Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 4:16–23

¹⁶that 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, ¹⁷of any beast that is on the earth or bird that flies in the air, ¹⁸or of any creature that crawls on the ground or fish that is in the waters below.

¹⁹When 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. ²⁰Yet the LORD has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be the people of His inheritance, as you are today.

²¹The LORD, however, was angry with me on account of you, and He swore that I would not cross the Jordan to enter the good land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance. ²²For I will not be crossing the Jordan, because I must die in this land. But you shall cross over and take possession of that good land.

²³Be careful that you do not forget the covenant of the LORD your God that He made with you; do not make an idol for yourselves in the form of anything He has forbidden you.

Read all of Deuteronomy 4

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Deuteronomy 4:16

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
that you do not	פֶּ֨ן־	pen-	Conjunction	H6435 lest
act corruptly	תַּשְׁחִת֔וּן	taš·ḥi·ṯūn	Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine plural; Paragogic nun	H7843 go to ruin (?)
and make	וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֥ם	wa·‘ă·śî·ṯem	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural	H6213 do, make
an idol	פֶּ֖סֶל	pe·sel	Noun - masculine singular	H6459 idol, image
for yourselves	לָכֶ֛ם	lā·ḵem	Preposition; second person masculine plural
of any form	תְּמוּנַ֣ת	tə·mū·naṯ	Noun - feminine singular construct	H8544 likeness, form
or	כָּל־	kāl-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
shape	סָ֑מֶל	sā·mel	Noun - masculine singular	H5566 image, statue
whether in the likeness	תַּבְנִ֥ית	taḇ·nîṯ	Noun - feminine singular construct	H8403 construction, pattern, figure
of a male	זָכָ֖ר	zā·ḵār	Noun - masculine singular	H2145 male
or	א֥וֹ	’ōw	Conjunction	H176 or
female	נְקֵבָֽה׃	nə·qê·ḇāh	Noun - feminine singular	H5347 female

Deuteronomy 4:17

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
of any	כָּל־	kāl-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
beast	בְּהֵמָ֖ה	bə·hê·māh	Noun - feminine singular	H929 beast, animal, cattle
that	אֲשֶׁ֣ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
on the earth	בָּאָ֑רֶץ	bā·’ā·reṣ	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - feminine singular	H776 earth, land
or bird	צִפּ֣וֹר	ṣip·pō·wr	Noun - common singular construct	H6833 bird
that	אֲשֶׁ֥ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
flies	תָּע֖וּף	tā·‘ūp̄	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular	H5774 fly
in the air	בַּשָּׁמָֽיִם׃	baš·šā·mā·yim	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine plural	H8064 sky, aloft

Deuteronomy 4:18

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
of any	כָּל־	kāl-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
creature that crawls	רֹמֵ֖שׂ	rō·mêś	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H7430 creep, move lightly, move about
on the ground	בָּאֲדָמָ֑ה	bā·’ă·ḏā·māh	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - feminine singular	H127 ground, land
or	כָּל־	kāl-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
fish	דָּגָ֥ה	dā·ḡāh	Noun - feminine singular	H1710 fish
that	אֲשֶׁר־	’ă·šer-	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
in the waters	בַּמַּ֖יִם	bam·ma·yim	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine plural	H4325 water, juice, urine
below	מִתַּ֥חַת	mit·ta·ḥaṯ	Preposition-m	H8478 the under part

