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Kretzmann's Popular Commentary

Leviticus 19:4

Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods. I am the Lord, your God. "If the heart of man becomes benumbed to the use of images of false gods of any kind, he sinks down to the level of the idols which are his ideals, and becomes as dumb and unspiritual as they are. " (Lange.) It is significant that the word here used for idols really means "nothingnesses," thus describing the idols in their true character. Cf Psalms 96:5; Psalms 115:8; Psalms 135:18; Isaiah 40:18; Isaiah 44:10.

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See also Leviticus 19:4 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Leviticus 19:4. _TURN YE NOT UNTO IDOLS_] אלילם _elilim_, literally _nothings_; and to this St. Paul seems to allude 1 Corinthians 8:4, where he says, _We know that an idol is_ NOTHING _in the w...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    2. DIFFERENT DUTIES CHAPTER 19 _ 1. Honoring parents and fearing God (Leviticus 19:1)_ 2. The care of the poor (Leviticus 19:9) 3. Against stealing and lying (Leviticus 19:11) 4

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    HOLINESS, PIETY, IDOLATRY, PEACE-OFFERINGS. Note the mention of the mother first. On the Sabbath, see pp. 101f., Exodus 20:8 *. Idols, lit. things of nought; only here and in Leviticus 26:1 in Pentate...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    IDOLS. Hebrew. _'elilim_. See Leviticus 26:1....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _Turn ye not unto_ As in Leviticus 19:31 (A.V. -Regard not"), and Leviticus 20:6. _idols ("ělîlîm) things of nought_R.V. mg. See reference there. The Heb. word occurs only here and Leviticus 26:1 in P...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    TURN YE NOT UNTO IDOLS— The word rendered idols אלילים _elilim,_ coming from אליל _elil, vain, foolish, false,_ signifies _vain, foolish,_ or _false things:_ a name given in just contempt by believers...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    HOLINESS IN CONDUCT TOWARD GOD AND MAN 19:1-37 THE FIRST TABLE OF THE LAW 19:1-8 TEXT 19:1-8 1 And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, an...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _TURN YE NOT UNTO IDOLS, NOR MAKE TO YOURSELVES MOLTEN GODS: I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD._ Turn ye not unto idols, х_ HAA'ªLIYLIYM_ (H457)] - vain, empty nothings; either from х_ 'AL_ (H408)] not, or it i...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    VARIOUS LAWS, MAINLY OF A MORAL AND HUMANE CHARACTER This chapter was very naturally regarded by Jewish authorities as an embodiment of the Decalogue. It will be observed that in general the precepts...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    LEVITICUS *WORSHIP THE *LORD IN THE BEAUTY OF *HOLINESS LEVITICUS _GORDON CHURCHYARD_ This commentary HAS BEEN through Advanced Checking. Words in boxes are from the Bible, except for the words i...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    TURN YE NOT UNTO IDOLS. — As the Lord is their God, and there is no other God besides Him, the Israelites must never turn their affections nor address prayers or enquiries to idols. This part of the v...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    אַל ־תִּפְנוּ֙ אֶל ־הָ֣ אֱלִילִ֔ים וֵֽ אלֹהֵי

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    THE LAW OF HOLINESS (CONCLUDED) Leviticus 19:1 WE have in this chapter a series of precepts and prohibitions which from internal evidence appear to have been selected by an inspired redactor of the c...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The more positive habits of separation are insisted on by the repetition of laws already given, with one reiterated emphasis, namely, the fact that the God of this people is Jehovah. There was, first,...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Idols. Hebrew, "vain things." (Calmet) --- Molten, or any other sort of workmanship. (Menochius)_...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    These are all so many repetitions of the laws, on the same points, which had been given before. Leviticus 7:16....

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    We have seen the various forms of the work of Christ, of His offering of Himself to God, whether in all the perfectness of His life, or in His death as the means of our acceptance. We have seen furthe...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 19 AND 20. Chapter s 19, 20, carry us somewhat farther. They were to be holy, for Jehovah was holy. Chapter 19 takes up rather the side of good, though keepin...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    TURN YE NOT UNTO IDOLS,.... From the one only true and living God to them that are not gods, as the word used signifies, who are nothing; for, as the apostle says, an idol is nothing in the world, 1 C...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I [am] the LORD your God. Ver. 4. _Turn ye not unto idols._] Heb., _Elilim; deunculi, deastri; _ Petty gods, dunghill deities; of all which...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Turn ye not unto idols_ Hebrew, אלילם, _Elilim, No gods_, or _nothings_, as the word signifies, and as idols are called, (1 Corinthians 8:4,) many of them having no being but in the fancy of their wo...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 A repetition of sundry Lawes. 1 AND the LORD spake vnto Moses, saying, 2 Speake vnto all the Congregation of the children of Israel, and say vnto them, [NOTE: Leviticus 11:44; Leviticus 20:7; 1 Pet...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    MANY LAWS GROUPED TOGETHER (VV. 1-37) We have seen at the beginning and end of chapter 18 God's announcement, “I am the Lord your God.” In chapter 19 the expression “I am the Lord” occurs 15 times. Bu...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    Turn not your hearts and faces from me, whom alone you pretend to respect, unto them. He intimates, that their turning to idols is a turning from God, and that they could not serve both God and idols....

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Leviticus 19:4 turn H6437 (H8799) idols H457 make H6213 (H8799) molded H4541 gods H430 LORD H3068 God...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    VARIOUS HOLINESS REQUIREMENTS (LEVITICUS 19:3). Rightness Of Attitude Towards God and Generosity Towards One's Neighbours (Leviticus 19:3). Leviticus 19:3 “You (p) shall fear every man his mother,...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Further laws concerning proper relationships. CHARACTERS: God, Moses. CONCLUSION: God's people being distinguished from all other people by a peculiar relationship with Him through Christ,...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    The leading precepts of the law are here repeated to give them new force, and with many additions and illustrations, that they might be better understood. Most of these having already been explained,...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Turn ye not unto idols._ FOLLY OF IDOLATRY A Chinese wife was one day seen by a missionary to enter a temple. In her hands were some humble offerings, such as a twig, or rice, for propitiating the p...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    LEVITICUS—NOTE ON LEVITICUS 19:1__ The Lord strongly commands the people (including the priests) to become holy in their practice, as he is holy (v. Leviticus 19:2). They do this by observi

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    Practical Piety: Religion in all Relationships SUGGESTIVE READINGS Leviticus 19:2.—Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say: Nowhere else in the whole of Leviticus does this...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION From the prohibition of moral uncleanness exhibiting itself in the form of incest and licentiousness, the legislator proceeds to a series of laws and commandments against other kinds of imm...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now God continues in this same vein, as He moves into chapter nineteen. Speak unto all of the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am ho...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 10:14; 1 John 5:21; Deuteronomy 27:15; Exodus 20:23;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Idols — The word signifies such as are no Gods, or nothings, as they are called, 1 Corinthians 8:4, many idols having no being, but in the fancy of their worshippers, and all of them having no virtue...

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