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.

DEUTERONOMY 4:23KJV
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Deuteronomy 4:23 (KJV)

What does Deuteronomy 4:23 mean?

Deuteronomy 4:23 warns the Israelites to be careful not to forget the agreement (covenant) that the LORD their God made with them, and not to make any carved image or likeness of anything, which God has forbidden. The verse stresses the importance of remembering God’s commands and not turning to idol-making.

In this verse, Moses is speaking to the people of Israel as they prepare to enter the land God promised them. He reminds them of their special relationship with God, who made a binding promise (covenant) with them. The warning is specific: do not create or worship images, because this would break the unique agreement they have with God and go against what God has clearly commanded.

The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 4:23

  • "heed" (שָׁמַר, shamar): This word means to keep, guard, or pay close attention. Moses is telling the people to actively watch themselves, not just passively remember.
  • "forget" (שָׁכַח, shakach): This word means more than just failing to recall; it often implies neglect or ignoring something important. Forgetting the covenant is seen as a serious failure to honor God.
  • "covenant" (בְּרִית, berit): This is a formal, binding agreement. Here, it refers to the special relationship and promises between God and Israel, not just a simple promise.
  • "image" (פֶּסֶל, pesel) and "likeness" (תְּמוּנָה, temunah): These words refer to carved idols or representations. The verse makes clear that any attempt to represent God or other things with physical objects is forbidden.

Why Deuteronomy 4:23 matters

  • Deuteronomy 4:23 clarifies that the command against idols is directly tied to remembering the covenant, not just a general rule about images.
  • The verse highlights the seriousness of the relationship between God and Israel, showing that making idols is not just a mistake but a betrayal of a sacred agreement.
  • This warning fits into a larger section where Moses urges the people to stay faithful as they enter a new land filled with other nations and tempting practices, emphasizing the need for loyalty and distinctiveness.

Where else these words appear

“likeness” Hebrew H8544 · used in 10 verses

  • Exodus 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
  • 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:
  • Deuteronomy 5:8 Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth:

“any” Hebrew H3605 · used in 24 verses

  • Genesis 3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
  • Exodus 12:6 And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.
  • 2 Samuel 3:35 And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down.

“image” Hebrew H6459 · used in 31 verses

  • Exodus 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
  • Judges 18:18 And these went into Micah's house, and fetched the carved image, the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image. Then said the priest unto them, What do ye?
  • Isaiah 44:9 They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.

“forget” Hebrew H7911 · used in 95 verses

  • Genesis 27:45 Until thy brother's anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in one day?
  • Psalms 31:12 I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.
  • Proverbs 31:7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.