Deuteronomy 7:25
New International Version
The images of their gods you are to burn in the fire. Do not covet the silver and gold on them, and do not take it for yourselves, or you will be ensnared by it, for it is detestable to the LORD your God.

New Living Translation
“You must burn their idols in fire, and you must not covet the silver or gold that covers them. You must not take it or it will become a trap to you, for it is detestable to the LORD your God.

English Standard Version
The carved images of their gods you shall burn with fire. You shall not covet the silver or the gold that is on them or take it for yourselves, lest you be ensnared by it, for it is an abomination to the LORD your God.

Berean Standard Bible
You must burn up the images of their gods; do not covet the silver and gold that is on them or take it for yourselves, or you will be ensnared by it; for it is detestable to the LORD your God.

King James Bible
The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the LORD thy God.

New King James Version
You shall burn the carved images of their gods with fire; you shall not covet the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it for yourselves, lest you be snared by it; for it is an abomination to the LORD your God.

New American Standard Bible
The carved images of their gods you are to burn with fire; you shall not covet the silver or the gold that is on them, nor take it for yourselves, or you will be trapped by it; for it is an abomination to the LORD your God.

NASB 1995
“The graven images of their gods you are to burn with fire; you shall not covet the silver or the gold that is on them, nor take it for yourselves, or you will be snared by it, for it is an abomination to the LORD your God.

NASB 1977
“The graven images of their gods you are to burn with fire; you shall not covet the silver or the gold that is on them, nor take it for yourselves, lest you be snared by it, for it is an abomination to the LORD your God.

Legacy Standard Bible
The graven images of their gods you are to burn with fire; you shall not covet the silver or the gold that is on them, nor take it for yourselves, lest you be snared by it, for it is an abomination to Yahweh your God.

Amplified Bible
You shall burn the carved and sculpted images of their gods in the fire. You shall not covet the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it for yourselves, so that you will not be ensnared by it [in a deadly trap], for it is an abomination (repulsive) to the LORD your God.

Christian Standard Bible
Burn up the carved images of their gods. Don’t covet the silver and gold on the images and take it for yourself, or else you will be ensnared by it, for it is detestable to the LORD your God.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
You must burn up the carved images of their gods. Don’t covet the silver and gold on the images and take it for yourself, or else you will be ensnared by it, for it is abhorrent to the LORD your God.

American Standard Version
The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not covet the silver or the gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein; for it is an abomination to Jehovah thy God.

Contemporary English Version
After you conquer a nation, burn their idols. Don't get trapped into wanting the silver or gold on an idol. Even the metal on an idol is disgusting to the LORD,

English Revised Version
The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not covet the silver or the gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the LORD thy God:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Burn their idols. Don't ever long for the silver and gold on these idols or take any of it for yourselves. It might be a trap for you. Besides, these idols are disgusting to the LORD your God.

Good News Translation
Burn their idols. Do not desire the silver or gold that is on them, and do not take it for yourselves. If you do, that will be fatal, because the LORD hates idolatry.

International Standard Version
Burn the images of their gods in the fire. Desire neither the silver nor the gold that adorns them, nor take them for yourselves, so you won't be ensnared by them, because the gold and silver is detestable to the LORD your God.

Majority Standard Bible
You must burn up the images of their gods; do not covet the silver and gold that is on them or take it for yourselves, or you will be ensnared by it; for it is detestable to the LORD your God.

NET Bible
You must burn the images of their gods, but do not covet the silver and gold that covers them so much that you take it for yourself and thus become ensnared by it; for it is abhorrent to the LORD your God.

New Heart English Bible
You shall burn the engraved images of their gods with fire. You shall not covet the silver or the gold that is on them, nor take it for yourself, lest you be snared in it; for it is an abomination to the LORD your God.

Webster's Bible Translation
The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it to thee, lest thou shouldst be snared in it: for it is an abomination to the LORD thy God.

World English Bible
You shall burn the engraved images of their gods with fire. You shall not covet the silver or the gold that is on them, nor take it for yourself, lest you be snared in it; for it is an abomination to Yahweh your God.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
You burn the carved images of their gods with fire; you do not desire the silver and gold on them, nor have you taken [it] for yourself, lest you are snared by it, for it [is] an abomination [to] your God YHWH;

Young's Literal Translation
The graven images of their gods ye do burn with fire; thou dost not desire the silver and gold on them, nor hast thou taken it to thyself, lest thou be snared by it, for the abomination of Jehovah thy God it is;

Smith's Literal Translation
The carved thing of their gods ye shall burn in fire: thou shalt not desire the silver and gold upon them and take to thee lest thou shalt be snared by it, for it is an abomination to Jehovah thy God.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Their graven things thou shalt burn with fire: thou shalt not covet the silver and gold of which they are made, neither shalt thou take to thee any thing thereof, lest thou offend, because it is an abomination to the Lord thy God.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Their graven images, you shall burn with fire. You shall not covet the silver or gold from which they have been made. And you shall not take for yourself anything from these, lest you offend, because this is an abomination to the Lord your God.

