Deuteronomy 5:3-13

3 "1The LORD did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, with all those of us alive here today.
4 "The LORD spoke to you 2face to face at the mountain 3from the midst of the fire,
5 while 4I was standing between the LORD and you at that time, to declare to you the word of the LORD; 5for you were afraid because * of the fire and did not go up the mountain. He said,
6 '6I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
7 '7You shall have no other gods before Me.
8 '8You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above * or on the earth beneath * or in the water under the earth.
9 'You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, 9visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,
10 but 10showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
11 '11You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.
12 '12Observe the sabbath day to keep it holy, as the LORD your God commanded you.
13 'Six days you shall labor and do all your work,

Deuteronomy 5:3-13 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 5

In this chapter Moses, after a short preface, De 5:1-5, repeats the law of the decalogue, or ten commands, with some little variation, De 5:6-21, and then reminds the Israelites of the terrible manner in which it was delivered to them, De 5:22,23 which put them upon making a request that Moses might be a mediator between God and them, and hear what the Lord had to say, and report it to them; to which they promised obedience, De 5:24-27 and which being agreeable to the Lord was granted, De 5:28-31, and this laid them under a greater obligation to observe the commands of God, and keep them, De 5:32,33.

Cross References 12

  • 1. Jeremiah 31:32; Hebrews 8:9
  • 2. Numbers 14:14; Deuteronomy 34:10
  • 3. Deuteronomy 4:33
  • 4. Galatians 3:19
  • 5. Ex 19:16, 21-24; Exodus 20:18; Hebrews 12:18-21
  • 6. Exodus 20:2-17; Leviticus 26:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalms 81:10
  • 7. Exodus 20:3
  • 8. Exodus 20:4-6; Leviticus 26:1; Deuteronomy 4:15-18; Deuteronomy 27:15; Psalms 97:7
  • 9. Exodus 34:7; Numbers 14:18; Deuteronomy 7:10
  • 10. Numbers 14:18; Deuteronomy 7:9; Jeremiah 32:18
  • 11. Exodus 20:7; Leviticus 19:12; Deuteronomy 6:13; Deuteronomy 10:20; Matthew 5:33
  • 12. Exodus 16:23-30; Exodus 20:8-11; Exodus 31:13; Mark 2:27

Footnotes 8

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