King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
¶ 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.
Complete Jewish Bible:
"'You are not to make yourselves any idols, erect a carved statue or a standing-stone, or place any carved stone anywhere in your land in order to bow down to it. I am ADONAI your God.
Berean Standard Bible:
“You must not make idols for yourselves or set up a carved image or sacred pillar; you must not place a sculpted stone in your land to bow down to it. For I am the LORD your God.
American Standard Version:
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 with Strong’s Numbers:
Ye shall make{H6213} you no idols{H457} nor graven image{H6459}, neither rear you up{H6965} a standing image{H4676}, neither shall ye set up{H5414} any image{H4906} of stone{H68} in your land{H776}, to bow down{H7812} unto it: for I am the LORD{H3068} your God{H430}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Leviticus 19:4
- Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I [am] the LORD your God.
Numbers 33:52
- Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places:
Exodus 23:24
- Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images.
Deuteronomy 27:15
- Cursed [be] the man that maketh [any] graven or molten image, an abomination unto the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth [it] in [a] secret [place]. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen.
Exodus 20:4
- Thou shalt not make unto 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 water under the earth:
Exodus 20:5
- Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God [am] a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth [generation] of them that hate me;
1 Corinthians 10:19
- What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Leviticus 26:1
Leviticus 26:1 is part of the Holiness Code in the Book of Leviticus, which contains a series of laws and instructions given by God to the Israelites through Moses. The verse is situated within a broader section that outlines the blessings for obedience and the curses for disobedience to God's commandments. The specific commandment in Leviticus 26:1 emphasizes the prohibition against idolatry, which is a recurring theme throughout the Old Testament.
The historical context of this verse is rooted in the period after the Exodus, when the Israelites were forming their identity as a people set apart for God. They were surrounded by cultures that practiced idolatry, which often involved the worship of deities represented by physical images or statues. These practices included creating and venerating idols made of various materials, such as stone or metal.
In the text of Leviticus 26:1, the Israelites are explicitly commanded not to make idols, graven images, standing images, or any image of stone to bow down to. This commandment serves to distinguish the worship of the one true God, who is invisible and beyond representation, from the pagan practices of the time. The verse underscores the importance of exclusive worship of Yahweh, the Lord God of Israel, and rejects the syncretism that could arise from blending Israelite religion with the idolatrous practices of their neighbors.
The themes of Leviticus 26:1 include the uniqueness of God, the importance of monotheism, and the rejection of pagan rituals. The prohibition against idols and images is a foundational element of Israelite religion, later reinforced in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:4-6; Deuteronomy 5:8-10). By following this commandment, the Israelites were to demonstrate their loyalty to God and maintain their distinctiveness as His chosen people. The verse also reflects the broader biblical theme that God's people are called to be holy, as God is holy (Leviticus 19:2), which includes separating themselves from the idolatrous practices that were contrary to God's nature and will.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H6213
There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָשָׂה
Transliteration: ʻâsâh
Pronunciation: aw-saw'
Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use. - Strong's Number: H457
There are 79 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֱלִיל
Transliteration: ʼĕlîyl
Pronunciation: el-eel'
Description: apparently from אַל; good for nothing, by anal. vain or vanity; specifically an idol; idol, no value, thing of nought. - Strong's Number: H6459
There are 31 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פֶּסֶל
Transliteration: peçel
Pronunciation: peh'-sel
Description: lemma פֶסֶל missing dagesh, corrected to פֶּסֶל; from פָּסַל; an idol; carved (graven) image. - Strong's Number: H6965
There are 596 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קוּם
Transliteration: qûwm
Pronunciation: koom
Description: a primitive root; to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative); abide, accomplish, [idiom] be clearer, confirm, continue, decree, [idiom] be dim, endure, [idiom] enemy, enjoin, get up, make good, help, hold, (help to) lift up (again), make, [idiom] but newly, ordain, perform, pitch, raise (up), rear (up), remain, (a-) rise (up) (again, against), rouse up, set (up), (e-) stablish, (make to) stand (up), stir up, strengthen, succeed, (as-, make) sure(-ly), (be) up(-hold, -rising). - Strong's Number: H4676
There are 31 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מַצֵּבָה
Transliteration: matstsêbâh
Pronunciation: mats-tsay-baw'
Description: feminine (causatively) participle of נָצַב; something stationed, i.e. a column or (memorial stone); by analogy, an idol; garrison, (standing) image, pillar. - Strong's Number: H5414
There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָתַן
Transliteration: nâthan
Pronunciation: naw-than'
Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield. - Strong's Number: H4906
There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מַשְׂכִּית
Transliteration: maskîyth
Pronunciation: mas-keeth'
Description: from the same as שֵׂכוּ; a figure (carved on stone, the wall, or any object); figuratively, imagination; conceit, image(-ry), picture, [idiom] wish. - Strong's Number: H68
There are 1276 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶבֶן
Transliteration: ʼeben
Pronunciation: eh'-ben
Description: from the root of בָּנָה through the meaning to build; a stone; [phrase] carbuncle, [phrase] mason, [phrase] plummet, (chalk-, hail-, head-, sling-) stone(-ny), (divers) weight(-s). - Strong's Number: H776
There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶרֶץ
Transliteration: ʼerets
Pronunciation: eh'-rets
Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. - Strong's Number: H7812
There are 166 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁחָה
Transliteration: shâchâh
Pronunciation: shaw-khaw'
Description: a primitive root; to depress, i.e. prostrate (especially reflexive, in homage to royalty or God); bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship. - Strong's Number: H3068
There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהֹוָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה. - Strong's Number: H430
There are 2334 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֱלֹהִים
Transliteration: ʼĕlôhîym
Pronunciation: el-o-heem'
Description: plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty.