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Hebrew Text
וַעֲבַדְתֶּם־שָׁם אֱלֹהִים מַעֲשֵׂה יְדֵי אָדָם עֵץ וָאֶבֶן אֲשֶׁר לֹא־יִרְאוּן וְלֹא יִשְׁמְעוּן וְלֹא יֹאכְלוּן וְלֹא יְרִיחֻן׃
English Translation
And there you shall serve gods, the work of men’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.
Transliteration
Va'avadtem-sham elohim ma'aseh yedei adam etz va'even asher lo-yir'un ve'lo yishme'un ve'lo yochlun ve'lo yerichun.
Hebrew Leining Text
וַעֲבַדְתֶּם־שָׁ֣ם אֱלֹהִ֔ים מַעֲשֵׂ֖ה יְדֵ֣י אָדָ֑ם עֵ֣ץ וָאֶ֔בֶן אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹֽא־יִרְאוּן֙ וְלֹ֣א יִשְׁמְע֔וּן וְלֹ֥א יֹֽאכְל֖וּן וְלֹ֥א יְרִיחֻֽן׃
Parasha Commentary
📚 Talmud Citations
This verse is quoted in the Talmud.
📖 Avodah Zarah 54b
The verse is cited in a discussion about the nature of idol worship and the futility of serving man-made gods that lack perception or ability.
📖 Sanhedrin 103b
The verse is referenced in a broader discussion about the consequences of idolatry and the characteristics of false gods.
Context of the Verse
This verse appears in Devarim (Deuteronomy) 4:28, where Moshe warns Bnei Yisrael about the consequences of straying from Hashem's commandments. The verse describes the futility of idol worship, emphasizing that idols are mere human creations—lifeless objects incapable of perception or action.
Rashi's Commentary
Rashi explains that this verse serves as a rebuke for abandoning Hashem and turning to idolatry. He highlights the absurdity of worshiping objects made of wood and stone, which lack any divine power or awareness. Rashi notes that the phrase "which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell" underscores their complete inability to interact with the world, contrasting sharply with Hashem, who is omnipotent and omniscient.
Rambam's Perspective
Rambam (Maimonides), in Hilchot Avodah Zarah, discusses how idolatry stems from a fundamental misunderstanding of divine unity. He explains that this verse dismantles the illusion of idol worship by exposing its inherent emptiness. Rambam emphasizes that true service must be directed toward Hashem alone, who is beyond physical form and human limitations.
Midrashic Insights
The Midrash Tanchuma elaborates on this verse by comparing idol worship to a blind man carrying a torch—useless and misguided. The Midrash stresses that idols are not only powerless but also a mockery of human intelligence, as they are crafted by human hands yet treated as divine.
Key Themes
Halachic Implications
The Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh De'ah) cites this verse as a foundational principle for prohibiting any form of idol worship. It underscores the Torah's demand for exclusive devotion to Hashem and the rejection of man-made substitutes.