20:4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image 2 or any likeness 3 of anything 4 that is in heaven above or that is on the earth beneath or that is in the water below. 5
1 sn This ruling was to prevent their eating it just softened by the fire or partially roasted as differing customs might prescribe or allow.
2 tn A פֶּסֶל (pesel) is an image that was carved out of wood or stone. The Law was concerned with a statue that would be made for the purpose of worship, an idol to be venerated, and not any ordinary statue.
3 tn The word תְּמוּנָה (tÿmunah) refers to the mental pattern from which the פֶּסֶל (pesel) is constructed; it is a real or imagined resemblance. If this is to stand as a second object to the verb, then the verb itself takes a slightly different nuance here. It would convey “you shall not make an image, neither shall you conceive a form” for worship (B. Jacob, Exodus, 547). Some simply make the second word qualify the first: “you shall not make an idol in the form of…” (NIV).
4 tn Here the phrase “of anything” has been supplied.
5 tn Heb “under the earth” (so KJV, ASV, NASB, NRSV).