Deuteronomy 4:25

KJV

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:

KJV (with Strong's)

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}:

Complete Jewish Bible

"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;

Berean Standard Bible

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—

American Standard Version

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

### SUMMARY
Deuteronomy 4:25 delivers a poignant prophetic warning from Moses to the Israelites on the brink of entering the Promised Land. It foretells a future generation, long after settling and prospering, that would tragically succumb to spiritual corruption by creating and worshipping graven images. This act of idolatry, a direct and egregious violation of God's foundational commands, is presented as an action that would profoundly provoke the righteous anger of the LORD, underscoring the severe consequences of covenant infidelity and humanity's persistent inclination towards spiritual rebellion.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Deuteronomy 4:25 is strategically placed within Moses' second major discourse, delivered to the new generation of Israelites assembled on the plains of Moab, poised to enter Canaan. This chapter serves as a passionate exhortation, emphasizing the unique and unparalleled nature of Israel's covenant relationship with Yahweh. Moses meticulously recounts God's awe-inspiring revelation at Horeb (Mount Sinai), particularly the giving of the Law without any visible form, thereby eliminating any pretext for fabricating images of God. The verse functions as a stark and prescient warning, looking forward to a time when, despite God's abundant provisions and explicit prohibitions, Israel would inevitably fall into the very sin of idolatry God had so vehemently forbidden. This prophetic indictment sets the stage for the dire consequences detailed in the subsequent verses, such as the scattering among the nations and the loss of the land, as seen in [Deuteronomy 4:26-28](/deuteronomy/4-26-28 "Deuteronomy 4:26-28 - Consequences of Idolatry"). The warning here reinforces the gravity of the covenant stipulations reiterated throughout [Deuteronomy 5](/deuteronomy/5 "Deuteronomy 5 - The Ten Commandments").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Israelites stood at a pivotal historical juncture, on the threshold of a land saturated with Canaanite religious practices. These indigenous cultures were characterized by pervasive polytheism, fertility cults, and the ubiquitous use of idols fashioned to represent their various deities. Moses' warning in Deuteronomy 4:25 was therefore acutely relevant, serving as a crucial spiritual inoculation against the profound dangers they would encounter. The phrase "ye shall have remained long in the land" anticipates a period of established peace and prosperity, which, as history would tragically demonstrate, often led to spiritual complacency, syncretism, and assimilation into the surrounding pagan cultures. The act of making a "graven image" was a commonplace religious ritual throughout the ancient Near East, where physical idols were believed to embody or house the divine presence. In stark contrast, God's prohibition against image-making was revolutionary and counter-cultural, demanding exclusive allegiance and worship without any material representation, thereby profoundly distinguishing Israel from all other nations.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes central to Deuteronomy and the broader Pentateuch. It profoundly underscores the theme of **covenant fidelity and apostasy**, serving as a prophetic indictment of Israel's future unfaithfulness despite God's unwavering and steadfast faithfulness. It highlights the inherent **danger of idolatry**, not merely as a ritualistic error but as a fundamental betrayal of the covenant, a spiritual adultery that exchanges the glory of the invisible God for created things. This theological truth is later echoed in the New Testament, particularly in [Romans 1:22-23](/romans/1-22-23 "Romans 1:22-23 - The Folly of Idolatry"), which describes the futility of worshipping the created rather than the Creator. The mention of "children, and children's children" introduces the critical theme of **generational responsibility and corruption**, indicating that spiritual decay could become deeply ingrained and tragically passed down through successive generations, impacting the nation's long-term spiritual health. Finally, the phrase "to provoke him to anger" reveals the profound seriousness of idolatry in God's sight, emphasizing His **holiness and righteous jealousy** for His exclusive worship, a theme reverberating throughout the prophetic books concerning Israel's repeated backsliding, as exemplified in [Jeremiah 7:18-19](/jeremiah/7-18-19 "Jeremiah 7:18-19 - Provoking God to Anger").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **corrupt [yourselves] (Hebrew, _shâchath'_):** This verb signifies to decay, spoil, ruin, or destroy. When used reflexively, as implied in this context, it denotes an active, deliberate self-defilement or moral degradation. It suggests that Israel's turning to idolatry would not be a passive decline but a conscious and willful act of spiritual and moral deterioration, fundamentally ruining their covenant relationship with God and their own spiritual integrity. The act is one of self-destruction and covenant violation.
* **graven image (Hebrew, _peçel'_):** This term specifically refers to an idol that has been carved, hewn, or sculptured, typically from wood, stone, or metal. The emphasis on "graven" highlights the human effort, skill, and artistry involved in fabricating a substitute for the divine. This underscores the profound absurdity and affront of worshipping something fashioned by human hands rather than the transcendent Creator Himself, who is beyond all physical representation.
* **provoke him to anger (Hebrew, _kaʻaç'_):** This primitive root means to trouble, vex, irritate, or make angry. In the context of God, it describes a righteous and holy indignation, not a capricious or uncontrolled human emotion. God's anger here is a just and necessary response to profound rebellion, egregious covenant breaking, and the ultimate insult of exchanging His unique and incomparable glory for lifeless idols. It signifies the immense gravity of Israel's sin and the inevitable, just divine judgment that follows such deliberate and persistent disobedience.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"When thou shalt beget children, and children's children, and ye shall have remained long in the land,"**: This opening clause establishes a future, conditional scenario. Moses, speaking with prophetic foresight, envisions a time of established prosperity and generational continuity within the Promised Land. The phrase "long in the land" implies a period of sustained peace, abundance, and security, which ironically often leads to spiritual complacency, a forgetting of God's miraculous provisions, and a diminished reverence for His commands. It sets the stage for the subsequent spiritual decline.
* **"and shall corrupt [yourselves], and make a graven image, [or] the likeness of any [thing],"**: This is the core transgression foreseen and condemned. The act of "corrupting themselves" indicates an internal, deliberate moral and spiritual decay that directly precipitates the outward act of idolatry. The making of a "graven image" or "likeness of any thing" constitutes a direct and comprehensive violation of the Second Commandment, which prohibits any physical representation of God or any worship directed towards created things. This highlights the absolute and sweeping nature of God's prohibition against all forms of idolatry, leaving no room for compromise.
* **"and shall do evil in the sight of the LORD thy God, to provoke him to anger:"**: This final clause specifies the moral nature and inevitable consequence of the transgression. Idolatry is unequivocally labeled as "evil" in God's sight, representing a direct affront to His holiness, sovereignty, and exclusive claim to worship. The result is to "provoke him to anger," signifying God's righteous, severe, and just displeasure at such a profound betrayal of His covenant and His unique glory. This anger is not arbitrary but a holy response to deliberate and persistent rebellion against His divine nature and commands.

