Deuteronomy 4:14-18

Context
4:14 Moreover, at that same time the Lord commanded me to teach you statutes and ordinances for you to keep in the land which you are about to enter and possess.¹

The Nature of Israel’s God

4:15 Be very careful,² then, because you saw no form at the time the Lord spoke to you at Horeb from the middle of the fire. 4:16 I say this³ 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, 4:17 any kind of land animal, any bird that flies in the sky, 4:18 anything that crawls⁴ on the ground, or any fish in the deep waters of the earth.⁵

[4:14] ¹tn Heb “to which you are crossing over to possess it.”

[4:15] ²tn Heb “give great care to your souls.”

[4:16] ³tn 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.

[4:18] ⁴tn Heb “creeping thing.”

[4:18] ⁵tn Heb “under the earth.”