Musar su Levitico 19:4

According to Nachmanides, this verse concerns itself exclusively with the making of such images with the intent of worshipping them. He holds that this prohibition is not to be counted as a separate negative commandment (of the 613 commandments), because the Torah here only concerns itself with the kind of idol worship that is prohibited on pain of death, whereas construction of cast images, provided one has not worshipped them, is punishable only by 39 lashes. Nachmanides holds that the prohibiton contained in this verse comprises the admission that some other deity could exist, whether one decides to personally worship such a deity or not. Making any of the classic obeisances to such an image falls under the heading of the prohibition included in this verse. This is so even, if, in our culture, the same obeisance would be interpreted as an expression of revulsion vis-a-avis such an image. According to Nachmanides, the prohibition of constructing a cast image and the like is derived from אל תפנו אל האלילים ואלוהי מסכה לא תעשו לכם "Do not turn to idols and do not construct for yourselves a graven image," (Leviticus 19,4).

The plural used by the Torah, i.e. תיראו, is connected to the soul. Sanctity may sometimes be inherited from father and mother and the spiritually pure thoughts they entertained at the time of marital union, whereas it can also be attained through one's own merits. These ideas have been expounded upon both in parts of the Zohar called רעיא מהימנא and in the Pardes Rimonim. They explain the plural in our verse as alluding to these two alternative ways of attaining sanctity, i.e. either through heredity or through personal achievement. Which ever might be the case, the Torah exhorts you to let the fear of G–d take precedence over all other demands that may be made upon you. When the Torah continues in 19,4: "Do not turn to idols, and do not construct for yourselves a graven image," this commandment is addressed to children who have not been sired by parents who have attained sanctity.