Idolatry Forbidden

Deuteronomy 4

15 q "Take careful heed to yourselves, for you saw no r form when the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire, 16 "lest you s act corruptly and t make for yourselves a carved image in the 1 form of any figure: u the likeness of male or female, 17 "the likeness of any animal that is on the earth or the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the air, 18 "the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground or the likeness of any fish that is in the water beneath the earth. 19 "And take heed, lest you v lift your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun, the moon, and the stars, w all the host of heaven, you feel driven to x worship them and serve them, which the LORD your God has 2 given to all the peoples under the whole heaven as a heritage. 20 "But the LORD has taken you and y brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be z His people, an inheritance, as you are this day. 21 "Furthermore a the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, and swore that b I would not cross over the Jordan, and that I would not enter the good land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance. 22 "But c I must die in this land, d I must not cross over the Jordan; but you shall cross over and 3 possess e that good land. 23 "Take heed to yourselves, lest you forget the covenant of the LORD your God which He made with you, f and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of anything which the LORD your God has forbidden you. 24 "For g the LORD your God is a consuming fire, h a jealous God.

25 "When you beget children and grandchildren and have grown old in the land, and act corruptly and make a carved image in the form of anything, and i do evil in the sight of the LORD your God to provoke Him to anger, 26 j "I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that you will soon utterly perish from the land which you cross over the Jordan to possess; you will not 4 prolong your days in it, but will be utterly destroyed. 27 "And the LORD k will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where the LORD will drive you. 28 "And l there you will serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, m which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell. 29 n "But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. 30 "When you are in 5 distress, and all these things come upon you in the o latter days, when you p turn to the LORD your God and obey His voice 31 "(for the LORD your God is a merciful God), He will not forsake you nor q destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them.

