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.

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"