Deuteronomy 4:19

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
When you look	תִּשָּׂ֨א	tiś·śā	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular	H5375 lift, take, carry
to the heavens	הַשָּׁמַ֗יְמָה	haš·šā·may·māh	Article; Noun - masculine plural; third person feminine singular	H8064 sky, aloft
and see	וְֽ֠רָאִיתָ	wə·rā·’î·ṯā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular	H7200 see
the sun	הַשֶּׁ֨מֶשׁ	haš·še·meš	Article; Noun - common singular	H8121 sun
and	וְאֶת־	wə·’eṯ-	Conjunctive waw; Direct object marker	H853 mark of the accusative
moon	הַיָּרֵ֜חַ	hay·yā·rê·aḥ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3394 moon
and stars	הַכּֽוֹכָבִ֗ים	hak·kō·w·ḵā·ḇîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H3556 star
all	כֹּ֚ל	kōl	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
the host	צְבָ֣א	ṣə·ḇā	Noun - common singular construct	H6635 army, war, warfare
of heaven	הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם	haš·šā·ma·yim	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H8064 sky, aloft
do not be	וּפֶן־	ū·p̄en-	Conjunction	H6435 lest
enticed	וְנִדַּחְתָּ֛	wə·nid·daḥ·tā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular	H5080 impel, thrust, banish
to bow down	וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוִ֥יתָ	wə·hiš·ta·ḥă·wî·ṯā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hitpael - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular	H7812 bow down
and worship	וַעֲבַדְתָּ֑ם	wa·‘ă·ḇaḏ·tām	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular; third person masculine plural	H5647 work, serve
what	אֲשֶׁ֨ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
the LORD	יְהוָ֤ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
your God	אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙	’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā	Noun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singular	H430 God
has apportioned	חָלַ֜ק	ḥā·laq	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H2505 divide, share
to all	לְכֹל֙	lə·ḵōl	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
the nations	הָֽעַמִּ֔ים	hā·‘am·mîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H5971 people
under	תַּ֖חַת	ta·ḥaṯ	Preposition	H8478 the under part
heaven	הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃	haš·šā·mā·yim	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H8064 sky, aloft

Deuteronomy 4:20

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Yet the LORD	יְהוָ֔ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
has taken	לָקַ֣ח	lā·qaḥ	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H3947 take
you	וְאֶתְכֶם֙	wə·’eṯ·ḵem	Conjunctive waw; Direct object marker; second person masculine plural	H853 mark of the accusative
and brought	וַיּוֹצִ֥א	way·yō·w·ṣi	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3318 go or come out
you	אֶתְכֶ֛ם	’eṯ·ḵem	Direct object marker; second person masculine plural	H853 mark of the accusative
out of the iron	הַבַּרְזֶ֖ל	hab·bar·zel	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H1270 iron
furnace	מִכּ֥וּר	mik·kūr	Preposition-m; Noun - masculine singular construct	H3564 smelting-pot or furnace
out of Egypt	מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם	mim·miṣ·rā·yim	Preposition-m; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H4714 Egypt, Egyptians
to be	לִהְי֥וֹת	lih·yō·wṯ	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
the people	לְעַ֥ם	lə·‘am	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct	H5971 people
of His inheritance	נַחֲלָ֖ה	na·ḥă·lāh	Noun - feminine singular	H5159 possession, property, inheritance
as you are today	כַּיּ֥וֹם	kay·yō·wm	Preposition-k, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3117 day

Deuteronomy 4:21

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
The LORD	וַֽיהוָ֥ה	Yah·weh	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
however	וַֽיהוָ֥ה	Yah·weh	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
was angry	הִתְאַנֶּף־	hiṯ·’an·nep̄-	Verb - Hitpael - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H599 be angry
with me	בִּ֖י	bī	Preposition; first person common singular
on account	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
of you	דִּבְרֵיכֶ֑ם	diḇ·rê·ḵem	Noun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine plural	H1697 speech, word
and He swore	וַיִּשָּׁבַ֗ע	way·yiš·šā·ḇa‘	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7650 swear
that I would not	לְבִלְתִּ֤י	lə·ḇil·tî	Preposition-l	H1115 not, except
cross	עָבְרִי֙	‘ā·ḇə·rî	Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; first person common singular	H5674 pass over, through, by, pass on
the Jordan	הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן	hay·yar·dên	Article; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H3383 Jordan
to enter	בֹא֙	ḇō	Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H935 come in, come, go in, go
the good	הַטּוֹבָ֔ה	haṭ·ṭō·w·ḇāh	Article; Adjective - feminine singular	H2896 pleasant, agreeable, good
land	הָאָ֣רֶץ	hā·’ā·reṣ	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H776 earth, land
that	אֲשֶׁר֙	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
the LORD	יְהוָ֣ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
your God	אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ	’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā	Noun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singular	H430 God
is giving	נֹתֵ֥ן	nō·ṯên	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H5414 give, put, set
you	לְךָ֖	lə·ḵā	Preposition; second person masculine singular
as an inheritance	נַחֲלָֽה׃	na·ḥă·lāh	Noun - feminine singular	H5159 possession, property, inheritance