  1. Cross References
    Joshua 23:11
    Therefore take careful heed to yourselves, that you love the LORD your God.
  2. Cross References
    Isaiah 40:18
    To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare to Him?
  3. Cross References
    Exodus 32:7
    And the LORD said to Moses, "Go, get down! For your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt have corrupted themselves.
    Deuteronomy 9:12
    "Then the LORD said to me, 'Arise, go down quickly from here, for your people whom you brought out of Egypt have acted corruptly; they have quickly turned aside from the way which I commanded them; they have made themselves a molded image.'
    Deuteronomy 31:29
    "For I know that after my death you will become utterly corrupt, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you. And evil will befall you in the latter days, because you will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger through the work of your hands."
  4. Cross References
    Exodus 20:4
    You shall not make for yourself a carved image - any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
    Exodus 20:5
    You shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me.
  5. Cross References
    Romans 1:23
    And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man - and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
  6. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 17:3
    Who has gone and served other gods and worshiped them, either the sun or moon or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded.
    Job 31:26 - 28
    If I have observed the sun when it shines, Or the moon moving in brightness.
  7. Cross References
    2 Kings 21:3
    For he rebuilt the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; he raised up altars for Baal, and made a wooden image, as Ahab king of Israel had done; and he worshiped all the host of heaven and served them.
  8. Cross References
    Romans 1:25
    Who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
  9. Cross References
    1 Kings 8:51
    (for they are Your people and Your inheritance, whom You brought out of Egypt, out of the iron furnace).
    Jeremiah 11:4
    "which I commanded your fathers in the day I brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, 'Obey My voice, and do according to all that I command you; so shall you be My people, and I will be your God,'
  10. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 7:6
    For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.
    Deuteronomy 27:9
    Then Moses and the priests, the Levites, spoke to all Israel, saying, "Take heed and listen, O Israel: This day you have become the people of the LORD your God.
    Titus 2:14
    Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
  11. Cross References
    Numbers 20:12
    Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.
    Deuteronomy 1:37
    The LORD was also angry with me for your sakes, saying, 'Even you shall not go in there.
    Deuteronomy 3:26
    But the LORD was angry with me on your account, and would not listen to me. So the LORD said to me: 'Enough of that! Speak no more to Me of this matter.
  12. Cross References
    Numbers 27:13
    And when you have seen it, you also shall be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother was gathered.
    Numbers 27:14
    For in the Wilderness of Zin, during the strife of the congregation, you rebelled against My command to hallow Me at the waters before their eyes." (These are the waters of Meribah, at Kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin.)
  13. Cross References
    2 Peter 1:13 - 15
    Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you.
  14. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 3:27
    Go up to the top of Pisgah, and lift your eyes toward the west, the north, the south, and the east; behold it with your eyes, for you shall not cross over this Jordan.
  15. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 3:25
    'I pray, let me cross over and see the good land beyond the Jordan, those pleasant mountains, and Lebanon.'
  16. Cross References
    Exodus 20:4
    You shall not make for yourself a carved image - any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
    Exodus 20:5
    You shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me.
    Deuteronomy 4:16
    Lest you act corruptly and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of any figure: the likeness of male or female.
  17. Cross References
    Exodus 24:17
    The sight of the glory of the LORD was like a consuming fire on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the children of Israel.
    Deuteronomy 9:3
    Therefore understand today that the LORD your God is He who goes over before you as a consuming fire. He will destroy them and bring them down before you; so you shall drive them out and destroy them quickly, as the LORD has said to you.
    Isaiah 33:14
    The sinners in Zion are afraid; Fearfulness has seized the hypocrites: "Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
    Hebrews 12:29
    For our God is a consuming fire.
  18. Cross References
    Exodus 20:5
    You shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me.
    Exodus 34:14
    (for you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God).
  19. Cross References
    2 Kings 17:17
    And they caused their sons and daughters to pass through the fire, practiced witchcraft and soothsaying, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger.
  20. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 30:18
    I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess.
    Deuteronomy 30:19
    I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.
    2 Chronicles 36:14 - 20
    Moreover all the leaders of the priests and the people transgressed more and more, according to all the abominations of the nations, and defiled the house of the LORD which He had consecrated in Jerusalem.
    Isaiah 1:2
    Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth! For the LORD has spoken: "I have nourished and brought up children, And they have rebelled against Me.
    Micah 6:2
    Hear, O you mountains, the LORD's complaint, And you strong foundations of the earth; For the LORD has a complaint against His people, And He will contend with Israel.
  21. Cross References
    Leviticus 26:33
    I will scatter you among the nations and draw out a sword after you; your land shall be desolate and your cities waste.
    Deuteronomy 28:62
    You shall be left few in number, whereas you were as the stars of heaven in multitude, because you would not obey the voice of the LORD your God.
    Nehemiah 1:8
    Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, ' If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations.
  22. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 28:64
    Then the LORD will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you shall serve other gods, which neither you nor your fathers have known - wood and stone.
    1 Samuel 26:19
    "Now therefore, please, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant: If the LORD has stirred you up against me, let Him accept an offering. But if it is the children of men, may they be cursed before the LORD, for they have driven me out this day from sharing in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, 'Go, serve other gods.'
    Jeremiah 16:13
    'Therefore I will cast you out of this land into a land that you do not know, neither you nor your fathers; and there you shall serve other gods day and night, where I will not show you favor.'
  23. Cross References
    Psalms 115:4 - 7
    Their idols are silver and gold, The work of men's hands.
    Psalms 135:15 - 17
    The idols of the nations are silver and gold, The work of men's hands.
    Isaiah 44:9
    Those who make an image, all of them are useless, And their precious things shall not profit; They are their own witnesses; They neither see nor know, that they may be ashamed.
    Isaiah 46:7
    They bear it on the shoulder, they carry it And set it in its place, and it stands; From its place it shall not move. Though one cries out to it, yet it cannot answer Nor save him out of his trouble.
  24. Cross References
    Leviticus 26:39 - 45
    And those of you who are left shall waste away in their iniquity in your enemies' lands; also in their fathers' iniquities, which are with them, they shall waste away.
    Deuteronomy 30:1 - 3
    Now it shall come to pass, when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the LORD your God drives you.
    2 Chronicles 15:4
    But when in their trouble they turned to the LORD God of Israel, and sought Him, He was found by them.
    Nehemiah 1:9
    'but if you return to Me, and keep My commandments and do them, though some of you were cast out to the farthest part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there, and bring them to the place which I have chosen as a dwelling for My name.'
  25. Cross References
    Genesis 49:1
    And Jacob called his sons and said, "Gather together, that I may tell you what shall befall you in the last days:
    Deuteronomy 31:29
    "For I know that after my death you will become utterly corrupt, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you. And evil will befall you in the latter days, because you will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger through the work of your hands."
    Jeremiah 23:20
    The anger of the LORD will not turn back Until He has executed and performed the thoughts of His heart. In the latter days you will understand it perfectly.
    Hosea 3:5
    Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They shall fear the LORD and His goodness in the latter days.
  26. Cross References
    Joel 2:12
    "Now, therefore," says the LORD, "Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning."
    Hebrews 1:2
    Has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds.
  27. Cross References
    Leviticus 26:44
    Yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, nor shall I abhor them, to utterly destroy them and break My covenant with them; for I am the LORD their God.
    Jeremiah 30:11
    For I am with you,' says the LORD, 'to save you; Though I make a full end of all nations where I have scattered you, Yet I will not make a complete end of you. But I will correct you in justice, And will not let you go altogether unpunished.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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