4 "'Don't turn to idols, nor make molten gods for yourselves. I am Yahweh your God.
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
Turn ye not unto idols - אלילם elilim, literally nothings; and to this St. Paul seems to allude 1-Corinthians 8:4, where he says, We know that an idol is Nothing in the world.
Turn ye not unto idols,.... From the one only true and living God to them that are not gods, as the word used signifies, who are nothing; for, as the apostle says, an idol is nothing in the world, 1-Corinthians 8:4, is of no worth and value, of no consequence and importance, of no avail and usefulness to its devotees; wherefore to turn from the true God to such as these is the greatest stupidity, as well as wickedness: or "look not" at them (g) for help or assistance, for they are not able to give it: and to look at them so as to view them attentively, and consider their likeness, the Jews say (h) is forbidden; and even in the heart and mind, as Aben Ezra observes, to have respect unto them was not right; or in the thoughts, as Gersom:
nor make to yourselves molten gods; of gold, silver, or brass, melted and cast into a mould, as the golden calf was, to which respect may be had. These laws have a respect unto the first and second commandments, Exodus 20:3,
I am the Lord, your God; who only is to be worshipped, and who has forbid the making and worshipping any image, molten or graven, and who will therefore resent idolatry of every sort, and punish for it.
(g) "ne respiciatis", Montanus, Tigurine version, Drusius. (h) Pesichta, Maimonides.
Leviticus 19:4 embraces the first two commandments of the decalogue: viz., not to turn to idols to worship them (Deuteronomy 31:18, Deuteronomy 31:20), nor to make molten gods (see at Exodus 34:17). The gods beside Jehovah are called elilim, i.e., nothings, from their true nature.
Idols - The word signifies such as are no Gods, or nothings, as they are called, 1-Corinthians 8:4, many idols having no being, but in the fancy of their worshippers, and all of them having no virtue or power to do good or evil, Isaiah 41:23.
*More commentary available at chapter level.