Deuteronomy 4:15
Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the LORD spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire:
Original Language Analysis
וְנִשְׁמַרְתֶּ֥ם
heed
H8104
וְנִשְׁמַרְתֶּ֥ם
heed
Strong's:
H8104
Word #:
1 of 15
properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e., guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc
מְאֹ֖ד
Take ye therefore good
H3966
מְאֹ֖ד
Take ye therefore good
Strong's:
H3966
Word #:
2 of 15
properly, vehemence, i.e., (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication, wholly, speedily, etc. (often with other words as an intensive or
לְנַפְשֹֽׁתֵיכֶ֑ם
unto yourselves
H5315
לְנַפְשֹֽׁתֵיכֶ֑ם
unto yourselves
Strong's:
H5315
Word #:
3 of 15
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
כִּ֣י
H3588
כִּ֣י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
4 of 15
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
לֹ֤א
H3808
לֹ֤א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
5 of 15
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
רְאִיתֶם֙
for ye saw
H7200
רְאִיתֶם֙
for ye saw
Strong's:
H7200
Word #:
6 of 15
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
7 of 15
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
תְּמוּנָ֔ה
no manner of similitude
H8544
תְּמוּנָ֔ה
no manner of similitude
Strong's:
H8544
Word #:
8 of 15
something portioned (i.e., fashioned) out, as a shape, i.e., (indefinitely) phantom, or (specifically) embodiment, or (figuratively) manifestation (of
בְּי֗וֹם
on the day
H3117
בְּי֗וֹם
on the day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
9 of 15
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
דִּבֶּ֨ר
spake
H1696
דִּבֶּ֨ר
spake
Strong's:
H1696
Word #:
10 of 15
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
יְהוָ֧ה
that the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֧ה
that the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
11 of 15
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
בְּחֹרֵ֖ב
unto you in Horeb
H2722
בְּחֹרֵ֖ב
unto you in Horeb
Strong's:
H2722
Word #:
13 of 15
choreb, a (generic) name for the sinaitic mountains
Cross References
Isaiah 40:18To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?Deuteronomy 4:12And the LORD spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice.Joshua 23:11Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God.Psalms 119:9Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.Proverbs 4:27Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.Proverbs 4:23Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.Jeremiah 17:21Thus saith the LORD; Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem;Deuteronomy 4:9Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons;Malachi 2:15And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.
Historical Context
Israel's monotheism stood radically opposed to ancient Near Eastern polytheism, which relied heavily on idol worship. Egypt had animal-headed deities; Canaan worshiped Baal through bull statues and Asherah poles; Mesopotamia filled temples with divine images. God's formless revelation at Sinai distinguished Israel's worship from surrounding paganism. Yet Israel repeatedly violated this command (golden calf, Exodus 32; Jeroboam's calves, 1 Kings 12:28; widespread idolatry leading to exile).
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's formless revelation at Sinai establish the foundation for the prohibition of religious images?
- In what ways might modern Christians subtly violate the spirit of this command through visual-based worship or entertainment-driven services?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The command 'take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves' (Hebrew 'shamar me'od') demands utmost vigilance against idolatry. The reason—'ye saw no manner of similitude'—reiterates that God revealed Himself through Word, not form. Any attempt to represent God visually constitutes rebellion against His self-revelation. This verse grounds the second commandment in redemptive history—since God chose to reveal Himself through spoken Word at Sinai, any image-based worship violates His revealed will. The Reformed tradition's opposition to religious images rests on this foundation.