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16 I say this[a] so you will not corrupt yourselves by making an image in the form of any kind of figure. This includes the likeness of a human male or female, 17 any kind of land animal, any bird that flies in the sky, 18 anything that crawls[b] on the ground, or any fish in the deep waters under the earth.[c] 19 When you look up[d] to the sky[e] and see the sun, moon, and stars—the whole heavenly creation[f]—you must not be seduced to worship and serve them,[g] for the Lord your God has assigned[h] them to all the people[i] of the world.[j]

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Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 4:16 tn The words “I say this” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons. In the Hebrew text v. 16 is subordinated to “Be careful” in v. 15, but this makes for an unduly long sentence in English.
  2. Deuteronomy 4:18 tn Heb “creeping thing.”
  3. Deuteronomy 4:18 tn Heb “under the earth.”
  4. Deuteronomy 4:19 tn Heb “lest you lift up your eyes.” In the Hebrew text vv. 16-19 are subordinated to “Be careful” in v. 15, but this makes for an unduly long sentence in English.
  5. Deuteronomy 4:19 tn Or “heavens.” The Hebrew term שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) may be translated “heaven(s)” or “sky” depending on the context.
  6. Deuteronomy 4:19 tn Heb “all the host of heaven.”
  7. Deuteronomy 4:19 tn In the Hebrew text the verbal sequence in v. 19 is “lest you look up…and see…and be seduced…and worship them…and serve them.” However, the first two actions are not prohibited in and of themselves. The prohibition pertains to the final three actions. The first two verbs describe actions that are logically subordinate to the following actions and can be treated as temporal or circumstantial: “lest, looking up…and seeing…, you are seduced.” See Joüon 2:635 §168.h.
  8. Deuteronomy 4:19 tn Or “allotted.”
  9. Deuteronomy 4:19 tn Or “nations.”
  10. Deuteronomy 4:19 tn Heb “under all the heaven.”sn The OT views the heavenly host as God’s council, which surrounds his royal throne ready to do his bidding (see 1 Kgs 22:19). God has given this group, sometimes called the “sons of God” (cf. Job 1:6; 38:7; Ps 89:6), jurisdiction over the nations. See Deut 32:8 (LXX). Some also see this assembly as the addressee in Ps 82. While God delegated his council to rule over the nations, he established a theocratic government over Israel and ruled directly over his chosen people via the Mosaic covenant. See v. 20, as well as Deut 32:9.

16 so that you do not become corrupt(A) and make for yourselves an idol,(B) an image of any shape, whether formed like a man or a woman, 17 or like any animal on earth or any bird that flies in the air,(C) 18 or like any creature that moves along the ground or any fish in the waters below. 19 And when you look up to the sky and see the sun,(D) the moon and the stars(E)—all the heavenly array(F)—do not be enticed(G) into bowing down to them and worshiping(H) things the Lord your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven.

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