Deuteronomy 16:22
in Deuteronomy 16and do not set up for yourselves a sacred pillar, which the LORD your God hates.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Neither shalt thou set thee up a pillar; which Jehovah thy God hateth.
KJV
Neither shalt thou set thee up any image; which the Lord thy God hateth.
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This verse in Deuteronomy 16
Commentary
6 notes on this verseA commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Neither shalt thou set thee up any image--erroneously rendered so for "pillar"; pillars of various kinds, and materials of wood or stone were erected in the neighborhood of altars. Sometimes they were conical or oblong, at other times they served as pedestals for the statues of idols. A superstitious reverence was attached to them, and hence they were forbidden.
This site's exposition
Do not set up any wooden Asherah pole next to the altar
on Deuteronomy 16:21-22
The “sacred pillar” of verse 22 is the word used of the stone Jacob anointed at Genesis 28:18. What one patriarch raised as a memorial is now a thing the LORD hates.
This site's exposition
a sacred pillar
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown describe the sacred pillars set up near altars as wood or stone, some serving as pedestals for idols. The LORD hates the pillar, and 12:3 orders such pillars smashed with the Asherah poles. Hezekiah did both at 2 Kings 18:4.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
5 Thou mayest not sacrifice the passover within any of thy gates, which the L ORD thy God giveth thee: 6 But at the place which the L ORD thy God shall choose to place his name in, there thou shalt sacrifice the passover at even, at the going down of the sun, at the season that thou camest forth out of Egypt.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — scripture-overlap:93%@v5-6
Neither shalt thou set up any image,....
They made groves the places of their worship either to make it secret (but that which is true and good desires the light rather), or to make it solemn, but the worship of the true God has enough in itself to make it so and needs not the advantage of such a circumstance.
The words behind it
8 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְלֹֽא־ | velo'- | and not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| תָקִ֥ים | takim | you will set up | H6965 → | 628 times |
| לְךָ֖ | lekha | for yourself | ||
| מַצֵּבָ֑ה | matzevah | a sacred pillar | H4676 → | 32 times |
| אֲשֶׁ֥ר | ʾasher | which | H834 → | 5497 times |
| שָׂנֵ֖א | sane' | he hates | H8130 → | 146 times |
| יְהוָ֥ה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃ ס | ʾeloheikha | God your | H430 → | 2601 times |
וְלֹֽא־and not
velo'-H3808 →5168 times
תָקִ֥יםyou will set up
takimH6965 →628 times
לְךָ֖for yourself
lekha
מַצֵּבָ֑הa sacred pillar
matzevahH4676 →32 times
אֲשֶׁ֥רwhich
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
שָׂנֵ֖אhe hates
sane'H8130 →146 times
יְהוָ֥הYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃ סGod your
ʾeloheikhaH430 →2601 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Exodus 20:4You 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.
it leads to
- Leviticus 19:4
Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves molten gods. I am the LORD your God.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Deuteronomy 5:8
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.
- Leviticus 26:1
“You must not make idols for yourselves or set up a carved image or sacred pillar; you must not place a sculpted stone in your land to bow down to it. For I am…
- Deuteronomy 4:15–19
So since you saw no form of any kind on the day the LORD spoke to you out of the fire at Horeb, be careful
- Psalms 97:7
All worshipers of images are put to shame— those who boast in idols. Worship Him, all you gods!
- Leviticus 19:4
Through
Leviticus 26:1“You must not make idols for yourselves or set up a carved image or sacred pillar; you must not place a sculpted stone in your land to bow down to it. For I am…
it leads to
- Exodus 23:24
You must not bow down to their gods or serve them or follow their practices. Instead, you are to demolish them and smash their sacred stones to pieces.
- Numbers 33:52
you must drive out before you all the inhabitants of the land, destroy all their carved images and cast idols, and demolish all their high places.
- Exodus 23:24
Through
Zechariah 8:17do not plot evil in your hearts against your neighbor, and do not love to swear falsely, for I hate all these things,” declares the LORD.
it leads to
- Proverbs 6:16–19
There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him:
- Proverbs 6:16–19
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies16
About Deuteronomy
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.