Exodus 20:4 “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the…”

Exodus 20:4

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.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

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:

World English Bible

“You shall not make for yourselves an idol, nor any image of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

American Standard Version

Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor 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:

Geneva Bible 1599

Thou shalt make thee no grauen image, neither any similitude of things that are in heauen aboue, neither that are in the earth beneath, nor that are in the waters vnder the earth.

Darby Translation

Thou shalt not make thyself any graven image, or any form of what is in the heavens above, or what is in the earth beneath, or what is in the waters under the earth:

Young's Literal Translation

'Thou dost not make to thyself a graven image, or any likeness which [is] in the heavens above, or which [is] in the earth beneath, or which [is] in the waters under the earth.

Bible in Basic English

You are not to make an image or picture of anything in heaven or on the earth or in the waters under the earth:

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Cross references

“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 5:8 Leviticus 26:1 Deuteronomy 4:15–19 Psalm 97:7 Leviticus 19:4 Deuteronomy 27:15

Deuteronomy 5:8 · BSB

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.

Leviticus 26:1 · BSB

“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 4:15–19 · BSB

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

Psalm 97:7 · BSB

All worshipers of images are put to shame— those who boast in idols. Worship Him, all you gods!

Leviticus 19:4 · BSB

Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves molten gods. I am the LORD your God.

Deuteronomy 27:15 · BSB

‘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!’

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

3You shall have no other gods before Me.

5You 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,

Read Exodus 20