Movatterモバイル変換

Exodus 20:4
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likenessof any thing thatis in heaven above, or thatis in the earth beneath, or thatis in the water under the earth:

Leviticus 26:1
Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set upany image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for Iam the LORD your God.

which

Deuteronomy 12:31
Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods.

Jeremiah 44:4
Howbeit I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sendingthem, saying, Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate.

Zechariah 8:17
And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all theseare things that I hate, saith the LORD.

which the LORD your God hates
The use of the word "hates" indicates the strong disapproval God has for idolatry and practices associated with it. This reflects God's desire for exclusive worship and His intolerance for any form of idolatry, which is a recurring theme throughout the Old Testament. The phrase emphasizes God's holiness and the need for His people to remain distinct from the nations around them. This sentiment is echoed in other scriptures, such asDeuteronomy 7:25-26, where God commands the destruction of idols and warns against bringing detestable things into one's home. The strong language serves as a reminder of the seriousness of idolatry and the importance of faithfulness to God.

The verse opens with the small word “and,” but it carries weight. It links verse 22 directly to verse 21, which has already forbidden Israel from planting an Asherah beside the altar of the LORD (Deuteronomy 16:21). Moses is continuing the same thought—protect pure worship by refusing every pagan element. Similar “and” connections show up elsewhere (Exodus 34:13;2 Kings 23:14), reminding us that the fight against idolatry is ongoing and comprehensive.

God is not negotiating; He is commanding.

• The negative form echoes the first two commandments (Exodus 20:3-5).

• “Do not” calls for active obedience—Israel must refuse, dismantle, and refuse to rebuild (Leviticus 26:1;Exodus 23:24).

• The command guards worship, because any compromise in externals eventually corrupts the heart (1 Corinthians 10:14).

The phrase drives responsibility home.

• Each family, tribe, and individual is accountable. Nobody can shrug and say, “The priests will handle it.”

• Personal decisions shape national faithfulness (Joshua 24:15).

• Even well-intentioned “cultural” symbols become snares when adopted “for yourselves” (2 Corinthians 6:16-17).

These standing stones were common markers of fertility cults and Baal worship.

• They were visually impressive, deliberately placed to draw attention (1 Kings 14:23).

• God had permitted simple memorial stones in His service (Joshua 4:6-7), but “sacred pillars” tied to pagan ritual blurred the line between remembrance and idolatry.

• Israel was to destroy, not redesign, such objects (Deuteronomy 7:5; 12:3).

Hate is a strong word, and Scripture means it literally.

• Idols steal glory that belongs to God alone (Isaiah 42:8).

• Idolatry invites demonic influence (Psalm 106:36-37;1 Corinthians 10:20).

• Because God loves His people, He hates what harms them (Deuteronomy 7:26;Psalm 97:10).

For believers today:

– Anything we trust, love, or obey above God becomes an idol—career, relationships, technology, even ministry.

– Loving what God loves includes hating what He hates (Romans 12:9;1 John 5:21).

Deuteronomy 16:22 — “and do not set up for yourselves a sacred pillar, which the LORD your God hates.”

In one concise sentence God calls His people to wholehearted, unpolluted worship. The connective “and” ties the command to previous warnings. “Do not set up” demands decisive action. “For yourselves” places accountability on every follower. “A sacred pillar” pinpoints a seductive form of idol worship, and the closing clause underscores divine hatred for anything that competes with Him. Then and now, the lesson is the same: clear away every rival so that the Lord alone is honored.

Parallel Commentaries ...