Bible Strands
Deuteronomy 12:4
You shall not worship the LORD your God in this way.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The speaker addresses Israel immediately after commanding the destruction of Canaanite altars and sacred pillars and before directing them to seek the single place God will choose for His Name.
The words — The Hebrew negation לֹא (lo') combined with תַעֲשׂוּ (ta.'a.Su) and כֵּן (ken) literally reads "you shall not do thus," directly negating the preceding pagan practices.
The thread — This command runs parallel to Leviticus 20:23 against following foreign statutes, Deuteronomy 20:18 against learning detestable practices, and Deuteronomy 12:30 against being ensnared by the destroyed nations' worship methods.
Why it lands — The text explicitly forbids adopting local religious customs and requires Israel to worship Yahweh only at the location He designates.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Ye shall not do so unto the Lord your God.
Cross-references
- Leviticus 20:23 You must not follow the statutes of the nations I am driving out before you. Because they did all these things, I abhorred them.
- Deuteronomy 20:18 so that they cannot teach you to do all the detestable things they do for their gods, and so cause you to sin against the LORD your God.
- Deuteronomy 12:30 be careful not to be ensnared by their ways after they have been destroyed before you. Do not inquire about their gods, asking, “How do these nations serve their gods? I will do likewise.”
- Deuteronomy 16:21 Do not set up any wooden Asherah pole next to the altar you will build for the LORD your God,