Deuteronomy 4:19
And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.
Original Language Analysis
וּפֶן
H6435
וּפֶן
Strong's:
H6435
Word #:
1 of 28
properly, removal; used only (in the construction) adverb as conjunction, lest
תִּשָּׂ֨א
And lest thou lift up
H5375
תִּשָּׂ֨א
And lest thou lift up
Strong's:
H5375
Word #:
2 of 28
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
עֵינֶ֜יךָ
thine eyes
H5869
עֵינֶ֜יךָ
thine eyes
Strong's:
H5869
Word #:
3 of 28
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃
of heaven
H8064
הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃
of heaven
Strong's:
H8064
Word #:
4 of 28
the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r
וְֽ֠רָאִיתָ
and when thou seest
H7200
וְֽ֠רָאִיתָ
and when thou seest
Strong's:
H7200
Word #:
5 of 28
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
6 of 28
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הַשֶּׁ֨מֶשׁ
the sun
H8121
הַשֶּׁ֨מֶשׁ
the sun
Strong's:
H8121
Word #:
7 of 28
the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e., (architectural) a notched battlement
וְאֶת
H853
וְאֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
8 of 28
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
וְאֶת
H853
וְאֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
10 of 28
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הַכּֽוֹכָבִ֗ים
and the stars
H3556
הַכּֽוֹכָבִ֗ים
and the stars
Strong's:
H3556
Word #:
11 of 28
a star (as round or as shining); figuratively, a prince
כֹּ֚ל
H3605
כֹּ֚ל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
12 of 28
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
צְבָ֣א
even all the host
H6635
צְבָ֣א
even all the host
Strong's:
H6635
Word #:
13 of 28
a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci
הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃
of heaven
H8064
הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃
of heaven
Strong's:
H8064
Word #:
14 of 28
the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r
וְנִדַּחְתָּ֛
shouldest be driven
H5080
וְנִדַּחְתָּ֛
shouldest be driven
Strong's:
H5080
Word #:
15 of 28
to push off; used in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively (to expel, mislead, strike, inflict, etc.)
וְהִשְׁתַּֽחֲוִ֥יתָ
to worship
H7812
וְהִשְׁתַּֽחֲוִ֥יתָ
to worship
Strong's:
H7812
Word #:
16 of 28
to depress, i.e., prostrate (especially reflexive, in homage to royalty or god)
וַֽעֲבַדְתָּ֑ם
them and serve
H5647
וַֽעֲבַדְתָּ֑ם
them and serve
Strong's:
H5647
Word #:
18 of 28
to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
19 of 28
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
יְהוָ֤ה
them which the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֤ה
them which the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
21 of 28
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙
thy God
H430
אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙
thy God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
22 of 28
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
אֹתָ֔ם
H853
אֹתָ֔ם
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
23 of 28
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
לְכֹל֙
H3605
לְכֹל֙
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
24 of 28
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הָֽעַמִּ֔ים
unto all nations
H5971
הָֽעַמִּ֔ים
unto all nations
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
25 of 28
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
תַּ֖חַת
H8478
תַּ֖חַת
Strong's:
H8478
Word #:
26 of 28
the bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of, etc
Cross References
Romans 1:25Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.Deuteronomy 17:3And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded;2 Kings 21:3For he built up again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made a grove, as did Ahab king of Israel; and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.Genesis 2:1Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.2 Kings 17:16And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal.Acts 7:42Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness?Nehemiah 9:6Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern cultures extensively worshiped celestial bodies: Egypt (Ra the sun god, Khonsu the moon god), Mesopotamia (Shamash the sun, Sin the moon), Canaan (sun and moon deities). Israel constantly battled astral worship, as evidenced by Josiah's reforms removing sun chariots and horses from the temple (2 Kings 23:5, 11). The Babylonian exile exposed Israel to sophisticated astrology, requiring prophetic warnings (Isaiah 47:13, Jeremiah 8:2).
Questions for Reflection
- How does the phrase 'be driven to worship' acknowledge both external cultural pressure and internal sinful inclination toward idolatry?
- In what ways do modern forms of astrology and horoscopes continue this ancient temptation to find meaning in created things rather than the Creator?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The prohibition extends to celestial worship—'sun, moon, and stars.' The phrase 'be driven to worship them' acknowledges idolatry's seductive pull and humanity's natural inclination toward creature worship. These luminaries, 'which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations,' were created to serve humanity (Genesis 1:14-18), not to be worshiped. Astrolatry perverted God's good gifts into false deities. The danger of being 'driven' suggests both external pressure (pagan culture) and internal corruption (sinful nature). Only sovereign grace prevents idolatry's gravitational pull.