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Monday, July 28th, 2025
the Week of Proper 12 / Ordinary 17
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Updated Bible Version

Deuteronomy 4:17

the likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the heavens,

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Afflictions and Adversities;   Idolatry;   Obedience;   The Topic Concordance - Idolatry;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Beasts;   Birds;   Idolatry;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Idol, Idolatry;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - God;   Idol, idolatry;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Idol, Idolatry;   Israel;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Polytheism;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Idol;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Baptism of Fire;   Birds;   Deuteronomy, the Book of;   Figured Stone;   Heaven;   Likeness;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Deuteronomy;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Quotations;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Fowl;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Animals of the Bible;   Birds;   Ethics;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
the likeness of any animal that is on the eretz, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the sky,
King James Version
The likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air,
Lexham English Bible
a replica of any animal that is upon the earth, a replica of any winged bird that flies in the air,
English Standard Version
the likeness of any animal that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the air,
New Century Version
of animals on earth or birds that fly in the air,
New English Translation
any kind of land animal, any bird that flies in the sky,
Amplified Bible
the likeness of any animal that is on the earth, or of any winged bird that flies in the sky,
New American Standard Bible
a representation of any animal that is on the earth, a representation of any winged bird that flies in the sky,
Geneva Bible (1587)
The likenes of any beast that is on earth, or the likenesse of any fethered foule that flieth in the aire:
Legacy Standard Bible
the likeness of any animal that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the sky,
Contemporary English Version
animals, birds,
Complete Jewish Bible
or a representation of any animal on earth, or a representation of any bird that flies in the air,
Darby Translation
the pattern of any beast that is on the earth, the pattern of any winged fowl that flieth in the heaven,
Easy-to-Read Version
or like an animal on the earth, or like a bird that flies in the sky.
George Lamsa Translation
The likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flies in the air.
Good News Translation
animal or bird,
Christian Standard Bible®
or the form of any animal on the earth, any winged creature that flies in the sky,
Literal Translation
the form of any animal in the earth; the form of any winged bird that flies in the heavens;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
or beest vpon earth, or fethered foule vnder the heauen,
American Standard Version
the likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flieth in the heavens,
Bible in Basic English
Or any beast of the earth, or winged bird of the air,
Bishop's Bible (1568)
The likenesse of any maner of beast that is on the earth, or the likenesse of any maner fethered foule that fleeth in the ayre,
JPS Old Testament (1917)
the likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the heaven,
King James Version (1611)
The likenesse of any beast that is on the earth, the likenes of any winged foule that flieth in the aire,
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
the likeness of any beast of those that are on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird which flies under heaven,
English Revised Version
the likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the heaven,
Berean Standard Bible
of any beast on the earth or bird that flies in the air,
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
a licnesse of alle beestis that ben on erthe, ether of bridis fleynge vndur heuene,
Young's Literal Translation
a form of any beast which [is] in the earth -- a form of any winged bird which flieth in the heavens --
Webster's Bible Translation
The likeness of any beast that [is] on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air,
World English Bible
the likeness of any animal that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the sky,
New King James Version
the likeness of any animal that is on the earth or the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the air,
New Living Translation
an animal on the ground, a bird in the sky,
New Life Bible
or like an animal on the earth, or a bird with wings that flies in the sky,
New Revised Standard
the likeness of any animal that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the air,
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
a model of any beast that is in the earth, - a mode of any winged bird, that flieth in the heavens;
Douay-Rheims Bible
The similitude of any beasts, that are upon the earth, or of birds, that fly under heaven,
Revised Standard Version
the likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the air,
New American Standard Bible (1995)
the likeness of any animal that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the sky,

Contextual Overview

1 And now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and to the ordinances, which I teach you, to do them; that you may live, and go in and possess the land which Yahweh, the God of your fathers, gives you. 2 You shall not add to the word which I command you, neither shall you diminish from it, that you may keep the commandments of Yahweh your God which I command you. 3 Your eyes have seen what Yahweh did because of Baal-peor; for all the men that followed Baal-peor, Yahweh your God has destroyed them from the midst of you. 4 But you that did cleave to Yahweh your God are alive every one of you this day. 5 Look, I have taught you statutes and ordinances, even as Yahweh my God commanded me, that you should do so in the midst of the land where you go in to possess it. 6 Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, that shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. 7 For what great nation is there, that has a god so near to them, as Yahweh our God is whenever we call on him? 8 And what great nation is there, that has statutes and ordinances so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day? 9 Only you be careful and keep your soul diligently, or else you will forget the things which your eyes saw, and they will depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and the sons of your sons; 10 the day that you stood before Yahweh your God in Horeb, when Yahweh said to me, Assemble the people to me, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they live on the earth, and that they may teach their sons.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

In these verses there is an evident allusion to the idolatrous worship in Egypt. Among the Egyptians, almost everything in nature was the object of their idolatry; among beasts were oxen, heifers, sheep, goats, lions, dogs, monkeys, and cats; among birds, the ibis, crane, and hawk; among reptiles, the crocodile, serpents, frogs, flies, and beetles; all the fish of the Nile, and the Nile itself; besides the sun, moon, planets, stars, fire, light, air, darkness, and night. These are all included in the very circumstantial prohibition in the text, and very forcibly in the general terms of Exodus 20:4, the reason of which prohibition becomes self-evident, when the various objects of Egyptian idolatry are considered. Romans 1:23

Reciprocal: Genesis 34:30 - and I being Jeremiah 27:5 - and have

Cross-References

Genesis 4:4
And Abel, he also brought of the firstborns of his flock and of the fat thereof. And Yahweh had respect to Abel and to his offering:
Genesis 4:11
And now cursed are you from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand;
Genesis 5:18
And Jared lived 162 years, and begot Enoch:
Genesis 5:22
and Enoch walked with God after he begot Methuselah 300 years, and begot sons and daughters:
Genesis 11:4
And they said, Come, let us build us a city, and a tower, whose top [may reach] to heaven, and let us make us a name; or else we will be scattered abroad on the face of the whole earth.
2 Samuel 18:18
Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself the pillar, which is in the king's dale; for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name; and it is called Absalom's monument, to this day.
Psalms 49:11
Their graves are their houses forever, [And] their dwelling-places to all generations; [Even though] they call lands after their own names.
Daniel 4:30
The king spoke and said, Is not this great Babylon, which I have built for the royal dwelling-place, by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?

Gill's Notes on the Bible

The likeness of any beast that is on the earth,.... As there are scarce any but the likeness of them has been made and worshipped, or the creatures themselves, as the ox by the Egyptians, the sheep by the Thebans, the goat by the Mendesians, and others by different people:

the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air; as the hawk, and the bird called Ibis, and another by the name of Cneph by the Egyptians, and the eagle by others.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Deuteronomy 4:17. The likeness of any beast, c. — Such as the Egyptian god Apis, who was worshipped under the form of a white bull the ibis and hawk, among the FOWLS, had also Divine honours paid to them; serpents and the crocodile among REPTILES; besides monkeys, dogs, cats, the scarabaeus, leeks, and onions! See this explained at large, Exodus 20:4; Exodus 20:4.


 
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