the idols, and a molten god ye do not make to yourselves; I am Jehovah your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/leviticus/19.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Ye shall not turn to vain things, and molten gods ye shall not make to yourselves: I am Jehovah your God.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/leviticus/19.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Turn ye not to idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods. I am the Lord your God. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/leviticus/19.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Do not be willing to convert to idols, neither should you make molten gods for yourselves. I am the Lord your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/leviticus/19.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Do not turn aside to idols, nor make molten gods for yourselves. I, the LORD, am your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/leviticus/19.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Do not turn to idols or make cast images for yourselves: I am the LORD your God.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/leviticus/19.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />You shall not turn to idols nor make to yourselves molten gods; I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/leviticus/19.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Do not be turned after demons; you shall not make to yourselves gods that are molten; I AM LORD JEHOVAH your God.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/leviticus/19.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Turn ye not unto the idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/leviticus/19.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Ye shall not follow idols, and ye shall not make to yourselves molten gods: I <i>am</i> the Lord your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/leviticus/19-4.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/NWs_V1RyMFo?start=4983" 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/leviticus/19.htm">Idolatry Forbidden</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">3</span>Each of you must respect his mother and father, and you must keep My Sabbaths. I am the LORD your God. <span class="reftext">4</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/408.htm" title="408: ’al- (Adv) -- Not (a subjective neg.). A negative particle; not; once as a noun, nothing.">Do not</a> <a href="/hebrew/6437.htm" title="6437: tip̄·nū (V-Qal-Imperf-2mp) -- To turn. A primitive root; to turn; by implication, to face, i.e. Appear, look, etc.">turn</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">to</a> <a href="/hebrew/457.htm" title="457: hā·’ĕ·lî·lîm (Art:: N-mp) -- Insufficiency, worthlessness. Apparently from 'al; good for nothing, by anal. Vain or vanity; specifically an idol.">idols</a> <a href="/hebrew/6213.htm" title="6213: ṯa·‘ă·śū (V-Qal-Imperf-2mp) -- To do, make. A primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application.">or make</a> <a href="/hebrew/lā·ḵem (Prep:: 2mp) -- ">for yourselves</a> <a href="/hebrew/4541.htm" title="4541: mas·sê·ḵāh (N-fs) -- From nacak; properly, a pouring over, i.e. Fusion of metal; by implication, a libation, i.e. League; concretely a coverlet.">molten</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."></a> <a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: wê·lō·hê (Conj-w:: N-mpc) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">gods.</a> <a href="/hebrew/589.htm" title="589: ’ă·nî (Pro-1cs) -- I. Contracted from 'anokiy; I.">I</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.">am the LORD</a> <a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: ’ĕ·lō·hê·ḵem (N-mpc:: 2mp) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">your God.</a> </span><span class="reftext">5</span>When you sacrifice a peace offering to the LORD, you shall offer it for your acceptance.…<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/20-3.htm">Exodus 20:3-4</a></span><br />You shall have no other gods before Me. / 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="/deuteronomy/5-7.htm">Deuteronomy 5:7-8</a></span><br />You shall have no other gods before Me. / 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="/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="/1_corinthians/8-4.htm">1 Corinthians 8:4-6</a></span><br />So about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one. / For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many so-called gods and lords), / yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist.<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="/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="/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="/1_kings/18-21.htm">1 Kings 18:21</a></span><br />Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him. But if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people did not answer a word.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/17-35.htm">2 Kings 17:35-39</a></span><br />For the LORD had made a covenant with the Israelites and commanded them, “Do not worship other gods or bow down to them; do not serve them or sacrifice to them. / Instead, worship the LORD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt with great power and an outstretched arm. You are to bow down to Him and offer sacrifices to Him. / And you must always be careful to observe the statutes, ordinances, laws, and commandments He wrote for you. Do not worship other gods. ...<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="/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="/hosea/13-2.htm">Hosea 13:2</a></span><br />Now they sin more and more and make for themselves cast images, idols skillfully made from their silver, all of them the work of craftsmen. People say of them, “They offer human sacrifice and kiss the calves!”<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.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Turn you not to idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I am the LORD your God.</p><p class="hdg">not unto</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/leviticus/26-1.htm">Leviticus 26:1</a></b></br> Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up <i>any</i> image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I <i>am</i> the LORD your God.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/20-3.htm">Exodus 20:3-5</a></b></br> Thou shalt have no other gods before me… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_corinthians/10-14.htm">1 Corinthians 10:14</a></b></br> Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.</p><p class="hdg">molten gods</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/20-23.htm">Exodus 20:23</a></b></br> Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/32-4.htm">Exodus 32:4</a></b></br> And he received <i>them</i> at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These <i>be</i> thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.