The Meaning of Deuteronomy 5:8 Explained

Deuteronomy 5:8

KJV: Thou shalt not make 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 waters beneath the earth:

YLT: Thou dost not make to thee a graven image, any similitude which is in the heavens above, and which is in the earth beneath, and which is in the waters under the earth;

Darby: Thou shalt not make thyself any graven image, 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:

ASV: Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

Discover Deuteronomy 5:8

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Deuteronomy 5:8?

MEANING: What does Deuteronomy 5:8 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 5:8 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Deuteronomy 5:8?

What is the context of Deuteronomy 5:8?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thou shalt not make 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 waters beneath the earth:

What does Deuteronomy 5:8 Mean?

Context Summary

Deuteronomy 5:1-21 - The Decalogue Repeated

The Law of God is for "all Israel." None are exempt. "Not with our fathers" means not with them only; Moses also uses the expression because many of the references of the Decalogue were to the settled life of Canaan. "Face to face," not in dark visions, but clearly and lucidly, Job 4:12-13. Our "face-to-face" vision is yet to come, 1 Corinthians 13:12; Revelation 22:4. Notice in Deuteronomy 5:5 the ideal mediator, Galatians 3:19; 1 Timothy 2:5.

Every soul has two givings of the Law. First, we stand under Sinai to be judged, condemned, and shut up to Christ as our only hope; then we come to it a second time, asking that the Holy Spirit should write it in our hearts, and make us to walk in obedience to its precepts, Galatians 3:23; Romans 8:4.

Adolphe Monod, on his death-bed, said: "Sin has two divisions; the evil that we have done and the good that we have left undone. As to the first, there is not a single command that I have not transgressed in letter or spirit; as to the second, it weighs on me even more than the first." [source]

Chapter Summary: Deuteronomy 5

¹ The covenant in Horeb
⁶ The ten commandments
²³ At the people's request Moses receives the law from God

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 5:8 mean?

Not You shall make for yourself a carved image any likeness [of anything] that [is] in heaven above or that [is] in the earth beneath or that [is] in the water beneath the earth

לֹֽ֣א־ תַעֲשֶׂ֥ה־ לְךָ֥֣ פֶ֣֙סֶל֙ ׀ כָּל־ תְּמוּנָ֔֡ה אֲשֶׁ֤֣ר בַּשָּׁמַ֣֙יִם֙ ׀ מִמַּ֔֡עַל וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר֩ בָּאָ֖֨רֶץ מִתָּ֑֜חַת וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר בַּמַּ֖֣יִם ׀ מִתַּ֥֣חַת לָאָֽ֗רֶץ

תַעֲשֶׂ֥ה־	You shall make
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular Root: עָשָׂה Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
לְךָ֥֣	for yourself
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
פֶ֣֙סֶל֙ ׀	a carved image
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct Root: פֶּסֶל Sense: idol, image.
כָּל־	any
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct Root: כֹּל Sense: all, the whole.
תְּמוּנָ֔֡ה	likeness [of anything]
Parse: Noun, feminine singular Root: תְּמוּנָה Sense: form, image, likeness, representation, semblance.
אֲשֶׁ֤֣ר	that [is]
Parse: Pronoun, relative Root: אֲשֶׁר Sense: (relative part.).
בַּשָּׁמַ֣֙יִם֙ ׀	in heaven
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine plural Root: שָׁמַיִם Sense: heaven, heavens, sky.
מִמַּ֔֡עַל	above
Parse: Preposition-m, Adverb Root: מַעַל Sense: higher part, upper part adv.
וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר֩	or that [is]
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, relative Root: אֲשֶׁר Sense: (relative part.).
בָּאָ֖֨רֶץ	in the earth
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular Root: אֶרֶץ Sense: land, earth.
מִתָּ֑֜חַת	beneath
Parse: Preposition-m, Adverb Root: מִתְחָה Sense: the under part, beneath, instead of, as, for, for the sake of, flat, unto, where, whereas.
וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר	or that [is]
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, relative Root: אֲשֶׁר Sense: (relative part.).
בַּמַּ֖֣יִם ׀	in the water
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine plural Root: מַיִם Sense: water, waters.
מִתַּ֥֣חַת	beneath
Parse: Preposition-m Root: מִתְחָה Sense: the under part, beneath, instead of, as, for, for the sake of, flat, unto, where, whereas.
לָאָֽ֗רֶץ	the earth
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, feminine singular Root: אֶרֶץ Sense: land, earth.

What are the major concepts related to Deuteronomy 5:8?

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Similar Scriptures for Deuteronomy 5:8

		Exodus 20:4 [20]
		Deuteronomy 4:15-19 [3]