Deuteronomy 4:15-18

Context

The Nature of Israel’s God

4:15 Be very careful,¹ 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 this² 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 crawls³ on the ground, or any fish in the deep waters of the earth.⁴

Deuteronomy 4:33

Context
4:33 Have a people ever heard the voice of God speaking from the middle of fire, as you yourselves have, and lived to tell about it?

[4:15] ¹tn Heb “give great care to your souls.”

[4:16] ²tn 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] ³tn Heb “creeping thing.”

[4:18] ⁴tn Heb “under the earth.”