Deuteronomy 5:8

5:8 You must not make for yourself an image 1  of anything in heaven above, on earth below, or in the waters beneath. 2 

Deuteronomy 16:21

Examples of Legal Cases

16:21 You must not plant any kind of tree as a sacred Asherah pole 3  near the altar of the Lord your God which you build for yourself.

Deuteronomy 28:40

28:40 You will have olive trees throughout your territory but you will not anoint yourself with olive oil, because the olives will drop off the trees while still unripe. 4 

1 tn Heb “an image, any likeness.”

2 tn Heb “under the earth” (so ASV, NASB, NRSV); NCV “below the land.”

3 tn Heb “an Asherah, any tree.”

sn Sacred Asherah pole. This refers to a tree (or wooden pole) dedicated to the worship of Asherah, wife/sister of El and goddess of fertility. See also Deut 7:5.

4 tn Heb “your olives will drop off” (נָשַׁל, nashal), referring to the olives dropping off before they ripen.