What does 'thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image' mean?

Answer 1

This means that we are not to make any image from the material of earth such as wood, stone or metal and then worship it as you would God. None of these images can change anything in a persons life or on earth or in Heaven.

Answer 2

This is the first part of the Second Commandment of God:

"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third generation of them that hate Me; and shewing Mercy unto thousands [or the thousandth generation] of them that Love Me, and keep My Commandments." (Ex.20:4-6)

This and the Fourth [Sabbath] Commandment [third if you're Catholic]... are the two longest Commandments of the Ten... as well as the two main ones which God calls His people on for trangressing the most in The Bible.

The Commandment taken in its entirety: the "graven image" in question is anything men make with their hands that resemble anything God created: birds, flying bugs, etc [in the heaven above]; men, animals, trees, rocks, snakes, bugs, worms, etc [on the earth beneath the heaven]; fish, whales, walruses, eels, sharks, coral, seaweed, etc [in the water under the earth] -- that men make for the purpose of worship [to bow down to them].