Deuteronomy 4:23
New International Version
Be careful not to forget the covenant of the LORD your God that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the LORD your God has forbidden.

New Living Translation
So be careful not to break the covenant the LORD your God has made with you. Do not make idols of any shape or form, for the LORD your God has forbidden this.

English Standard Version
Take care, lest you forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make a carved image, the form of anything that the LORD your God has forbidden you.

Berean Standard Bible
Be 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.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
Take heed to yourselves, lest you forget the covenant of the LORD your God which He made with you, and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of anything which the LORD your God has forbidden you.

New American Standard Bible
So be careful yourselves, that you do not forget the covenant of the LORD your God which He made with you, and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of anything against which the LORD your God has commanded you.

NASB 1995
“So watch yourselves, that you do not forget the covenant of the LORD your God which He made with you, and make for yourselves a graven image in the form of anything against which the LORD your God has commanded you.

NASB 1977
“So watch yourselves, lest you forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which He made with you, and make for yourselves a graven image in the form of anything against which the LORD your God has commanded you.

Legacy Standard Bible
So keep yourselves, lest you forget the covenant of Yahweh your God which He cut with you and make for yourselves a graven image in the form of anything against which Yahweh your God has commanded you.

Amplified Bible
So be on your guard and watch yourselves, so that you do not forget the covenant of the LORD your God which He has made with you, and make for yourselves a carved or sculpted image in the form of anything which the LORD your God has forbidden you.

Christian Standard Bible
Be careful not to forget the covenant of the LORD your God that he made with you, and make an idol for yourselves in the shape of anything he has forbidden you.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Be careful not to forget the covenant of the LORD your God that He made with you, and make an idol for yourselves in the shape of anything He has forbidden you.

American Standard Version
Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of Jehovah your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image in the form of anything which Jehovah thy God hath forbidden thee.

Contemporary English Version
Always remember the agreement that the LORD your God made with you, and don't make an idol in any shape or form.

English Revised Version
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 in the form of any thing which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Be careful that you don't forget the promise that the LORD your God made to you. Don't make your own carved idols or statues that represent anything the LORD your God has forbidden.

Good News Translation
Be certain that you do not forget the covenant that the LORD your God made with you. Obey his command not to make yourselves any kind of idol,

International Standard Version
Be careful! Otherwise, you will forget the covenant of the LORD your God, who established that covenant with you. Don't make carved images of any likeness in violation of everything that you were commanded by the LORD your God.

Majority Standard Bible
Be 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.

NET Bible
Be on guard so that you do not forget the covenant of the LORD your God that he has made with you, and that you do not make an image of any kind, just as he has forbidden you.

New Heart English Bible
Be careful, lest you forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make you an engraved image in the form of anything which the LORD your God has forbidden you.

Webster's Bible Translation
Take heed to 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.

World English Bible
Be careful, lest you forget the covenant of Yahweh your God, which he made with you, and make yourselves a carved image in the form of anything which Yahweh your God has forbidden you.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Take heed to yourselves lest you forget the covenant of your God YHWH which He has made with you, and have made a carved image for yourselves, a likeness of anything [concerning] which your God YHWH has charged you;

Young's Literal Translation
Take heed to yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of Jehovah your God, which He hath made with you, and have made to yourselves a graven image, a similitude of anything concerning which Jehovah thy God hath charged thee:

Smith's Literal Translation
Watch for yourselves lest ye shall forget the covenant of Jehovah your God which he cut out with you, and ye make to you any carved thing, the appearance of any thing which Jehovah thy God commanded thee.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Beware lest thou ever forget the covenant of the Lord thy God, which he hath made with thee: and make to thyself a graven likeness of those things which the Lord hath forbid to be made:

Catholic Public Domain Version
Be careful, lest you at sometime forget the covenant of the Lord your God, which he has formed with you, and lest you make for yourselves a graven likeness of those things which the Lord has prohibited to be made.

New American Bible
Be careful, therefore, lest you forget the covenant which the LORD, your God, has made with you, and fashion for yourselves against his command an idol in any form whatsoever.

New Revised Standard Version
So be careful not to forget the covenant that the LORD your God made with you, and not to make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything that the LORD your God has forbidden you.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Take heed to yourselves, lest you forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and corrupt yourselves, and make for yourselves images, or the likeness of anything, which the LORD your God has forbidden you.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Beware that you do not forget the covenant of LORD JEHOVAH your God which he covenanted with you and you make an image for yourselves or a form of anything that LORD JEHOVAH your God commanded you.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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, even the likeness of any thing which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Take heed to yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the Lord our God, which he made with you, and ye transgress, and make to yourselves a graven image of any of the things concerning which the Lord thy God commanded thee.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Warning Against Idolatry
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. 24For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.…

Cross References
Exodus 20:4-5
You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath. / You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,

Exodus 34:17
You shall make no molten gods for yourselves.

