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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Exodus 20:5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/exodus/20-5.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/6/02_Exo_20_05.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Exodus 20:5 - The Ten Commandments" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me," /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/exodus/20-5.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/exodus/20-5.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/exodus/">Exodus</a> > <a href="/exodus/20.htm">Chapter 20</a> > Verse 5</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad5.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/exodus/20-4.htm" title="Exodus 20:4">◄</a> Exodus 20:5 <a href="/exodus/20-6.htm" title="Exodus 20:6">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/exodus/20.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/exodus/20.htm">New International Version</a> You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, <a href="/nlt/exodus/20.htm">New Living Translation</a> You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. <a href="/esv/exodus/20.htm">English Standard Version</a> You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, <a href="/bsb/exodus/20.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, <a href="/kjv/exodus/20.htm">King James Bible</a> Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; <a href="/nkjv/exodus/20.htm">New King James Version</a> you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, <a href="/nasb_/exodus/20.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> You shall not worship them nor serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, inflicting the punishment of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, <a href="/nasb/exodus/20.htm">NASB 1995</a> &#8220You 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, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, <a href="/nasb77/exodus/20.htm">NASB 1977 </a> “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, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, <a href="/lsb/exodus/20.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, Yahweh your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, <a href="/amp/exodus/20.htm">Amplified Bible</a> You shall not worship them nor serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous (impassioned) God [demanding what is rightfully and uniquely mine], visiting (avenging) the iniquity (sin, guilt) of the fathers on the children [that is, calling the children to account for the sins of their fathers], to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, <a href="/csb/exodus/20.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> Do not bow in worship to them, and do not serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me, <a href="/hcsb/exodus/20.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> You must not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the fathers&#8217 sin, to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, <a href="/asv/exodus/20.htm">American Standard Version</a> thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them; for I Jehovah thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation of them that hate me, <a href="/cev/exodus/20.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> Don't bow down and worship idols. I am the LORD your God, and I demand all your love. If you reject me, I will punish your families for three or four generations. <a href="/erv/exodus/20.htm">English Revised Version</a> thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation of them that hate me; <a href="/gwt/exodus/20.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> 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. <a href="/gnt/exodus/20.htm">Good News Translation</a> Do not bow down to any idol or worship it, because 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. <a href="/isv/exodus/20.htm">International Standard Version</a> You are not to bow down to them in worship or serve them, because I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the iniquity of the parents to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me, <a href="/msb/exodus/20.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, <a href="/net/exodus/20.htm">NET Bible</a> You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I, the LORD, your God, am a jealous God, responding to the transgression of fathers by dealing with children to the third and fourth generations of those who reject me, <a href="/nheb/exodus/20.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> you must not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and upon the children's children, on the third and on the fourth [generation] of those who hate me, <a href="/wbt/exodus/20.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; <a href="/web/exodus/20.htm">World English Bible</a> you shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them, for I, Yahweh your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me, <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/exodus/20.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> You do not bow yourself to them, nor serve them: for I, your God YHWH, [am] a zealous God, charging iniquity of fathers on sons, on a third and on a fourth [generation] of those hating Me, <a href="/ylt/exodus/20.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> Thou dost not bow thyself to them, nor serve them: for I, Jehovah thy God, am a zealous God, charging iniquity of fathers on sons, on the third generation, and on the fourth, of those hating Me, <a href="/slt/exodus/20.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> Thou shalt not worship to them, and thou shalt not serve them: for I am Jehovah thy God, a jealous God, striking the iniquity of the fathers upon the sons to the third and to the fourth, to them hating me;<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/exodus/20.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> Thou shalt not adore them, nor serve them: I am the Lord thy God, mighty, jealous, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me: <a href="/cpdv/exodus/20.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> You shall not adore them, nor shall you worship them. I am the Lord your God: strong, zealous, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the sons to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, <a href="/nabre/exodus/20.htm">New American Bible</a> you shall not bow down before them or serve them. For I, the LORD, your God, am a jealous God, inflicting punishment for their ancestors’ wickedness on the children of those who hate me, down to the third and fourth generation ; <a href="/nrsvce/exodus/20.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me,<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/exodus/20.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> You shall not worship them nor serve them; for I the LORD your God am a zealous God, visiting the offenses of the fathers upon their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me; <a href="/hpbt/exodus/20.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> You shall not bow to them and you shall not serve them because I AM LORD JEHOVAH your God, a jealous God; he pays the love debts of fathers for the children unto three and unto four generations for those hating me;<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/exodus/20.