Deuteronomy 4:22

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
For I will not	אֵינֶ֥נִּי	’ê·nen·nî	Adverb; first person common singular	H369 nothing, nought
be crossing	עֹבֵ֖ר	‘ō·ḇêr	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H5674 pass over, through, by, pass on
the Jordan	הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן	hay·yar·dên	Article; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H3383 Jordan
because	כִּ֣י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
I	אָנֹכִ֥י	’ā·nō·ḵî	Pronoun - first person common singular	H595 I
must die	מֵת֙	mêṯ	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H4191 die
in this	הַזֹּ֔את	haz·zōṯ	Article; Pronoun - feminine singular	H2063 this
land	בָּאָ֣רֶץ	bā·’ā·reṣ	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - feminine singular	H776 earth, land
But you	וְאַתֶּם֙	wə·’at·tem	Conjunctive waw; Pronoun - second person masculine plural	H859 thou
shall cross over	עֹֽבְרִ֔ים	‘ō·ḇə·rîm	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural	H5674 pass over, through, by, pass on
and take possession of	וִֽירִשְׁתֶּ֕ם	wî·riš·tem	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural	H3423 take possession of, inherit, dispossess
that	הַזֹּֽאת׃	haz·zōṯ	Article; Pronoun - feminine singular	H2063 this
good	הַטּוֹבָ֖ה	haṭ·ṭō·w·ḇāh	Article; Adjective - feminine singular	H2896 pleasant, agreeable, good
land	הָאָ֥רֶץ	hā·’ā·reṣ	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H776 earth, land

Deuteronomy 4:23

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Be careful	הִשָּׁמְר֣וּ	hiš·šā·mə·rū	Verb - Nifal - Imperative - masculine plural	H8104 keep, watch, preserve
that you	לָכֶ֗ם	lā·ḵem	Preposition; second person masculine plural
do not	פֶּֽן־	pen-	Conjunction	H6435 lest
forget	תִּשְׁכְּחוּ֙	tiš·kə·ḥū	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural	H7911 forget
the covenant	בְּרִ֤ית	bə·rîṯ	Noun - feminine singular construct	H1285 covenant
of the LORD	יְהוָה֙	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
your God	אֱלֹ֣הֵיכֶ֔ם	’ĕ·lō·hê·ḵem	Noun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine plural	H430 God
that	אֲשֶׁ֥ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
He made	כָּרַ֖ת	kā·raṯ	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H3772 cut off, cut down
with you	עִמָּכֶ֑ם	‘im·mā·ḵem	Preposition; second person masculine plural	H5973 with
do not make	וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֨ם	wa·‘ă·śî·ṯem	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural	H6213 do, make
an idol	פֶּ֙סֶל֙	pe·sel	Noun - masculine singular	H6459 idol, image
for yourselves	לָכֶ֥ם	lā·ḵem	Preposition; second person masculine plural
in the form	תְּמ֣וּנַת	tə·mū·naṯ	Noun - feminine singular construct	H8544 likeness, form
of anything	כֹּ֔ל	kōl	Noun - masculine singular	H3605 the whole, all
He	יְהוָ֥ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
has forbidden you	צִוְּךָ֖	ṣiw·wə·ḵā	Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular; second person masculine singular	H6680 lay charge (upon), give charge (to), charge, command, order