Leviticus 26:1
“You must not make idols for yourselves or set up a carved image or sacred pillar; you must not place a sculpted stone in your land to bow down to it. For I am the LORD your God.

Deuteronomy 5:8-9
You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath. / You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,

Deuteronomy 6:14-15
Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you. / For the LORD your God, who is among you, is a jealous God. Otherwise the anger of the LORD your God will be kindled against you, and He will wipe you off the face of the earth.

Deuteronomy 27:15
‘Cursed is the man who makes a carved idol or molten image—an abomination to the LORD, the work of the hands of a craftsman—and sets it up in secret.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

Joshua 23:16
If you transgress the covenant of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and you will quickly perish from this good land He has given you.”

Judges 2:12
Thus they forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and they followed after various gods of the peoples around them. They bowed down to them and provoked the LORD to anger,

2 Kings 17:35-38
For the LORD had made a covenant with the Israelites and commanded them, “Do not worship other gods or bow down to them; do not serve them or sacrifice to them. / Instead, worship the LORD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt with great power and an outstretched arm. You are to bow down to Him and offer sacrifices to Him. / And you must always be careful to observe the statutes, ordinances, laws, and commandments He wrote for you. Do not worship other gods. ...

2 Chronicles 33:7-9
Manasseh even took the carved image he had made and set it up in the house of God, of which God had said to David and his son Solomon, “In this temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will establish My Name forever. / I will never again cause the feet of the Israelites to leave the land that I assigned to your fathers, if only they are careful to do all that I have commanded them through Moses—all the laws, statutes, and judgments.” / So Manasseh led the people of Judah and Jerusalem astray, so that they did greater evil than the nations that the LORD had destroyed before the Israelites.

Psalm 106:19-21
At Horeb they made a calf and worshiped a molten image. / They exchanged their Glory for the image of a grass-eating ox. / They forgot God their Savior, who did great things in Egypt,

Isaiah 42:8
I am the LORD; that is My name! I will not yield My glory to another or My praise to idols.

Jeremiah 25:6
Do not follow other gods to serve and worship them, and do not provoke Me to anger with the works of your hands. Then I will do you no harm.’

Ezekiel 20:7-8
And I said to them: ‘Each of you must throw away the abominations before his eyes, and you must not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.’ / But they rebelled against Me and refused to listen. None of them cast away the abominations before their eyes, and they did not forsake the idols of Egypt. So I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and vent My anger against them in the land of Egypt.

Hosea 13:4
Yet I am the LORD your God ever since the land of Egypt; you know no God but Me, for there is no Savior besides Me.


Treasury of Scripture

Take heed to yourselves, lest you 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 your God has forbidden you.

heed

Deuteronomy 4:9,15,16
Only 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; …

Deuteronomy 27:9
And Moses and the priests the Levites spake unto all Israel, saying, Take heed, and hearken, O Israel; this day thou art become the people of the LORD thy God.

Joshua 23:11
Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God.

lest ye forget

Deuteronomy 6:12
Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

Deuteronomy 29:25
Then men shall say, Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD God of their fathers, which he made with them when he brought them forth out of the land of Egypt:

Deuteronomy 31:20
For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers, that floweth with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat; then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant.

make you

Deuteronomy 4:16
Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female,

Exodus 20:4,5
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: …

Jump to Previous
Agreement Care Careful Commanded Covenant Engraved Heed Image Watch Yourselves
Jump to Next
Agreement Care Careful Commanded Covenant Engraved Heed Image Watch Yourselves
Deuteronomy 4
1. An exhortation to obedience
41. Moses appoints the three cities of refuge on that side of Jordan
44. Recapitulation














Be careful
The Hebrew root for "be careful" is "שָׁמַר" (shamar), which means to guard, keep, or watch over. This word is often used in the context of keeping commandments or observing laws. In Deuteronomy, Moses frequently uses this term to emphasize the importance of vigilance in maintaining a covenant relationship with God. The call to "be careful" is a reminder of the Israelites' responsibility to actively guard their hearts and actions against idolatry and disobedience.

