Deuteronomy 4:15-24

Expanded Bible

Laws About Idols

¹⁵ Since the Lord spoke to you from the fire at ·Mount Sinai [^LHoreb; 4:10], but you did not see ·him [^Lany form], watch yourselves carefully! ¹⁶ Don’t ·sin [ruin/destroy/spoil/corrupt yourselves] by making idols of any kind, and don’t make statues—of men or women, ¹⁷ of animals on earth or birds that fly in the air, ¹⁸ of anything that ·crawls [swarms] on the ground, or of fish in the water below. ¹⁹ When you ·look up at [^Llift your eyes to] the ·sky [heavens], you see the sun, moon, and stars, and ·everything in the sky [all the host of heaven]. But don’t bow down and worship them [5:8–9; Ex. 20:4–5], because the Lord your God has ·made these things [apportioned them] for all people everywhere [32:8]. ²⁰ But the Lord brought you out of Egypt, ·which tested you like a furnace for melting iron [^Lthe iron-smelter; 1 Kin. 8:51; Jer. 11:4], and he made you his ·very own people [^Linheritance], as ·you are now [^Lthis day].

²¹ The Lord was angry with me because of you, and he swore that I would not cross the Jordan River to go into the good land the Lord your God is giving you as ·your own [^Lan inheritance]. ²² I will die here in this land and not cross the Jordan [34:1–8], but you will soon go across and take that good land. ²³ Be careful. Don’t forget the ·Agreement [Covenant; Treaty] of the Lord your God that he made with you, and don’t make any idols for yourselves, as the Lord your God has commanded you not to do. ²⁴ The Lord your God is a jealous God [5:9; 6:15; Ex. 20:5; 34:14; Josh. 24:19; Nah. 1:2], ·like a fire that burns things up [a consuming fire].