Deuteronomy 5:3-13

3 The LORD didn't make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day.

4 The LORD spoke with you face to face on the mountain out of the midst of the fire,

5 (I stood between the LORD and you at that time, to show you the word of the LORD: for you were afraid because of the fire, and didn't go up onto the mountain;) saying,

6 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Mitzrayim, out of the house of bondage.

7 You shall have no other gods before me.

8 "You shall not make an engraved image for yourself, [nor] any likeness [of anything] that is in heaven above, or that is in the eretz beneath, or that is in the water under the eretz:

9 you shall not bow down yourself to them, nor serve them; for I, the LORD, your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me;

10 and showing lovingkindness to thousands of those who love me and keep my mitzvot.

11 "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

12 "Observe the day of Shabbat, to keep it holy, as the LORD your God commanded you.

13 Six days shall you 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.