The Meaning of Deuteronomy 4:16 Explained

Deuteronomy 4:16

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

YLT: lest ye do corruptly, and have made to you a graven image, a similitude of any figure, a form of male or female --

Darby: lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the form of any figure, the pattern of male or female,

ASV: Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Lest ye corrupt  [yourselves], and make  you a graven image,  the similitude  of any figure,  the likeness  of male  or female, 

What does Deuteronomy 4:16 Mean?

Context Summary

Deuteronomy 4:15-31 - Jehovah "a Jealous God"
How often Moses repeats, "take heed." We must watch as well as pray and keep our souls diligently. We must specially beware of idols-that is, any visible thing which takes the place of the unseen and eternal, veiling it from our view. The soul must learn to lean on the everlasting arm.
How true that description of the iron furnace! The metaphor is derived from the process of smelting metal. We have had our Egypts, where by trials the real ore of character was disintegrated from its rocky matrix. But though God may remove us from outward affliction, He is Himself the furnace of purification, by His Spirit and Word, and in the secrets of our hearts, Deuteronomy 4:24. But His fire burns our bonds, while our heads are unsinged, Daniel 3:25.
If these words meet the eyes of any who are among the scattered and vanished ones, let them seek God again, and they shall certainly find Him; for He is merciful, He will not fail nor destroy, nor forget the olden Covenant, Deuteronomy 4:30-31. [source]

Chapter Summary: Deuteronomy 4

1  An exhortation to obedience
41  Moses appoints the three cities of refuge on that side of Jordan
44  Recapitulation

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 4:16 mean?

lest you act corruptly and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of any figure the likeness of male or female
פֶּ֨ן־ תַּשְׁחִת֔וּן וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֥ם לָכֶ֛ם פֶּ֖סֶל תְּמוּנַ֣ת כָּל־ סָ֑מֶל תַּבְנִ֥ית זָכָ֖ר א֥וֹ נְקֵבָֽה

פֶּ֨ן־  lest 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: פֶּן  
Sense: lest, not, beware lest adv.
תַּשְׁחִת֔וּן  you  act  corruptly 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, second person masculine plural, Paragogic nun
Root: שָׁחַת  
Sense: to destroy, corrupt, go to ruin, decay.
וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֥ם  and  make 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
לָכֶ֛ם  for  yourselves 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine plural
פֶּ֖סֶל  a  carved  image  in 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: פֶּסֶל  
Sense: idol, image.
תְּמוּנַ֣ת  the  form 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: תְּמוּנָה  
Sense: form, image, likeness, representation, semblance.
כָּל־  of  any 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
סָ֑מֶל  figure 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: סֶמֶל  
Sense: image, statue, idol.
תַּבְנִ֥ית  the  likeness 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: תַּבְנִית  
Sense: pattern, plan, form, construction, figure.
זָכָ֖ר  of  male 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: זָכָר  
Sense: male (of humans and animals) adj.
נְקֵבָֽה  female 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: נְקֵבָה  
Sense: female.