Exodus 34:17
New International Version
“Do not make any idols.

New Living Translation
You must not make any gods of molten metal for yourselves.

English Standard Version
“You shall not make for yourself any gods of cast metal.

Berean Standard Bible
You shall make no molten gods for yourselves.

King James Bible
Thou shalt make thee no molten gods.

New King James Version
“You shall make no molded gods for yourselves.

New American Standard Bible
You shall not make for yourself any gods cast in metal.

NASB 1995
“You shall make for yourself no molten gods.

NASB 1977
“You shall make for yourself no molten gods.

Legacy Standard Bible
You shall make for yourself no molten gods.

Amplified Bible
You shall make for yourselves no molten gods.

Christian Standard Bible
“Do not make cast images of gods for yourselves.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Do not make cast images of gods for yourselves.”

American Standard Version
Thou shalt make thee no molten gods.

Contemporary English Version
Don't make metal images of gods.

English Revised Version
Thou shalt make thee no molten gods.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Never make an idol.

Good News Translation
"Do not make gods of metal and worship them.

International Standard Version
"You are not to make molten gods for yourselves.

Majority Standard Bible
You shall make no molten gods for yourselves.

NET Bible
You must not make yourselves molten gods.

New Heart English Bible
You shall make no cast idols for yourselves.

Webster's Bible Translation
Thou shalt make thee no molten gods.

World English Bible
“You shall make no cast idols for yourselves.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
you do not make a molten god for yourself.

Young's Literal Translation
a molten god thou dost not make to thyself.

Smith's Literal Translation
Thou shalt make to thee no molten gods.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Thou shalt not make to thyself any molten gods.

Catholic Public Domain Version
You shall not make for yourselves any molten gods.

New American Bible
You shall not make for yourselves molten gods.

New Revised Standard Version
You shall not make cast idols.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
You shall make to yourself no molten gods.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And you will take some of their daughters for your sons and you will give your daughters to their sons, and your daughters will go astray after their gods and will seduce your sons after their gods.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Thou shalt make thee no molten gods.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And thou shalt not make to thyself molten gods.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The LORD Renews the Covenant
16And when you take some of their daughters as brides for your sons, their daughters will prostitute themselves to their gods and cause your sons to do the same. 17You shall make no molten gods for yourselves. 18You are to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread. For seven days at the appointed time in the month of Abib, you are to eat unleavened bread as I commanded you. For in the month of Abib you came out of Egypt.…

Cross References
Leviticus 19:4
Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves molten gods. I am the LORD your God.

Deuteronomy 5:8-9
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. / You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,

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!’

Isaiah 44:9-20
All makers of idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Their witnesses fail to see or comprehend, so they are put to shame. / Who fashions a god or casts an idol which profits him nothing? / Behold, all his companions will be put to shame, for the craftsmen themselves are only human. Let them all assemble and take their stand; they will all be brought to terror and shame. ...

Jeremiah 10:3-5
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. / They adorn it with silver and gold and fasten it with hammer and nails, so that it will not totter. / Like scarecrows in a cucumber patch, their idols cannot speak. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them, for they can do no harm, and neither can they do any good.”

Psalm 115:4-8
Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. / They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; / they have ears, but cannot hear; they have noses, but cannot smell; ...

Psalm 135:15-18
The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. / They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; / they have ears, but cannot hear; nor is there breath in their mouths. ...

1 Kings 12:28-30
After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves and said to the people, “Going up to Jerusalem is too much for you. Here, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” / One calf he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. / And this thing became a sin; the people walked as far as Dan to worship before one of the calves.

2 Kings 17:12
They served idols, although the LORD had told them, “You shall not do this thing.”

2 Chronicles 33:7
Manasseh even took the carved image he had made and set it up in the house of God, of which God had said to David and his son Solomon, “In this temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will establish My Name forever.

Hosea 8:4-6
They set up kings, but not by Me. They make princes, but without My approval. With their silver and gold they make themselves idols, to their own destruction. / He has rejected your calf, O Samaria. My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of innocence? / For this thing is from Israel—a craftsman made it, and it is not God. It will be broken to pieces, that calf of Samaria.

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.

Romans 1:22-23
Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, / and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

1 Corinthians 10:14
Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

1 John 5:21
Little children, keep yourselves from idols.


Treasury of Scripture

You shall make you no molten gods.