</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><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/leviticus/18-24.htm">Cast</a> <a href="/leviticus/6-5.htm">False.</a> <a href="/exodus/34-17.htm">Gods</a> <a href="/leviticus/17-7.htm">Idols</a> <a href="/exodus/34-13.htm">Images</a> <a href="/exodus/37-22.htm">Metal</a> <a href="/exodus/34-17.htm">Molten</a> <a href="/leviticus/13-16.htm">Turn</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-30.htm">Yourselves</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/leviticus/20-23.htm">Cast</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-11.htm">False.</a> <a href="/numbers/25-2.htm">Gods</a> <a href="/leviticus/26-1.htm">Idols</a> <a href="/leviticus/26-30.htm">Images</a> <a href="/numbers/33-52.htm">Metal</a> <a href="/numbers/33-52.htm">Molten</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-29.htm">Turn</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-28.htm">Yourselves</a><div class="vheading2">Leviticus 19</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/leviticus/19-1.htm">A repetition of various laws</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/leviticus/19.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/leviticus/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/leviticus/19.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Do not turn to idols</b><br>This command is a direct prohibition against idolatry, which was prevalent among the surrounding nations of Israel. The Hebrew word for "idols" here can also mean "worthless things," emphasizing the futility of worshiping anything other than God. In the ancient Near East, idol worship was common, often involving the veneration of physical objects believed to embody deities. This command underscores the call to exclusive worship of Yahweh, aligning with the first and second commandments given in <a href="/exodus/20-3.htm">Exodus 20:3-4</a>. The Israelites were to remain distinct from the Canaanites and other neighboring cultures, who often worshiped multiple gods.<p><b>or make for yourselves molten gods</b><br>The phrase "molten gods" refers to idols made by melting metal and casting it into a form, often representing deities. This practice was widespread in ancient cultures, including Egypt, where the Israelites had been enslaved. The golden calf incident in <a href="/exodus/32.htm">Exodus 32</a> is a direct example of this sin, where Aaron fashioned a molten calf for the people to worship. This command serves as a reminder of the dangers of creating physical representations of deities, which can lead to false worship and a departure from faith in the invisible God. The prohibition also highlights the futility of worshiping man-made objects, which cannot compare to the living God.<p><b>I am the LORD your God</b><br>This declaration serves as the foundational reason for the command. The use of "I am the LORD" (Yahweh) emphasizes God's covenant relationship with Israel. It is a reminder of His identity as the one true God who delivered them from Egypt and established them as His chosen people. The phrase "your God" personalizes the relationship, indicating that Yahweh is not just a distant deity but the God who is intimately involved with His people. This statement is a recurring theme throughout Leviticus and the Pentateuch, reinforcing God's authority and the call to holiness. It also foreshadows the New Testament revelation of Jesus Christ, who fulfills the law and establishes a new covenant with His followers, as seen in passages like <a href="/hebrews/8-6.htm">Hebrews 8:6-13</a>.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_israelites.htm">The Israelites</a></b><br>The original audience of Leviticus, the Israelites were God's chosen people, delivered from Egypt and given the Law to guide their covenant relationship with Him.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/m/mount_sinai.htm">Mount Sinai</a></b><br>The place where God gave the Law to Moses, including the commandments found in Leviticus, as part of establishing His covenant with Israel.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/m/moses.htm">Moses</a></b><br>The leader of the Israelites and the mediator of God's Law, including the instructions in Leviticus.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/i/idols.htm">Idols</a></b><br>Objects of worship made by human hands, often representing false gods, which the Israelites were commanded to avoid.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD (Yahweh)</a></b><br>The one true God who delivered Israel from Egypt and established a covenant with them, emphasizing His unique identity and authority.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/e/exclusive_worship_of_god.htm">Exclusive Worship of God</a></b><br>God demands exclusive worship because He alone is the Creator and Sustainer. Idolatry is a direct affront to His sovereignty and holiness.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_idolatry.htm">The Danger of Idolatry</a></b><br>Idolatry is not just the worship of physical idols but can include anything that takes the place of God in our hearts. This can be money, power, relationships, or even self.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_identity_and_authority.htm">God's Identity and Authority</a></b><br>The phrase "I am the LORD your God" underscores God's authority and the reason for His commands. Recognizing His identity is foundational to obedience.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/h/holiness_and_separation.htm">Holiness and Separation</a></b><br>As God's people, we are called to be holy and separate from the practices of the world, including idolatry, which corrupts our relationship with God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/m/modern_idolatry.htm">Modern Idolatry</a></b><br>In today's context, idolatry can manifest in subtle ways. We must examine our lives to ensure that nothing takes precedence over our relationship with God.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_leviticus_19.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Leviticus 19</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what's_the_second_commandment.htm">What does the second commandment state?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/does_deut._13_clash_with_free_will.htm">Does the harsh response prescribed in Deuteronomy 13 conflict with the concept of free will versus strict divine command?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_is_yahwism_or_a_yahwist.htm">What is Yahwism or a Yahwist?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_god_demand_execution_in_2_chron_15_13.htm">Why would a loving God demand the execution of anyone who refused to seek Him (2 Chronicles 15:13), conflicting with other biblical passages emphasizing mercy?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/leviticus/19.