The Meaning of Leviticus 26:1 Explained

Leviticus 26:1

KJV: Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the LORD your God.

YLT: Ye do not make to yourselves idols; and graven image or standing image ye do not set up to yourselves; and a stone of imagery ye do not put in your land, to bow yourselves to it; for I am Jehovah your God.

Darby: Ye shall make yourselves no idols, neither rear you up for yourselves carved image, or statue, nor shall ye set up a figured stone in your land, to bow down unto it; for I am Jehovah your God.

ASV: Ye shall make you no idols, neither shall ye rear you up a graven image, or a pillar, neither shall ye place any figured stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am Jehovah your God.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Ye shall make  you no idols  nor graven image,  neither rear you up  a standing image,  neither shall ye set up  [any] image  of stone  in your land,  to bow down  unto it: for I [am] the LORD  your God. 

What does Leviticus 26:1 Mean?

Context Summary

Leviticus 26:1-20 - Results Of Obedience And Disobedience
There is a vast contrast between the ideal life of the first thirteen verses of this chapter and the remainder; just the distinction which God ever makes between a life of obedience and faith, and one of disobedience and disbelief. In our inner life we also may have that blessed rain of spiritual grace; the fruit-fullness and the peace, the safety and the victory, the old store reaching to the new, the breaking of our bars and the snapping of our yoke.
If these privileges are not yours, think back on your past to ascertain whether you are walking in all God's commandments, or are in anything walking contrary to them. Confess your sins and return, and dare to believe that He will bring you again, if penitent and believing, into the old glad position. But if "ye will not," Leviticus 26:14; Leviticus 26:18; Leviticus 26:21; Leviticus 26:23; Leviticus 26:27, heavy penalties must befall. God loves us too well to allow us to drift, unwarned and unrestrained, to perdition. [source]

Chapter Summary: Leviticus 26

1  Of idolatry
2  Reverence
3  A blessing to those who keep the commandments
14  A curse to those who break them
40  God promises to remember those who repent

What do the individual words in Leviticus 26:1 mean?

Not You shall make for yourselves idols and neither a carved image and a [sacred] pillar nor shall you rear up for yourselves and an stone engraved nor shall you set up in your land to bow down to it for I [am] Yahweh your God
לֹֽא־ תַעֲשׂ֨וּ לָכֶ֜ם אֱלִילִ֗ם וּפֶ֤סֶל וּמַצֵּבָה֙ לֹֽא־ תָקִ֣ימוּ לָכֶ֔ם וְאֶ֣בֶן מַשְׂכִּ֗ית לֹ֤א תִתְּנוּ֙ בְּאַרְצְכֶ֔ם לְהִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֺ֖ת עָלֶ֑יהָ כִּ֛י אֲנִ֥י יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם

תַעֲשׂ֨וּ  You  shall  make 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
לָכֶ֜ם  for  yourselves 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine plural
אֱלִילִ֗ם  idols 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלִיל  
Sense: of nought, good for nothing, worthless.
וּפֶ֤סֶל  and  neither  a  carved  image 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: פֶּסֶל  
Sense: idol, image.
וּמַצֵּבָה֙  and  a  [sacred]  pillar 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מַצֵּבָה  
Sense: pillar, mastaba, stump.
לֹֽא־  nor 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
תָקִ֣ימוּ  shall  you  rear  up 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: קוּם 
Sense: to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up.
לָכֶ֔ם  for  yourselves 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine plural
וְאֶ֣בֶן  and  an  stone 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: אֶבֶן  
Sense: stone (large or small).
מַשְׂכִּ֗ית  engraved 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: מַשְׂכִּית  
Sense: show-piece, figure, imagination, image, idol, picture.
לֹ֤א  nor 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
תִתְּנוּ֙  shall  you  set  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
בְּאַרְצְכֶ֔ם  in  your  land 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine plural
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
לְהִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֺ֖ת  to  bow  down 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hitpael, Infinitive construct
Root: שָׁחָה  
Sense: to bow down.
עָלֶ֑יהָ  to  it 
Parse: Preposition, third person feminine singular
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
יְהוָ֖ה  [am]  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם  your  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).