Exodus 32:8
They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

Leviticus 19:4
Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I am the LORD your God.

Isaiah 46:6,7
They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship…

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Cast Gods Idols Metal Molten Thyself Yourselves
Exodus 34
1. The tablets are replaced
5. The name of the Lord proclaimed
8. Moses entreats God to go with them
10. God makes a covenant with them, repeating certain duties
28. Moses after forty days on the mount, comes down with the tablets
29. His face is radiant, and he covers it with a veil














You shall make no molten gods for yourselves.
This command is part of the covenant renewal between God and the Israelites after the incident of the golden calf (Exodus 32). The prohibition against molten gods underscores the importance of worshiping Yahweh alone, reflecting the first and second commandments (Exodus 20:3-4). The term "molten gods" refers to idols cast from metal, a common practice in ancient Near Eastern cultures, where deities were often represented in physical forms to be worshiped. This command highlights the spiritual danger of idolatry, which can lead to a departure from true faith and reliance on God.

The historical context of this command is significant. The Israelites, having recently left Egypt, were surrounded by cultures that practiced polytheism and idol worship. The command serves as a reminder of their distinct identity as God's chosen people, called to be holy and set apart (Leviticus 20:26). The making of molten gods is a direct violation of the covenant relationship, which demands exclusive devotion to Yahweh.

In the broader biblical narrative, this command connects to the theme of idolatry as a recurring issue for Israel. The prophets frequently condemned the worship of idols, emphasizing the futility and deception of trusting in man-made objects (Isaiah 44:9-20, Jeremiah 10:3-5). The New Testament continues this theme, with Paul warning against idolatry as a form of spiritual adultery (1 Corinthians 10:14, 1 John 5:21).

Theologically, this command points to the nature of God as spirit (John 4:24) and the danger of reducing Him to a physical form. It foreshadows the ultimate revelation of God in Jesus Christ, who is the "image of the invisible God" (Colossians 1:15). Unlike idols, Christ embodies the fullness of God and provides the true way to worship in spirit and truth.

In summary, the command against making molten gods is a call to fidelity and purity in worship, emphasizing the uniqueness of God and the need for His people to remain distinct from surrounding cultures. It serves as a timeless reminder of the dangers of idolatry and the call to worship God alone.
Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The leader of the Israelites who received the commandments from God on Mount Sinai.

2. Israelites
The chosen people of God, who were delivered from slavery in Egypt and were journeying to the Promised Land.

3. Mount Sinai
The mountain where Moses received the Ten Commandments and other laws from God.

4. Golden Calf Incident
A previous event where the Israelites made a molten calf to worship, which led to God's anger and Moses' intercession.

5. God (Yahweh)
The one true God who delivered the Israelites and gave them commandments to follow.
Teaching Points
The Danger of Idolatry
Idolatry is not just the worship of physical idols but can also be anything that takes the place of God in our hearts. We must be vigilant in identifying and removing modern-day idols from our lives.

God's Jealousy for His People
God's command against idols reflects His desire for an exclusive relationship with His people. We should strive to maintain our devotion and loyalty to God alone.

The Importance of Obedience
Obedience to God's commands is crucial for maintaining a right relationship with Him. We should seek to understand and follow His commandments in our daily lives.

The Role of Remembrance
Remembering past failures, like the Golden Calf incident, helps us avoid repeating the same mistakes. Reflect on personal and communal history to grow in faithfulness.

The Call to Holiness
As God's people, we are called to be set apart and holy. This involves rejecting idolatry and living in a way that honors God in all aspects of life.(17) Thou shalt make thee no molten gods.--It is just possible that the Israelites when they worshipped the golden calf may have conceived that they were not breaking the second commandment, which forbade the adoration of any "graven image." An express law was therefore made against "molten images."

Verse 17. - Thou shalt make thee no molten gods. An express allusion to the recent sin of the golden calf.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
You shall make
תַעֲשֶׂה־ (ṯa·‘ă·śeh-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

no
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

molten
מַסֵּכָ֖ה (mas·sê·ḵāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4541: A pouring over, fusion of metal, a libation, league, a coverlet

gods
אֱלֹהֵ֥י (’ĕ·lō·hê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

for yourselves.
לָּֽךְ׃ (lāḵ)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew


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OT Law: Exodus 34:17 You shall make no cast idols (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 34:16
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