not to forget
The phrase "not to forget" comes from the Hebrew "שָׁכַח" (shakach), meaning to forget or ignore. In the ancient Near Eastern context, memory was not just a mental exercise but a moral and spiritual duty. Forgetting God's covenant was tantamount to neglecting one's relationship with Him. This warning underscores the human tendency to become complacent and the need for constant remembrance of God's laws and deeds.

the covenant of the LORD your God
The term "covenant" is "בְּרִית" (berit) in Hebrew, signifying a solemn agreement or promise. In the biblical context, a covenant is a binding relationship initiated by God with His people. The "covenant of the LORD your God" refers specifically to the Sinai Covenant, where God gave the Law to Israel. This covenant established Israel as God's chosen people, with obligations to follow His commandments. The phrase highlights the personal nature of the relationship ("your God") and the divine authority behind the covenant.

that He made with you
This phrase emphasizes the personal and communal aspect of the covenant. The covenant was not just a historical event but a present reality for the Israelites. The use of "made" (Hebrew "כָּרַת" karat) often implies cutting, as covenants were traditionally ratified by cutting an animal sacrifice. This imagery reinforces the seriousness and sacrificial nature of the covenant relationship.

Do not make for yourselves an idol
The prohibition against idolatry is central to the covenant relationship. The Hebrew word for "idol" is "פֶּסֶל" (pesel), meaning a carved or graven image. In the ancient world, idols were physical representations of deities, and worshiping them was a common practice. However, the God of Israel is invisible and transcendent, and any attempt to represent Him with an idol is a violation of His uniqueness and holiness. This commandment is a call to exclusive worship and loyalty to the one true God.

in the form of anything
This phrase broadens the prohibition to include any likeness or representation, whether of heavenly beings, earthly creatures, or anything else. The comprehensive nature of this command underscores the absolute prohibition against idolatry in any form. It reflects the understanding that God, as the Creator, cannot be contained or represented by any part of His creation.

the LORD your God has forbidden you
The phrase "has forbidden you" indicates a direct command from God, highlighting His authority and the seriousness of the prohibition. The Hebrew word "צִוָּה" (tsavah) means to command or order, emphasizing that this is not a suggestion but a divine mandate. The use of "the LORD your God" reiterates the personal relationship and covenantal obligations of the Israelites to their God, who has set them apart for Himself.

Verse 23. - A graven image, or the likeness of any thing, etc. - literally, a graven (sculptured) image of a form of all that Jehovah thy God hath commanded thee; s.c. not to make (cf. Deuteronomy 16-18 and Deuteronomy 2:37).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Be careful
הִשָּׁמְר֣וּ (hiš·šā·mə·rū)
Verb - Nifal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 8104: To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to

that you do not
פֶּֽן־ (pen-)
Conjunction
Strong's 6435: Removal, lest

forget
תִּשְׁכְּחוּ֙ (tiš·kə·ḥū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 7911: To mislay, to be oblivious of, from want of memory, attention

the covenant
בְּרִ֤ית (bə·rîṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 1285: A covenant

of the LORD
יְהוָה֙ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

your God
אֱלֹ֣הֵיכֶ֔ם (’ĕ·lō·hê·ḵem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

that
אֲשֶׁ֥ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

He made
כָּרַ֖ת (kā·raṯ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3772: To cut, to destroy, consume, to covenant

with you;
עִמָּכֶ֑ם (‘im·mā·ḵem)
Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

do not make
וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֨ם (wa·‘ă·śî·ṯem)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 6213: To do, make

an idol
פֶּ֙סֶל֙ (pe·sel)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6459: An idol, image

for yourselves
לָכֶ֥ם (lā·ḵem)
Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew

in the form
תְּמ֣וּנַת (tə·mū·naṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 8544: Something portioned, out, as a, shape, phantom, embodiment, manifestation

of anything
כֹּ֔ל (kōl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

He
יְהוָ֥ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

has forbidden you.
צִוְּךָ֖ (ṣiw·wə·ḵā)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular
Strong's 6680: To lay charge (upon), give charge (to), command, order


Links
Deuteronomy 4:23 NIV
Deuteronomy 4:23 NLT
Deuteronomy 4:23 ESV
Deuteronomy 4:23 NASB
Deuteronomy 4:23 KJV

Deuteronomy 4:23 BibleApps.com
Deuteronomy 4:23 Biblia Paralela
Deuteronomy 4:23 Chinese Bible
Deuteronomy 4:23 French Bible
Deuteronomy 4:23 Catholic Bible

OT Law: Deuteronomy 4:23 Take heed to yourselves lest you forget (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 4:22
Top of Page
Top of Page