Leviticus 26:1

Translations

Modern

“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.

Traditional

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.

Literal

“ You shall not make for yourselves idols, and you shall not rear up for yourselves a graven image or standing image, and you shall not set up an engraved stone in your land to bow down to it. For I am YHWH your God.

Latin

Ego Dominus Deus vester: non facietis vobis idolum, et sculptile, nec titulos erigetis, nec insignem lapidem ponetis in terra vestra, ut adoretis eum. Ego enim sum Dominus Deus vester.

Original

Hebrew

English

“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.

Notes

Leviticus 26:1

God instructed Israel not to make idols or carved images to worship (see Exodus 20:4–6). Creating an image to worship would would insult God. It limited God to time and space and replaced the living God with a lifeless object.
Early in Israel's history, people set up stones as memorials for various events (Genesis 28:18; Exodus 24:4). Yet, pillars and sculpted stones had connections to pagan worship (2 Kings 3:2; 10:26, 27). This was especially true when these stones held the carved image of a god. God clearly allowed for some sculptures (for example, 1 Kings 7:25). The focus here is on objects that the people would worship, thus making them into idols.

Theme notes and profiles

Ancient Law Codes Counsel from Others God’s Covenants Promised Land The Land True Success

Related verses

Leviticus 19:4
Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves molten gods. I am the LORD your God.
Deuteronomy 27:15
‘Cursed is the man who makes a carved idol or molten image—an abomination to the LORD, the work of the hands of a craftsman—and sets it up in secret.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’
Exodus 23:24
You must not bow down to their gods or serve them or follow their practices. Instead, you are to demolish them and smash their sacred stones to pieces.
Numbers 33:52
…you must drive out before you all the inhabitants of the land, destroy all their carved images and cast idols, and demolish all their high places.
Exodus 20:4–5
You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath.
1 Corinthians 10:19–20
Am I suggesting, then, that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything?
Revelation 13:14–15
Because of the signs it was given to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived those who dwell on the earth, telling them to make an image to the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet had lived.
Exodus 20:23
You are not to make any gods alongside Me; you are not to make for yourselves gods of silver or gold.
Jeremiah 10:3–8
For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut down a tree from the forest; it is shaped with a chisel by the hands of a craftsman.
Deuteronomy 16:21–22
Do not set up any wooden Asherah pole next to the altar you will build for the LORD your God,
Romans 2:22–23
You who forbid adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
Acts 17:29
Therefore, being offspring of God, we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by man’s skill and imagination.

Glossary

Biblical Concept of Law Branch Deuteronomy, Book of Earth History of Israel Idols, Idolatry Leviticus, Book of Ransom Remnant Reward

Topics

Covenant of God with Men: Binding Graven Images Idol: Made of Wood and Stone Idolatry: Denunciations Against Idols Israel: The Law Delivered To Obelisks Picture: General Scriptures Concerning Pillars of Memorial in Honor of Idols Praying to Saints Statues

Leviticus 26:1

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