Focused Passage

Deuteronomy 4:15-24

Hear, Obey, and Do Not Forget: The Incomparable God and His Word

From the command to keep the statutes as the condition of life (vv. 1-8), through the memory command and image prohibition rooted in the Horeb event (vv. 9-24), to the projection of exile and return (vv. 25-31), and finally to the climactic argument for exclusive loyalty from the incomparability of the LORD (vv. 32-40) — the chapter moves from obligation through history through warning through doxology.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

15So since you saw no form of any kind on the day the LORD spoke to you out of the fire at Horeb, be careful

16that you do not act corruptly and make an idol for yourselves of any form or shape, whether in the likeness of a male or female,

17of any beast that is on the earth or bird that flies in the air,

18or of any creature that crawls on the ground or fish that is in the waters below.

19When you look to the heavens and see the sun and moon and stars—all the host of heaven—do not be enticed to bow down and worship what the LORD your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven.

20Yet the LORD has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be the people of His inheritance, as you are today.

21The LORD, however, was angry with me on account of you, and He swore that I would not cross the Jordan to enter the good land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.

22For I will not be crossing the Jordan, because I must die in this land. But you shall cross over and take possession of that good land.

23Be careful that you do not forget the covenant of the LORD your God that He made with you; do not make an idol for yourselves in the form of anything He has forbidden you.

24For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 15

Original words

So sinceכִּ֣יH3588Conjunctionyou sawרְאִיתֶם֙H7200Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine pluralnoלֹ֤אH3808Adverb - Negative particleformתְּמוּנָ֔הH8544Noun - feminine singularof any kindכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructon the dayבְּי֗וֹםH3117Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singularthe LORDיְהוָ֧הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularspokeדִּבֶּ֨רH1696Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singularto youאֲלֵיכֶ֛םH413Preposition | second person masculine pluralout ofמִתּ֥וֹךְH8432Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular constructthe fireהָאֵֽשׁ׃H784Article | Noun - common singularat Horebבְּחֹרֵ֖בH2722Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singularbe carefulוְנִשְׁמַרְתֶּ֥םH8104Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural. . .לְנַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶ֑םH5315Preposition-l | Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine plural. . .מְאֹ֖דH3966Adverb
Verse 16

Original words

that you do notפֶּ֨ן־H6435Conjunctionact corruptlyתַּשְׁחִת֔וּןH7843Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nunand makeוַעֲשִׂיתֶ֥םH6213Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine pluralan idolפֶּ֖סֶלH6459Noun - masculine singularfor yourselvesלָכֶ֛םPreposition | second person masculine pluralof any formתְּמוּנַ֣תH8544Noun - feminine singular constructorכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructshapeסָ֑מֶלH5566Noun - masculine singularwhether in the likenessתַּבְנִ֥יתH8403Noun - feminine singular constructof a maleזָכָ֖רH2145Noun - masculine singularorא֥וֹH176Conjunctionfemaleנְקֵבָֽה׃H5347Noun - feminine singular
Verse 17

Original words

-תַּבְנִ֕יתH8403Noun - feminine singular constructof anyכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructbeastבְּהֵמָ֖הH929Noun - feminine singularthat [is]אֲשֶׁ֣רH834Pronoun - relativeon the earthבָּאָ֑רֶץH776Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular. . .תַּבְנִית֙H8403Noun - feminine singular construct-כָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructor birdצִפּ֣וֹרH6833Noun - common singular construct. . .כָּנָ֔ףH3671Noun - feminine singularthatאֲשֶׁ֥רH834Pronoun - relativefliesתָּע֖וּףH5774Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularin the airבַּשָּׁמָֽיִם׃H8064Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Verse 18

Original words

[or]תַּבְנִ֕יתH8403Noun - feminine singular constructof anyכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructcreature that crawlsרֹמֵ֖שׂH7430Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularon the groundבָּאֲדָמָ֑הH127Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular. . .תַּבְנִ֛יתH8403Noun - feminine singular constructorכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructfishדָּגָ֥הH1710Noun - feminine singularthat [is]אֲשֶׁר־H834Pronoun - relativein the watersבַּמַּ֖יִםH4325Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine pluralbelowמִתַּ֥חַתH8478Preposition-m-לָאָֽרֶץ׃H776Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 19

Original words

When you lookתִּשָּׂ֨אH5375Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular. . .עֵינֶ֜יךָH5869Noun - cdc | second person masculine singularto the heavensהַשָּׁמַ֗יְמָהH8064Article | Noun - masculine plural | third person feminine singularand seeוְֽ֠רָאִיתָH7200Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe sunהַשֶּׁ֨מֶשׁH8121Article | Noun - common singularandוְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markermoonהַיָּרֵ֜חַH3394Article | Noun - masculine singular-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerand starsהַכּֽוֹכָבִ֗יםH3556Article | Noun - masculine pluralallכֹּ֚לH3605Noun - masculine singular constructthe hostצְבָ֣אH6635Noun - common singular constructof heavenהַשָּׁמַ֔יִםH8064Article | Noun - masculine pluraldo not beוּפֶן־H6435Conjunctionenticedוְנִדַּחְתָּ֛H5080Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singularto bow downוְהִשְׁתַּחֲוִ֥יתָH7812Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singularand worshipוַעֲבַדְתָּ֑םH5647Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine pluralwhatאֲשֶׁ֨רH834Pronoun - relativethe LORDיְהוָ֤הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularyour Godאֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙H430Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular-אֹתָ֔םH853Direct object marker | third person masculine pluralhas apportionedחָלַ֜קH2505Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularto allלְכֹל֙H3605Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular constructthe nationsהָֽעַמִּ֔יםH5971Article | Noun - masculine plural-כָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructunderתַּ֖חַתH8478Prepositionheavenהַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃H8064Article | Noun - masculine plural
Verse 20