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(4) <span class= "bld">Turn ye not unto idols.</span>--As the Lord is their God, and there is no other God besides Him, the Israelites must never turn their affections nor address prayers or enquiries to idols. This part of the verse therefore corresponds with the first commandment of the Decalogue (<a href="/exodus/20-3.htm" title="You shall have no other gods before me.">Exodus 20:3</a>). The expression here rendered "idols," which, apart from the Prophets and Hagiographa, only occurs once more (see <a href="/leviticus/26-1.htm" title="You shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither raise you up a standing image, neither shall you set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down to it: for I am the LORD your God.">Leviticus 26:1</a>), denotes <span class= "ital">non-entities</span>--nothings, and it is in allusion to this import of the word that the Apostle remarks, "We know that an idol is <span class= "ital">nothing </span>in the world" (<a href="/1_corinthians/8-4.htm" title="As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.">1Corinthians 8:4</a>). According to the administrators of the law during the second Temple, the injunction here "turn not" means "face not," and forbids even the looking at or the examination of an idol.<p><span class= "bld">Nor make yourselves molten gods.</span>--This part of the verse corresponds with the second commandment in the Decalogue (<a href="/context/exodus/20-4.htm" title="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.">Exodus 20:4-6</a>), though the phrase "molten gods" only occurs once more where the same prohibition is enforced (<a href="/exodus/34-17.htm" title="You shall make you no molten gods.">Exodus 34:17</a>). . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/leviticus/19.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 4.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Turn ye not unto idols.</span> The word used for idols, <span class="accented">elilim</span>, meaning nothings, is contrasted with <span class="accented">Elohim</span>, God. <a href="/psalms/115.htm">Psalm 115</a> exhibits this contrast in several of its particulars. Cf. St. Paul's statement, "We know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one" (<a href="/1_corinthians/8-4.htm">1 Corinthians 8:4</a>). "If the heart of man becomes benumbed to the use of images of false gods of any kind, he sinks down to the idols which are his ideals, and becomes as dumb and unspiritual as they are" (Lunge). The remainder of the verse forbids the transgression of the second commandment, as the earlier part of the verse forbids the transgression of the first commandment: nor make to yourselves molten gods, as was done by Jeroboam when he set up the calves (<a href="/1_kings/12-23.htm">1 Kings 12:23</a>). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/leviticus/19-4.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">Do not</span><br /><span class="heb">אַל־</span> <span class="translit">(’al-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_408.htm">Strong's 408: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not</span><br /><br /><span class="word">turn</span><br /><span class="heb">תִּפְנוּ֙</span> <span class="translit">(tip̄·nū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6437.htm">Strong's 6437: </a> </span><span class="str2">To turn, to face, appear, look</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶל־</span> <span class="translit">(’el-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<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">idols</span><br /><span class="heb">הָ֣אֱלִילִ֔ים</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’ĕ·lî·lîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_457.htm">Strong's 457: </a> </span><span class="str2">Good for, nothing, by anal, vain, vanity, an idol</span><br /><br /><span class="word">or make</span><br /><span class="heb">תַעֲשׂ֖וּ</span> <span class="translit">(ṯa·‘ă·śū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural<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 yourselves</span><br /><span class="heb">לָכֶ֑ם</span> <span class="translit">(lā·ḵem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> </span><span class="str2"></span><br /><br /><span class="word">molten</span><br /><span class="heb">מַסֵּכָ֔ה</span> <span class="translit">(mas·sê·ḵāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4541.htm">Strong's 4541: </a> </span><span class="str2">A pouring over, fusion of metal, a libation, league, a coverlet</span><br /><br /><span class="word">gods.</span><br /><span class="heb">וֵֽאלֹהֵי֙</span> <span class="translit">(wê·lō·hê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> </span><span class="str2">gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative</span><br /><br /><span class="word">I</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲנִ֖י</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·nî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_589.htm">Strong's 589: </a> </span><span class="str2">I</span><br /><br /><span class="word">am the LORD</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוָ֥ה</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">your God.</span><br /><span class="heb">אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃</span> <span class="translit">(’ĕ·lō·hê·ḵem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> </span><span class="str2">gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/leviticus/19-4.htm">Leviticus 19:4 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/leviticus/19-4.htm">Leviticus 19:4 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/leviticus/19-4.htm">Leviticus 19:4 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/leviticus/19-4.htm">Leviticus 19:4 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/leviticus/19-4.htm">Leviticus 19:4 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/leviticus/19-4.htm">Leviticus 19:4 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/leviticus/19-4.htm">Leviticus 19:4 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/leviticus/19-4.htm">Leviticus 19:4 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/leviticus/19-4.htm">Leviticus 19:4 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/leviticus/19-4.htm">Leviticus 19:4 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/leviticus/19-4.htm">OT Law: Leviticus 19:4 Don't turn to idols nor make molten (Le Lv Lev.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/leviticus/19-3.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Leviticus 19:3"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Leviticus 19:3" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/leviticus/19-5.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Leviticus 19:5"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Leviticus 19:5" /></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>