New American Bible
The images of their gods you shall destroy by fire. Do not covet the silver or gold on them, nor take it for yourselves, lest you be ensnared by it; for it is an abomination to the LORD, your God.

New Revised Standard Version
The images of their gods you shall burn with fire. Do not covet the silver or the gold that is on them and take it for yourself, because you could be ensnared by it; for it is abhorrent to the LORD your God.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The graven images of their gods you shall burn with fire; you shall not covet the silver or the gold that is on them, nor take it for yourselves, lest you become unclean with it; for it is an abomination before the LORD your God.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
You shall burn the engraved images of their gods in fire and you shall not lust for the silver and the gold that is in them and take for yourselves, that you will not be defiled by it, because that is rejected before LORD JEHOVAH your God.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire; thou shalt not covet the silver or the gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein; for it is an abomination to the LORD thy God.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Ye shall burn with fire the graven images of their gods: thou shalt not covet their silver, neither shalt thou take to thyself gold from them, lest thou shouldest offend thereby, because it is an abomination to the Lord thy God.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Promises of God
24He will hand their kings over to you, and you will wipe out their names from under heaven. No one will be able to stand against you; you will annihilate them. 25You must burn up the images of their gods; do not covet the silver and gold that is on them or take it for yourselves, or you will be ensnared by it; for it is detestable to the LORD your God. 26And you must not bring any detestable thing into your house, or you, like it, will be set apart for destruction. You are to utterly detest and abhor it, because it is set apart for destruction.…

Cross References
Exodus 32:20
Then he took the calf they had made, burned it in the fire, ground it to powder, and scattered the powder over the face of the water. Then he forced the Israelites to drink it.

Isaiah 30:22
So you will desecrate your silver-plated idols and your gold-plated images. You will throw them away like menstrual cloths, saying to them, “Be gone!”

2 Kings 23:4-6
Then the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, the priests second in rank, and the doorkeepers to remove from the temple of the LORD all the articles made for Baal, Asherah, and all the host of heaven. And he burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron and carried their ashes to Bethel. / Josiah also did away with the idolatrous priests ordained by the kings of Judah to burn incense on the high places of the cities of Judah and in the places all around Jerusalem—those who had burned incense to Baal, to the sun and moon, to the constellations, and to all the host of heaven. / He brought the Asherah pole from the house of the LORD to the Kidron Valley outside Jerusalem, and there he burned it, ground it to powder, and threw its dust on the graves of the common people.

2 Chronicles 34:4-7
Then in his presence the altars of the Baals were torn down, and he cut to pieces the incense altars that were above them. He shattered the Asherah poles, the carved idols, and the cast images, crushed them to dust, and scattered them over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. / Then he burned the bones of the priests on their altars. So he cleansed Judah and Jerusalem. / Josiah did the same in the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, as far as Naphtali, and in the ruins around them. ...

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.”

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. ...

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. ...

Hosea 8:6
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.

Micah 1:7
All her carved images will be smashed to pieces; all her wages will be burned in the fire, and I will destroy all her idols. Since she collected the wages of a prostitute, they will be used again on a prostitute.

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

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

Acts 19:19
And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books and burned them in front of everyone. When the value of the books was calculated, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.

Revelation 9:20
Now the rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the works of their hands. They did not stop worshiping demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk.

Revelation 21:8
But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”


Treasury of Scripture

The graven images of their gods shall you burn with fire: you shall not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it to you, lest you be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the LORD your God.

graven

Deuteronomy 7:5
But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire.

Deuteronomy 12:3
And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place.

Exodus 32:20
And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strawed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it.

thou shalt

Joshua 7:1,21
But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel…

snared

Judges 8:24-27
And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.) …

Zephaniah 1:3
I will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumblingblocks with the wicked; and I will cut off man from off the land, saith the LORD.

1 Timothy 6:9,10
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition…

an abomination

Deuteronomy 17:1
Thou shalt not sacrifice unto the LORD thy God any bullock, or sheep, wherein is blemish, or any evilfavouredness: for that is an abomination unto the LORD thy God.

Deuteronomy 23:18
Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the LORD thy God for any vow: for even both these are abomination unto the LORD thy God.