#### Literary Devices
Deuteronomy 4:25 masterfully employs several potent literary devices to convey its urgent warning. **Prophecy** is central, as Moses foretells Israel's future apostasy, demonstrating God's omniscience and the tragic inevitability of human sinfulness when left to its own devices. The verse is meticulously structured as a **conditional clause** ("When... then..."), framing the future consequences as a direct and unavoidable result of the nation's actions, thereby emphasizing accountability. The repetition of "children, and children's children" serves as **repetition for emphasis**, powerfully highlighting the generational scope of the predicted corruption and the far-reaching, long-term impact of spiritual choices. The phrase "provoke him to anger" is a vivid example of **anthropomorphism**, attributing a human emotion (anger) to God. This device effectively conveys God's righteous indignation and profound displeasure at idolatry, making His divine response relatable and understandable to human hearers while simultaneously upholding His transcendent and holy nature. Furthermore, the comprehensive nature of "likeness of any thing" can be interpreted as an instance of **intensification**, underscoring the absolute and unyielding nature of God's prohibition against all forms of image worship, leaving no loophole for subtle forms of idolatry.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Deuteronomy 4:25 stands as a stark reminder of God's absolute sovereignty and His non-negotiable demand for exclusive worship. Theologically, it profoundly underscores the sinfulness of idolatry as a direct affront to God's unique glory and an act of spiritual adultery against the sacred covenant relationship. It vividly reveals God's character as both perfectly holy and righteously jealous, utterly unwilling to share His glory with any other entity or object. The tragic historical fulfillment of this prophecy, abundantly evident throughout the periods of the Judges and Kings, culminating in the exiles of both Israel and Judah, powerfully demonstrates the immutable truth of God's warnings and the severe consequences of persistent disobedience. This verse also serves as a crucial foreshadowing of the New Testament understanding of idolatry, where it is not merely confined to physical images but encompasses anything that usurps God's rightful place in our hearts, whether it be greed, self-worship, worldly desires, or even intellectual constructs. All such substitutions ultimately "provoke" God's righteous judgment.

