Deuteronomy 5:1-11

1 Moses called together all the people of Israel and said to them, "People of Israel, listen to all the laws that I am giving you today. Learn them and be sure that you obey them.

2 At Mount Sinai the Lord our God made a covenant,

3 not only with our fathers, but with all of us who are living today.

4 There on the mountain the Lord spoke to you face-to-face from the fire.

5 I stood between you and the Lord at that time to tell you what he said, because you were afraid of the fire and would not go up the mountain. "The Lord said,

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

Deuteronomy 5:1-11 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.

Footnotes

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