Deuteronomy 4:25

When thou shalt beget children, and children's children, and ye shall have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt [yourselves], and make a graven image, [or] the likeness of any [thing], and shall do evil in the sight of the LORD thy God, to provoke him to anger:

When thou shalt beget {H3205} children {H1121}, and children's {H1121} children {H1121}, and ye shall have remained long {H3462} in the land {H776}, and shall corrupt {H7843} yourselves, and make {H6213} a graven image {H6459}, or the likeness {H8544} of any thing, and shall do {H6213} evil {H7451} in the sight {H5869} of the LORD {H3068} thy God {H430}, to provoke him to anger {H3707}:

"When you have had children and grandchildren, lived a long time in the land, become corrupt and made a carved image, a representation of something, and thus done what is evil in the sight of ADONAI your God and provoked him;

After you have children and grandchildren and you have been in the land a long time, if you then act corruptly and make an idol of any form—doing evil in the sight of the LORD your God and provoking Him to anger—

When thou shalt beget children, and children’s children, and ye shall have been long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image in the form of anything, and shall do that which is evil in the sight of Jehovah thy God, to provoke him to anger;

Commentary

Context

Deuteronomy 4:25 is part of Moses' impassioned address to the Israelites on the plains of Moab, just before they enter the Promised Land. Moses, acting as God's prophet, is recounting the covenant made at Mount Horeb (Sinai) and fervently urging the new generation to remember God's faithfulness and their obligation to obey His laws. This verse serves as a prophetic warning, looking ahead to a time when, after settling and prospering in the land, future generations might succumb to the very temptations God explicitly forbade: idolatry.

Key Themes

  • Prophetic Warning of Apostasy: The verse foretells a future where Israel, after generations of dwelling in the land, would inevitably "corrupt themselves" and turn away from God. This highlights God's foreknowledge and the persistent human tendency towards rebellion.
  • The Sin of Idolatry: The core transgression described is the making of "a graven image, or the likeness of any thing." This directly violates the Second Commandment, which prohibits the creation and worship of any image or substitute for the one true God. It emphasizes the danger of worshipping creation instead of the Creator.
  • Generational Corruption: The phrase "children, and children's children" underscores the long-term, systemic nature of this spiritual decay. It suggests that the sin of idolatry would not be an isolated incident but a pervasive issue that would become deeply ingrained within the nation over time, passed down through generations.
  • Provoking God's Anger: The ultimate consequence of their actions is "to provoke him to anger." This is not a capricious human emotion but a righteous, holy response from God to profound rebellion against His divine authority, love, and covenant. It signals the seriousness of their disobedience.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "corrupt [yourselves]" translates the Hebrew word shachath (שָׁחַת), which means to spoil, ruin, or destroy, often implying a moral or spiritual decay. It suggests an active, deliberate self-defilement rather than a passive falling away. The term "graven image" comes from the Hebrew pesel (פֶּסֶל), specifically referring to an idol carved or hewn, typically from wood or stone, emphasizing the human effort involved in creating false gods.

Related Scriptures

This prophecy tragically found its fulfillment throughout Israel's history, particularly during the periods of the Judges and Kings, leading to the eventual exile of the Northern Kingdom and later Judah, as documented in books like 2 Kings and Jeremiah. The warning against making idols is a recurring theme in the Pentateuch, echoed in Leviticus 26:1 and throughout the prophetic books.

Practical Application

While literal graven images may be less common in many modern contexts, the principle of idolatry remains profoundly relevant. Anything that takes God's rightful place in our hearts – whether it be wealth, power, pleasure, status, technology, or even self-worship – can become a "graven image" that diverts our ultimate allegiance and provokes God's displeasure. This verse calls believers to:

  • Self-Examination: To honestly assess what we prioritize and worship in our lives, ensuring God holds the supreme position.
  • Generational Faithfulness: It highlights the immense responsibility parents and grandparents have in nurturing a spiritual legacy, teaching children and grandchildren to honor God and avoid paths of spiritual corruption.
  • Reverence for God's Holiness: Understanding that sin, especially idolatry, truly 'provokes' God to anger underscores the seriousness of disobedience and the importance of living in a way that honors His holy character and covenant.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 4:16

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

  • Hosea 9:9

    They have deeply corrupted [themselves], as in the days of Gibeah: [therefore] he will remember their iniquity, he will visit their sins.

  • 1 Corinthians 10:22

    Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

  • Judges 2:8

    And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, [being] an hundred and ten years old.

  • Judges 2:15

    Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed.

  • Deuteronomy 31:29

    For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt [yourselves], and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands.

  • 2 Kings 17:17

    And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
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