No Manner of Similitude

When Yahuah spoke at Sinai, Israel saw nothing: “ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice” (Deuteronomy 4:12). That was the reason for the command that follows: “Take ye therefore good heed… Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure” (Deuteronomy 4:15–16).

The second commandment does not make an exception for religious images: “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing… Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them” (Exodus 20:4–5).

Even an object Yahuah ordered made could become an idol. Moses lifted up the bronze serpent on a pole for healing (Numbers 21:8–9). Seven hundred years later Israel was burning incense to it, and Hezekiah “brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made” (2 Kings 18:4). The sign that pointed to deliverance had become a thing to worship.

Yahuah did give Israel something to wear — and it was not an image. “Make them fringes in the borders of their garments… that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of Yahuah, and do them” (Numbers 15:38–39). What He forbade was the mark: “Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am Yahuah” (Leviticus 19:28). The sign on the hand and between the eyes was to be His words (Deuteronomy 6:6–8), not a picture.