Deuteronomy 4:23
Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee.
Original Language Analysis
הִשָּֽׁמְר֣וּ
Take heed
H8104
הִשָּֽׁמְר֣וּ
Take heed
Strong's:
H8104
Word #:
1 of 20
properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e., guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc
פֶּֽן
H6435
פֶּֽן
Strong's:
H6435
Word #:
3 of 20
properly, removal; used only (in the construction) adverb as conjunction, lest
תִּשְׁכְּחוּ֙
unto yourselves lest ye forget
H7911
תִּשְׁכְּחוּ֙
unto yourselves lest ye forget
Strong's:
H7911
Word #:
4 of 20
to mislay, i.e., to be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
5 of 20
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
בְּרִ֤ית
the covenant
H1285
בְּרִ֤ית
the covenant
Strong's:
H1285
Word #:
6 of 20
a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh)
יְהוָ֥ה
of the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֥ה
of the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
7 of 20
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃
thy God
H430
אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃
thy God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
8 of 20
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
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
9 of 20
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
כָּרַ֖ת
which he made
H3772
כָּרַ֖ת
which he made
Strong's:
H3772
Word #:
10 of 20
to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e., make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutt
עִמָּכֶ֑ם
H5973
עִמָּכֶ֑ם
Strong's:
H5973
Word #:
11 of 20
adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then
וַֽעֲשִׂיתֶ֨ם
with you and make
H6213
וַֽעֲשִׂיתֶ֨ם
with you and make
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
12 of 20
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
תְּמ֣וּנַת
or the likeness
H8544
תְּמ֣וּנַת
or the likeness
Strong's:
H8544
Word #:
15 of 20
something portioned (i.e., fashioned) out, as a shape, i.e., (indefinitely) phantom, or (specifically) embodiment, or (figuratively) manifestation (of
כֹּ֔ל
of any
H3605
כֹּ֔ל
of any
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
16 of 20
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
17 of 20
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
Cross References
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;Hebrews 3:12Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.Matthew 24:4And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
Historical Context
Moses warns the generation born in the wilderness against repeating their parents' covenant failures. The Horeb covenant (another name for Sinai) was made 40 years earlier, but this new generation must embrace it personally. With Canaanite idolatry awaiting them across the Jordan, Moses emphasizes covenant faithfulness as essential for survival in the Promised Land.
Questions for Reflection
- What spiritual disciplines help you 'take heed' against forgetting God's covenant faithfulness in your own life?
- How do modern forms of idolatry—career, relationships, comfort, security—function similarly to ancient graven images in competing for ultimate allegiance?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God...
The imperative hishameru lakem (הִשָּׁמְרוּ לָכֶם, 'take heed to yourselves') signals urgent self-examination. The verb shamar means to guard, watch, or keep vigilantly—covenant faithfulness requires active protection against spiritual drift. The danger is not dramatic apostasy but gradual forgetting (tishkechu, תִּשְׁכְּחוּ), the slow erosion of covenantal memory that makes idolatry seem reasonable.
Moses connects forgetting the covenant directly to making graven images (pesel, פֶּסֶל). The progression is instructive: spiritual amnesia precedes visible idolatry. When believers forget God's past faithfulness and covenant promises, they inevitably seek security and satisfaction in tangible substitutes. The phrase 'which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee' (asher tsivveka) emphasizes that idolatry is not merely unwise but explicitly prohibited—a violation of revealed divine command.
The second commandment (Exodus 20:4-5) forbids any 'likeness of any thing' (temunat kol), anticipating the human tendency to domesticate the transcendent God into manageable forms. This warning remains relevant: modern idols may not be carved from wood, but any created thing elevated to ultimate concern functions as a graven image, competing with God for the heart's allegiance.