And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.
And there you will worship gods made by human hands, carved from wood and stone, that cannot see, hear, eat, or smell.
This verse warns that when people turn away from God, they end up worshiping lifeless idols that have no power to help them.
📚 Historical Context
In the historical context of Deuteronomy, Moses is delivering a farewell speech to the Israelites on the plains of Moab, just before they enter the Promised Land, warning them of the consequences of abandoning God and turning to idolatry. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, such as those of the Canaanites, people often worshiped handmade idols crafted from wood and stone, attributing divine qualities to these lifeless objects despite their inability to perceive or interact with the world. This verse serves as a prophetic caution, emphasizing the futility of such worship in contrast to the all-powerful God who delivered Israel from Egypt.
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