Deuteronomy 5:6-16

6 "I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from Egypt, where you were slaves.

7 " "Worship no god but me.

8 " "Do not make for yourselves images of anything in heaven or on earth or in the water under the earth. ¹

9 Do not bow down to any idol or worship it, for I am the Lord your God and I tolerate no rivals. I bring punishment on those who hate me and on their descendants down to the third and fourth generation. ²

10 But I show my love to thousands of generations of those who love me and obey my laws.

11 " "Do not use my name for evil purposes, for I, the Lord your God, will punish anyone who misuses my name. ³

12 " "Observe the Sabbath and keep it holy, as I, the Lord your God, have commanded you. ⁴

13 You have six days in which to do your work, ⁵

14 but the seventh day is a day of rest dedicated to me. On that day no one is to work - neither you, your children, your slaves, your animals, nor the foreigners who live in your country. Your slaves must rest just as you do.

15 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt, and that I, the Lord your God, rescued you by my great power and strength. That is why I command you to observe the Sabbath.

16 " "Respect your father and your mother, as I, the Lord your God, command you, so that all may go well with you and so that you may live a long time in the land that I am giving you. ⁶

Deuteronomy 5:6-16 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

• 1. 5.8, 9Leviticus 26.1;Deuteronomy 4.15-18; 27.15.
• 2. 5.9, 10Exodus 34.6, 7;Numbers 14.18;Deuteronomy 7.9, 10.
• 3. 5.11Leviticus 19.12.
• 4. 5.12Exodus 16.23-30; 31.12-14.
• 5. 5.13, 14Exodus 23.12; 31.15; 34.21; 35.2;Leviticus 23.3.
• 6. 5.16 aDeuteronomy 27.16; +2Si 3.1-16;+1Matthew 15.4; 19.19;Mark 7.10; 10.19;Luke 18.20;Ephesians 6.2; bEphesians 6.3.

Footnotes

• [a]. thousands of generations; [or] thousands.