Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Deuteronomy 16:22
Neither shalt thou set thee up [any] image; which the LORD thy God hateth.
Heb. statue, whether with a picture or representation, or without it, as the idolaters used to worship smoothed and polished stones or pillars without any image upon them.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
22. Neither shalt thou set thee upany imageerroneously rendered so for “pillar”;pillars of various kinds, and materials of wood or stone were erectedin the neighborhood of altars. Sometimes they were conical or oblong,at other times they served as pedestals for the statues of idols. Asuperstitious reverence was attached to them, and hence they wereforbidden.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Neither shalt thou set up any image,…. Graven or molten, of man, beast, fish, or fowl; the word signifies a “statue or pillar” c which was set up for idolatry; for, as Aben Ezra observes, what was not set up for idolatry was not forbidden, as when erected in memory of any action or remarkable event; see Jos 22:10, c.
which the Lord thy God hateth as he does every species, of idolatry, or that has any tendency to it; it being so opposite to his being, perfections, and glory; and therefore nothing should be done like it, because it is so hateful to him.
c , Sept. “statuam”, V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Tig. vers. Fagius, Drusius, Grotius, Junius Tremellius, Piscator so Ainsworth.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
They were also to abstain from setting up any mazzebah , i.e., any memorial stone, or stone pillar dedicated to Baal (see at Exo 23:24).
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
22. Neither shalt thou set thee up. Hence also it more clearly appears what is the meaning and tendency of the Second Commandment. God elsewhere commands, (100) (as we have seen,) that statues (101) should be erected on the borders of the land, on which the sum of the Law should be inscribed. At first sight this prohibition seems to be contradictory; and indeed it would be so, unless you understand “statue” to be a false image of God, in which men set Him before them in bodily form; and, therefore, it is added, that He hates such statues. But I have preferred translating (102) the relative in the neuter gender, that the sentence might be fuller; i.e., that the erecting of statues is an abomination to the Lord; because in this way His glory is dishonored, when He is transfigured into a body, or when anything corporeal is mixed with His spiritual nature.
(100) Deu 27:2. See vol. 1, p. 369.
(101) A.V, image. Margin, statue, or pillar.
(102) C makes the relative refer, not to the image set up, but to the act of setting it up. So also V. and Dathe, though the relative is plural with them.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(22) Image.Explained by Rashi of a single stone, whether statue or pillar.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
22. Neither set up any image The Hebrew word means a pillar or obelisk set up in honour of some deity. In some passages it is applied to a statue of Baal. 2Ki 3:2. In Gen 28:18, the term is used for the stone which Jacob set up as a pillar.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
REFLECTIONS
BLESSED GOD! give me grace to observe, with holy joy and thankfulness, the solemn seasons of thine appointment, in communication of thy mercies. I would pray indeed for the leadings of the HOLY SPIRIT, to observe the month of Abib, which pointed to JESUS, and his one, all-sufficient sacrifice, all the year; and since CHRIST, our Passover, is sacrificed for us, I would, all the year, keep the feast. And no less, thou blessed HOLY SPIRIT, would I beseech thee to pour upon me thy precious influence, that every day may be the renewal of the day of Pentecost to my soul. Oh! that thou wouldst come down as showers on the new-mown grass, to revive my drooping, languishing heart, by the soul-strengthening communications of thy love. And dearest LORD, when I appear before thee in thy courts, and house of prayer, oh! constrain my heart that I may not appear before thee empty. But, having so much communicated to me of thy fulness, my poorer brother may partake of my overflowing cup; and I may by grace be able, both in temporals and spirituals, to comfort others with the same comforts wherewith I myself am comforted of GOD.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
image = pillar.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
image: or, statue, or pillar, Exo 20:4, Lev 26:1
which: Deu 12:31, Jer 44:4, Zec 8:17, Rev 2:6, Rev 2:15
Reciprocal: Deu 7:5 – images Deu 12:4 – General