Deuteronomy 4:17

Deuteronomy 4:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)The likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air,
• New International Version (NIV)or like any animal on earth or any bird that flies in the air,
• English Standard Version (ESV)the likeness of any animal that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the air,
• New King James Version (NKJV)the likeness of any animal that is on the earth or the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the air,

Context of Deuteronomy 4:17

15Be very careful, then, because you saw no form at the time the Lord spoke to you at Horeb from the middle of the fire. 16I say this 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, any kind of land animal, any bird that flies in the sky, 18anything that crawls on the ground, or any fish in the deep waters of the earth. 19When you look up to the sky and see the sun, moon, and stars – the whole heavenly creation – you must not be seduced to worship and serve them, for the Lord your God has assigned them to all the people of the world.

Deuteronomy 4:17 word by word

תַּבְנִ֕ית כָּל־בְּהֵמָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר בָּאָ֑רֶץ תַּבְנִית֙ כָּל־צִפּ֣וֹר כָּנָ֔ף אֲשֶׁ֥ר תָּע֖וּף בַּשָּׁמָֽיִם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• The likenessתַּבְנִיתtabnîyth · patternH8403
• of any beastבְּהֵמָהbehêmâh · animalH929
• on the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
• of any wingedכָּנָףkânâph · wingH3671
• fowlצִפּוֹרtsippôr tsippôr · birdH6833
• that fliethעוּף‛ûph · to flyH5774
• in the airשָׁמַיִםshâmayim shâmeh · heavenH8064

Cross-references for Deuteronomy 4:17

• Deuteronomy 20:4for the Lord your God goes with you to fight on your behalf against your enemies to give you victory.”
• Romans 1:23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for an image resembling mortal human beings or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles.

Commentaries on Deuteronomy 4:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17The likeness of any beast, etc. - Such as the Egyptian god Apis, who was worshipped under the form of a white bull; the ibis and hawk, among the fowls, had also Divine honors paid to them; serpents and the crocodile among reptiles; besides monkeys, dogs, cats, the scarabaeus, leeks, and onions! See this explained at large, Exodus 20:4; (note).Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-40Moses gave a long speech to the Israelites because of their recent failures and what he thought would happen in Canaan.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 16-1916-19. Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image--The things are here specified of which God prohibited any image or representation to be made for the purposes of worship; and, from the variety of details entered into, an idea may be formed of the extensive prevalence of idolatry in that age. In whatever way idolatry originated, whether from an intention to worship the true God through those things which seemed to afford the strongest…Read the comment

Topics related to Deuteronomy 4:17

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Idolatry
• Obedience

In the dictionaries

• Add
• Consider
• Consuming
• Diminish
• Furnace
• Hearken
• Idol
• Deuteronomy
• Fowl
• Law in the Old Testament

Commentaries on Deuteronomy 4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings