Matthew Poole and continuators on Exodus 20:4

4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image , or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth .

Either in thy mind, or with thy hand, Act. 17. 29. or by thy command.

(i. e.) For thy use, or for thee to worship: for otherwise they were not absolutely forbidden to make any images, but onely to make them for worship, as may appear by comparing this place with Levit. 19▪ 4. Deut. 4. 15. and Amos 5. 26. with Acts 7. 43. and from Levit. 26. 1. where the setting up of a pillar or stone is as absolutely forbidden as the making of an Image. And therefore as the former is not forbidden to be done simply and universally, as appears from Ios. 24. 20. 1 Sam. 7. 12. but onely to be done in order to worship, so also is the latte[illegible: 1+ letters]. Moreover there were Cherubims and other images in the Temple, and afterwards the brasen Serpent, which, because they were not made to be worshipped, neither were indeed, nor were ever esteemed to be, any contradictions to this Law.

Or, molten, or any other, image, as is most evident from the nature and reason of the precept. Nor is any thing more common then such synecdochical expressions, wherein under one kind named all other things of the like nature are contained. But for more abundant cautio[illegible: 1+ letters] and to put all out of doubt, he adds a more general word, nor any likeness.

As of God, Deut. 4. 15. Esa. 44. 9, 20. Angels, Sun, Moon or Starrs, which the Heathens worshipped, Deut. 4. 19. and 17. 3.

As of Men and Beasts and creeping things, which the Egyptians and other Gentiles worshipped as Gods. See Deut. 4. 16, 17. Isa. 44. 13. Ezek. 23. 14.

As of Fishes, such as Dagon was, or Serpents, Crocodiles, and such other▪ Egyptian Deities.

This is emphatically added, to note the singular care of Divine Providence in bringing the waters under the earth which naturally are lighter and higher than it, and therefore might easily overwhelm it. Compare Psal. 104. 6.

Marginal references: Lev. 26. 1. Psal. 97. 7.