Deuteronomy 4:17
15 So since you saw no form of any kind on the day the LORD spoke to you out of the fire at Horeb, be careful
16 that you do not act corruptly and make an idol for yourselves of any form or shape, whether in the likeness of a male or female,
of any beast that is on the earth or bird that flies in the air,
18 or of any creature that crawls on the ground or fish that is in the waters below.
19 When you look to the heavens and see the sun and moon and stars—all the host of heaven—do not be enticed to bow down and worship what the LORD your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- of any beast that is on the earth or bird that flies in the air,
- KJV
- The likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air,
- WEB
- the likeness of any animal that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the sky,
- ASV
- the likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flieth in the heavens,
- DARBY
- the pattern of any beast that is on the earth, the pattern of any winged fowl that flieth in the heaven,
- BLB
- the likeness of any animal that [is] on the earth, or the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the air,
- ÅB
- eller av noe firføtt dyr på jorden eller av noen vinget fugl som flyver under himmelen,
- OTB
- eller i form av noe dyr på jorden eller noen fugl som flyr i luften,
- B1930
- eller av noget firføtt dyr på jorden eller av nogen vinget fugl som flyver under himmelen,
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Romans 1:23
and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
Read in context