* [Exodus 20:4-5](/exodus/20-4-5 "Exodus 20:4-5 - The Second Commandment")
* [Psalm 106:35-40](/psalms/106-35-40 "Psalm 106:35-40 - Israel's Idolatry and Consequences")
* [Romans 1:22-23](/romans/1-22-23 "Romans 1:22-23 - The Folly of Idolatry")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Deuteronomy 4:25, though rooted in ancient Israel's covenant experience, resonates with profound and timeless relevance for contemporary believers. While literal graven images may be less prevalent in many modern societies, the underlying principle of idolatry remains a pervasive and insidious spiritual danger. Anything that assumes God's rightful, supreme place in our hearts—be it wealth, power, pleasure, status, technology, political ideologies, or even our own self-image and desires—can become a "graven image" that subtly or overtly diverts our ultimate allegiance and provokes God's righteous displeasure. This verse calls us to a rigorous and honest self-examination, compelling us to discern what truly holds supremacy in our lives and to ensure that God alone receives our undivided worship and devotion. It also emphasizes the immense spiritual responsibility we bear for the legacy we pass on to future generations. Just as the Israelites were warned about the generational spread of corruption, we are challenged to actively nurture a vibrant, authentic faith in our children and grandchildren, teaching them to honor God above all else and to resist the myriad subtle and overt forms of idolatry prevalent in our culture. Understanding that sin, especially idolatry, genuinely "provokes" God to anger underscores the profound seriousness of disobedience and the vital importance of living a life that consistently honors His holy character and covenant.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What are the modern "graven images" or idols that compete for ultimate allegiance in my life or in contemporary society?**
* **How am I actively contributing to or hindering a legacy of genuine faith for future generations within my family or community?**
* **How does understanding God's righteous anger against idolatry shape my reverence for Him and my commitment to exclusive worship?**

### FAQ
**Why does God get "angry" at idolatry?**

Answer: God's anger, as described in Scripture, is not a capricious, uncontrolled, or vengeful human emotion, but a righteous and holy response to sin, particularly idolatry. It stems from His perfect character, His covenant faithfulness, and His unwavering justice. God is angry at idolatry for several profound reasons:
* **Violation of His Unique Glory:** God is the one true Creator and Sustainer of all things, and His glory is unique, incommunicable, and non-transferable ([Isaiah 42:8](/isaiah/42-8 "Isaiah 42:8 - God's Glory Not Shared")). Idolatry is a direct affront to His majesty, an audacious attempt to replace Him with created things or human constructs, thereby diminishing His rightful honor.
* **Covenant Betrayal:** For Israel, idolatry was a direct and egregious violation of the sacred covenant they made with God at Sinai. It was akin to spiritual adultery, a profound act of unfaithfulness against the One who had redeemed them ([Ezekiel 16:15-19](/zekiel/16-15-19 "Ezekiel 16:15-19 - Israel's Spiritual Adultery")). It was a rejection of His love, His provision, and His supreme authority as their sovereign Lord.
* **Destructive Nature of Idolatry:** Idolatry is inherently destructive to humanity. It distorts human purpose, leading people to worship things that cannot save, satisfy, or truly guide them. It leads to moral decay, societal breakdown, and profound alienation from the source of true life, blessing, and wisdom. God's anger is therefore also an expression of His protective love for His people, warning them away from paths that inevitably lead to ruin and death.
* **Assault on His Holiness:** God is perfectly holy, utterly separate from all sin, corruption, and defilement. Idolatry is a profound act of unholiness, bringing defilement into His pure presence and among His covenant people. His anger is a manifestation of His just and necessary opposition to all that contradicts or opposes His perfect, righteous nature.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Deuteronomy 4:25, with its stern and prophetic warning against the making and worship of graven images, finds its ultimate fulfillment and profound resolution in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament's relentless struggle against the worship of physical "graven images" serves as a powerful foreshadowing of humanity's deeper, innate propensity to worship anything but the one true God, including self, wealth, human ideologies, or created things. Christ, however, is revealed as the perfect and true [image of the invisible God](/colossians/1-15 "Colossians 1:15 - Christ, the Image of God"), the very [radiance of God's glory and the exact imprint of His nature](/hebrews/1-3 "Hebrews 1:3 - Christ, the Radiance of God's Glory"). In Him, God is fully and perfectly revealed, eliminating any need or excuse for humanity to create physical or conceptual idols. The New Covenant, inaugurated by Christ's atoning sacrifice, addresses the very root cause of idolatry—the sinful, rebellious human heart—by promising a new heart and a new spirit, where God's law is written not on stone tablets but on the heart, enabling true worship [in spirit and truth](/john/4-24 "John 4:24 - Worship in Spirit and Truth"). Christ's perfect life, sacrificial death, and glorious resurrection removed the "provocation" of our sin and rebellion, reconciling us to God ([Romans 5:8-10](/romans/5-8-10 "Romans 5:8-10 - Reconciliation Through Christ")). Through faith in Him, believers are called to put to death the "idolatry" of greed and worldly desires ([Colossians 3:5](/colossians/3-5 "Colossians 3:5 - Put to Death Earthly Things")), recognizing that Christ alone is worthy of all worship, ultimate allegiance, and supreme devotion. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, including the pervasive sin of idolatry, offering true freedom and a pathway to worship the Father without blemish, image, or rival.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI 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.