Deuteronomy 4:15-18

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 this ²  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 crawls ³  on the ground, or any fish in the deep waters of the earth. ⁴ 

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

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

[4:18]  ⁴ tn Heb “under the earth.”