Revelation 17:5
And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

Jump to Previous
Abomination Burn Burned Covet Danger Desire Detestable Engraved Ensnared Images Shouldst Silver Snared Therein Yourselves
Jump to Next
Abomination Burn Burned Covet Danger Desire Detestable Engraved Ensnared Images Shouldst Silver Snared Therein Yourselves
Deuteronomy 7
1. All communion with the nations is forbidden
5. for fear of idolatry,
6. for the holiness of the people,
9. for the nature of God in his mercy and justice,
17. and for the assuredness of victory which God will give over them.














You must burn up the images of their gods
The command to "burn up" the images signifies a complete and utter destruction of idolatry. The Hebrew word for "burn" is "שָׂרַף" (saraph), which implies consuming by fire, a method often used for purification and judgment. In the ancient Near Eastern context, idols were often made of wood overlaid with precious metals. The act of burning these images was a symbolic rejection of the false gods and a declaration of allegiance to Yahweh. It underscores the importance of removing all traces of idolatry to maintain the purity of worship.

Do not covet the silver or gold that is on them
The word "covet" comes from the Hebrew "חָמַד" (chamad), meaning to desire or take pleasure in. This command warns against the temptation to value material wealth over spiritual fidelity. The silver and gold on the idols were alluring, representing wealth and power. However, the Israelites were reminded that these materials, though valuable, were tainted by their association with false worship. Historically, the allure of wealth has often led God's people astray, and this command serves as a timeless reminder to prioritize spiritual integrity over material gain.

or you will be ensnared by it
The term "ensnared" translates from the Hebrew "יָקַשׁ" (yaqash), which means to be trapped or entangled. This imagery suggests that coveting the precious metals could lead to spiritual entrapment, drawing the Israelites away from their covenant relationship with God. The historical context reveals that the surrounding nations often fell into cycles of idolatry and moral decay, and God’s people were warned to avoid these pitfalls. The snare is not just physical but spiritual, leading to a gradual erosion of faith and obedience.

for it is detestable to the LORD your God
The word "detestable" is derived from the Hebrew "תּוֹעֵבָה" (to'evah), indicating something that is abominable or loathsome. This strong language reflects God's holiness and His absolute intolerance for idolatry. In the ancient world, idolatry was not just a religious practice but a cultural norm, yet God called His people to be set apart. The detestable nature of idols is rooted in their ability to divert worship from the one true God, leading to spiritual corruption. This phrase serves as a powerful reminder of God's desire for pure and undivided worship from His people.

(25, 26) These words are a special warning against the sin which Achan committed (Joshua 7:21): "I coveted them, and took them." They also describe the consequences which he experienced, together with his whole household, being made cherem. devoted or accursed by the spoil which he took from Jericho. (See on Joshua 7)

Verses 25, 26. - The idols of the Canaanites they were utterly to destroy by fire, not saving even the silver or gold with which the images were overlaid, lest, if that were coveted and retained, it might bring them under the ban which fell on all things connected with idolatry; as happened in the case of Achan (Joshua 7.).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
You must burn up
תִּשְׂרְפ֣וּן (tiś·rə·p̄ūn)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nun
Strong's 8313: To be, on fire

the images
פְּסִילֵ֥י (pə·sî·lê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 6456: An idol, image

of their gods;
אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֖ם (’ĕ·lō·hê·hem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

do not
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

covet
תַחְמֹד֩ (ṯaḥ·mōḏ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 2530: To desire, take pleasure in

the silver
כֶּ֨סֶף (ke·sep̄)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3701: Silver, money

and gold
וְזָהָ֤ב (wə·zā·hāḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2091: Gold, something gold-colored, as oil, a clear sky

[that is] on them
עֲלֵיהֶם֙ (‘ă·lê·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

or take it
וְלָקַחְתָּ֣ (wə·lā·qaḥ·tā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

for yourselves,
לָ֔ךְ (lāḵ)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

or
פֶּ֚ן (pen)
Conjunction
Strong's 6435: Removal, lest

you will be ensnared by it;
תִּוָּקֵ֣שׁ (tiw·wā·qêš)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3369: To lay a bait or lure

for
כִּ֧י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

it
הֽוּא׃ (hū)
Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

is detestable
תוֹעֲבַ֛ת (ṯō·w·‘ă·ḇaṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 8441: Something disgusting, an abhorrence, idolatry, an idol

to the LORD
יְהוָ֥ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

your God.
אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ (’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative


Links
Deuteronomy 7:25 NIV
Deuteronomy 7:25 NLT
Deuteronomy 7:25 ESV
Deuteronomy 7:25 NASB
Deuteronomy 7:25 KJV

Deuteronomy 7:25 BibleApps.com
Deuteronomy 7:25 Biblia Paralela
Deuteronomy 7:25 Chinese Bible
Deuteronomy 7:25 French Bible
Deuteronomy 7:25 Catholic Bible

OT Law: Deuteronomy 7:25 You shall burn the engraved images (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 7:24
Top of Page
Top of Page