Original words

Yet the LORDיְהוָ֔הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularhas takenלָקַ֣חH3947Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularyouוְאֶתְכֶם֙H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker | second person masculine pluraland broughtוַיּוֹצִ֥אH3318Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularyouאֶתְכֶ֛םH853Direct object marker | second person masculine pluralout of the ironהַבַּרְזֶ֖לH1270Article | Noun - masculine singularfurnaceמִכּ֥וּרH3564Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular constructout of Egyptמִמִּצְרָ֑יִםH4714Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singularto beלִהְי֥וֹתH1961Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct-ל֛וֹPreposition | third person masculine singularthe peopleלְעַ֥םH5971Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular constructof His inheritanceנַחֲלָ֖הH5159Noun - feminine singularas you are todayכַּיּ֥וֹםH3117Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singular. . .הַזֶּֽה׃H2088Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Verse 21

Original words

The LORD, howeverוַֽיהוָ֥הH3068Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singularwas angryהִתְאַנֶּף־H599Verb - Hitpael - Perfect - third person masculine singularwith meבִּ֖יPreposition | first person common singularon accountעַל־H5921Prepositionof youדִּבְרֵיכֶ֑םH1697Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine pluraland He sworeוַיִּשָּׁבַ֗עH7650Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularthat I would notלְבִלְתִּ֤יH1115Preposition-lcrossעָבְרִי֙H5674Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | first person common singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe Jordanהַיַּרְדֵּ֔ןH3383Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular. . .וּלְבִלְתִּי־H1115Conjunctive waw, Preposition-lto enterבֹא֙H935Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct. . .אֶל־H413Prepositionthe goodהַטּוֹבָ֔הH2896Article | Adjective - feminine singularlandהָאָ֣רֶץH776Article | Noun - feminine singularthatאֲשֶׁר֙H834Pronoun - relativethe LORDיְהוָ֣הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularyour Godאֱלֹהֶ֔יךָH430Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularis givingנֹתֵ֥ןH5414Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularyouלְךָ֖Preposition | second person masculine singularas an inheritanceנַחֲלָֽה׃H5159Noun - feminine singular
Verse 22

Original words

For I will notאֵינֶ֥נִּיH369Adverb | first person common singularbe crossingעֹבֵ֖רH5674Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe Jordanהַיַּרְדֵּ֑ןH3383Article | Noun - proper - feminine singularbecauseכִּ֣יH3588ConjunctionIאָנֹכִ֥יH595Pronoun - first person common singularmust dieמֵת֙H4191Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularin thisהַזֹּ֔אתH2063Article | Pronoun - feminine singularlandבָּאָ֣רֶץH776Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singularBut youוְאַתֶּם֙H859Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine pluralshall cross overעֹֽבְרִ֔יםH5674Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluraland take possession ofוִֽירִשְׁתֶּ֕םH3423Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthatהַזֹּֽאת׃H2063Article | Pronoun - feminine singulargoodהַטּוֹבָ֖הH2896Article | Adjective - feminine singularlandהָאָ֥רֶץH776Article | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 23

Original words

Be carefulהִשָּׁמְר֣וּH8104Verb - Nifal - Imperative - masculine pluralthat youלָכֶ֗םPreposition | second person masculine pluraldo notפֶּֽן־H6435Conjunctionforgetתִּשְׁכְּחוּ֙H7911Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe covenantבְּרִ֤יתH1285Noun - feminine singular constructof the LORDיְהוָה֙H3068Noun - proper - masculine singularyour Godאֱלֹ֣הֵיכֶ֔םH430Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine pluralthatאֲשֶׁ֥רH834Pronoun - relativeHe madeכָּרַ֖תH3772Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularwith youעִמָּכֶ֑םH5973Preposition | second person masculine pluraldo not makeוַעֲשִׂיתֶ֨םH6213Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine pluralan idolפֶּ֙סֶל֙H6459Noun - masculine singularfor yourselvesלָכֶ֥םPreposition | second person masculine pluralin the formתְּמ֣וּנַתH8544Noun - feminine singular constructof anythingכֹּ֔לH3605Noun - masculine singular-אֲשֶׁ֥רH834Pronoun - relativeHeיְהוָ֥הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singular. . .אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃H430Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularhas forbidden youצִוְּךָ֖H6680Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular
Verse 24

Original words

Forכִּ֚יH3588Conjunctionthe LORDיְהוָ֣הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularyour Godאֱלֹהֶ֔יךָH430Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularis a consumingאֹכְלָ֖הH398Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular. . .ה֑וּאH1931Pronoun - third person masculine singularfireאֵ֥שׁH784Noun - common singulara jealousקַנָּֽא׃פH7067Adjective - masculine singularGodאֵ֖לH410Noun - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Cited in Hebrews 12:29

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.