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

15“So be very watchful over your souls since you saw no form on the day that Adonai spoke to you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire, 16so that you do not act corruptly and make for yourselves a graven image in the likeness of any figure—the form of a male or female, the form of any animal that is on the earth, the form of any winged bird that flies in the sky, 18the form of anything that creeps on the ground, the form of any fish that is in the water under the earth— 19and so that you do not lift up your eyes toward the heavens and see the sun and the moon and the stars—all the heavenly host—and are drawn away and bow down and worship them. Adonai your God has allotted them to all the peoples under all the heavens.

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 Adonai your God is the One who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies to save you.’
• Romans 1:23They exchanged the glory of the immortal God for an image in the form of mortal man and birds and four-footed beasts and creeping things.

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