Deuteronomy 5:5-15

5 I stood between the LORD and you to tell you the word of the LORD, because you were afraid of the fire and didn't go up on the mountain. The LORD said:

6 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of slavery in Egypt.

7 "Never have any other gods.

8 Never make your own carved idols or statues that represent any creature in the sky, on the earth, or in the water.

9 Never worship them or serve them, because I, the LORD your God, am a God who does not tolerate rivals. I punish children for their parents' sins to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me.

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

11 "Never use the name of the LORD your God carelessly. The LORD will make sure that anyone who uses his name carelessly will be punished.

12 "Observe the day of worship as a holy day. This is what the LORD your God has commanded you.

13 You have six days to do all your work.

14 The seventh day is the day of worship dedicated to the LORD your God. You, your sons, your daughters, your male and female slaves, your oxen, your donkeys--all of your animals--even the foreigners living in your city must never do any work [on that day]. In this way your male and female slaves can rest as you do.

15 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God used his mighty hand and powerful arm to bring you out of there. This is why the LORD your God has commanded you to observe the day of worship.

Deuteronomy 5:5-15 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.