Deuteronomy 5:7-10

7 '¹You shall have no other gods before Me.

8 '²You 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, ³visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,

10 but ⁴showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

Deuteronomy 5:7-10 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.

Deuteronomy 5:7-10 In-Context

5 while I was standing between the LORD and you at that time, to declare to you the word of the LORD ; for you were afraid because of the fire and did not go up the mountain. He said,

6 'I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

7 'You shall have no other gods before Me.

8 'You 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, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,

10 but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

11 'You 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 'Observe the sabbath day to keep it holy, as the LORD your God commanded you.

Cross References

• 1. Exodus 20:3
• 2. Exodus 20:4-6; Leviticus 26:1; Deuteronomy 4:15-18; Deuteronomy 27:15; Psalms 97:7
• 3. Exodus 34:7; Numbers 14:18; Deuteronomy 7:10
• 4. Numbers 14:18; Deuteronomy 7:9; Jeremiah 32:18

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "besides"
• [b]. Or "a graven image"
• [c]. Lit "or what is"
• [d]. Lit "or what is"