Shemot 34:14

14 For thou shalt worship no el acher; for Hashem, Whose Shem is Jealous, is El Kanah;

Shemot 34:14 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 34:14

For thou shall worship no other god
Than the Lord their God, the one only living and true God, which was the first command given to the people of Israel, and binding upon all men:

for the Lord whose name is Jealous, [is] a jealous God;
his name and nature answer to one another; he admits of no rival or competitor in worship; he will not give his glory to another god, or one so called, nor his praise to graven images; and in this he is distinguished from all nominal and fictitious gods, who have many joined with them, and are rivals of them, which gives them no concern, because insensible; but it is otherwise with the Lord, who knows the dishonour done him, and resents it, and is as jealous of any worship being given to another, as the husband is of the honour of his marriage bed; for idolatry is spiritual adultery, as is suggested in the following verse.

Shemot 34:14 In-Context

12 Be shomer over thyself, lest thou make a brit with the inhabitants of HaAretz whither thou goest, lest it be for a mokesh (snare) in the midst of thee;

13 But ye shall destroy their mizbechot, break their matzebot, and cut down their asherah (sacred trees, poles);

14 For thou shalt worship no el acher; for Hashem, Whose Shem is Jealous, is El Kanah;

15 Lest thou make a brit with the inhabitants of HaAretz, and they go awhoring after eloheihem, and do sacrifice unto eloheihem, and one invite thee, and thou eat of his zevach (sacrifice, i.e., participate in his pagan worship);

16 And thou take of their banot unto thy banim, and their banot go a-whoring after their elohim, and make thy banim go a-whoring after their elohim.