Deuteronomy 12:4
Ye shall not do so unto the LORD your God.
Original Language Analysis
לֹֽא
H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
1 of 5
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תַעֲשׂ֣וּן
Ye shall not do so
H6213
תַעֲשׂ֣וּן
Ye shall not do so
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
2 of 5
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
כֵּ֔ן
H3651
כֵּ֔ן
Strong's:
H3651
Word #:
3 of 5
properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner
Cross References
Leviticus 20:23And ye shall not walk in the manners of the nation, which I cast out before you: for they committed all these things, and therefore I abhorred them.Deuteronomy 20:18That they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their gods; so should ye sin against the LORD your God.
Historical Context
This command introduces Deuteronomy's altar law (12:1-28), centralizing worship at the place God would choose (eventually Jerusalem). Ancient Near Eastern religion featured multiple shrines, high places, and localized deities. Israel's temptation would be to maintain these structures while nominally worshiping Yahweh—the syncretism that plagued Israel throughout the judges and monarchy periods (Judges 6:25-32; 1 Kings 14:22-24; 2 Kings 17:7-23). The prohibition anticipates and forbids the very compromises that would later corrupt Israel.
Questions for Reflection
- In what ways might you be tempted to worship God according to cultural preferences rather than biblical revelation?
- How does this verse challenge the modern assumption that sincerity matters more than conformity to God's prescribed worship?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Ye shall not do so unto the LORD your God. This terse prohibition immediately follows the command to destroy Canaanite altars, pillars, Asherim, and idols (12:3). The lo-ta'asun ken (shall not do so) forbids adopting pagan worship methods even when redirected toward Yahweh. God's holiness demands worship according to His revealed will, not human innovation or syncretistic borrowing from surrounding cultures.
The danger isn't merely worshiping false gods but worshiping the true God falsely. Israel must not combine Yahweh worship with Canaanite forms—setting up pillars, planting sacred groves, or adopting fertility cult practices. This principle establishes the regulative principle of worship: God alone determines acceptable worship, and humans cannot legitimately 'baptize' pagan practices. The second commandment (Exodus 20:4-6) likewise prohibits not just other gods but unauthorized representations of Yahweh himself.