Deuteronomy 5:8 Meaning and Explanation
“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:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The second commandment: Israel must not make or worship carved images or idols.
The Context of Deuteronomy 5:8
The second commandment forbids making and worshiping idols.
What Does Deuteronomy 5:8 Mean?
God forbade Israel from creating visual representations to worship—no carved idols, whether depicting heavenly beings, earthly creatures, or anything else. The comprehensive scope (heaven, earth, waters) shows this was absolute, not conditional on how the image was intended. Surrounding cultures made idols as gateways to divine presence; Israel was set apart to encounter God through His word, not through material images.
This reflected God's nature: He cannot be captured in wood or stone. To worship an idol was to reduce the infinite God to a finite object and to trust a human creation rather than the Creator Himself.
Deuteronomy 5:8 in the Original Language
pesel (פֶּסֶל), 'graven image' — a carved or hewn idol, often of wood or stone, made by human hands to represent a deity.
Frequently Asked Questions About Deuteronomy 5:8
What does Deuteronomy 5:8 mean?
The second commandment: Israel must not make or worship carved images or idols.
What is the context of Deuteronomy 5:8?
The second commandment forbids making and worshiping idols.