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> thou shalt not bow down unto them, nor serve them; for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me; <a href="/sep/exodus/20.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> Thou shalt not bow down to them, nor serve them; for I am the Lord thy God, a jealous God, recompensing the sins of the fathers upon the children, to the third and fourth generation to them that hate me, <a href="/parallel/exodus/20-5.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kVae3PiKqhs?start=4966" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/exodus/20.htm">The Ten Commandments</a> …4You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath. 5<a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō- (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">You shall not</a> <a href="/hebrew/7812.htm" title="7812: ṯiš·taḥ·wɛh (V-Hitpael-Imperf-2ms) -- To bow down. A primitive root; to depress, i.e. Prostrate.">bow down</a> <a href="/hebrew/lā·hem (Prep:: 3mp) -- ">to them</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: wə·lō (Conj-w:: Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">or</a> <a href="/hebrew/5647.htm" title="5647: ṯā·‘ā·ḇə·ḏêm (V-Hofal-Imperf-2ms:: 3mp) -- To work, serve. A primitive root; to work; by implication, to serve, till, enslave, etc.">worship them;</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">for</a> <a href="/hebrew/595.htm" title="595: ’ā·nō·ḵî (Pro-1cs) -- I. Sometimes; a primitive pro. I.">I,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">the LORD</a> <a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: ’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā (N-mpc:: 2ms) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">your God,</a> <a href="/hebrew/7067.htm" title="7067: qan·nā (Adj-ms) -- Jealous. From qana'; jealous.">am a jealous</a> <a href="/hebrew/410.htm" title="410: ’êl (N-ms) -- God, in pl. gods. Shortened from 'ayil; strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty.">God,</a> <a href="/hebrew/6485.htm" title="6485: pō·qêḏ (V-Qal-Prtcpl-ms) -- To attend to, visit, muster, appoint. A primitive root; to visit; by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc.">visiting</a> <a href="/hebrew/5771.htm" title="5771: ‘ă·wōn (N-csc) -- Iniquity, guilt, punishment for iniquity. Or oavown; from avah; perversity, i.e. evil.">the iniquity</a> <a href="/hebrew/1.htm" title="1: ’ā·ḇōṯ (N-mp) -- Father. A primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application).">of the fathers</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘al- (Prep) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">on</a> <a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: bā·nîm (N-mp) -- Son. From banah; a son, in the widest sense (like 'ab, 'ach, etc.).">their children</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘al- (Prep) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">to</a> <a href="/hebrew/8029.htm" title="8029: šil·lê·šîm (N-mp) -- Pertaining to the third. From shalash; a descendant of the third degree, i.e. Great grandchild.">the third</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: wə·‘al- (Conj-w:: Prep) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications."></a> <a href="/hebrew/7256.htm" title="7256: rib·bê·‘îm (N-mp) -- Pertaining to the fourth. From raba'; a descendant of the fourth generation, i.e. Great great grandchild.">and fourth generations</a> <a href="/hebrew/8130.htm" title="8130: lə·śō·nə·ʾå̄y (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Prtcpl-mpc:: 1cs) -- To hate. A primitive root; to hate.">of those who hate Me,</a> 6but showing loving devotion to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/deuteronomy/5-9.htm">Deuteronomy 5:9</a> You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, <a href="/numbers/14-18.htm">Numbers 14:18</a> ‘The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion, forgiving iniquity and transgression. Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished; He will visit the iniquity of the fathers upon their children to the third and fourth generation.’ <a href="/jeremiah/32-18.htm">Jeremiah 32:18</a> You show loving devotion to thousands but lay the iniquity of the fathers into the laps of their children after them, O great and mighty God whose name is the LORD of Hosts, <a href="/deuteronomy/7-9.htm">Deuteronomy 7:9-10</a> Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps His covenant of loving devotion for a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments. / But those who hate Him He repays to their faces with destruction; He will not hesitate to repay to his face the one who hates Him. <a href="/psalms/79-8.htm">Psalm 79:8</a> Do not hold past sins against us; let Your compassion come quickly, for we are brought low. <a href="/ezekiel/18-19.htm">Ezekiel 18:19-20</a> Yet you may ask, ‘Why shouldn’t the son bear the iniquity of his father?’ Since the son has done what is just and right, carefully observing all My statutes, he will surely live. / The soul who sins is the one who will die. A son will not bear the iniquity of his father, and a father will not bear the iniquity of his son. The righteousness of the righteous man will fall upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked man will fall upon him. <a href="/leviticus/26-39.htm">Leviticus 26:39-40</a> Those of you who survive in the lands of your enemies will waste away in their iniquity and will decay in the sins of their fathers. / But if they will confess their iniquity and that of their fathers in the unfaithfulness that they practiced against Me, by which they have also walked in hostility toward Me— <a href="/1_kings/21-29.htm">1 Kings 21:29</a> “Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the calamity during his days, but I will bring it upon his house in the days of his son.” <a href="/2_kings/17-14.htm">2 Kings 17:14-15</a> But they would not listen, and they stiffened their necks like their fathers, who did not believe the LORD their God. / They rejected His statutes and the covenant He had made with their fathers, as well as the decrees He had given them. They pursued worthless idols and became worthless themselves, going after the surrounding nations that the LORD had commanded them not to imitate. <a href="/isaiah/65-6.htm">Isaiah 65:6-7</a> Behold, it is written before Me: I will not keep silent, but I will repay; I will pay it back into their laps, / both for your iniquities and for those of your fathers,” says the LORD. “Because they burned incense on the mountains and scorned Me on the hills, I will measure into their laps full payment for their former deeds.” <a href="/romans/1-18.htm">Romans 1:18-21</a> The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness. / For what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. / For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse. ... <a href="/romans/2-5.htm">Romans 2:5-6</a> But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. / God “will repay each one according to his deeds.” <a href="/romans/11-22.htm">Romans 11:22</a> Take notice, therefore, of the kindness and severity of God: severity to those who fell, but kindness to you, if you continue in His kindness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. <a href="/1_corinthians/10-22.htm">1 Corinthians 10:22</a> Are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He? <a href="/ephesians/5-6.htm">Ephesians 5:6</a> Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>You shall not bow down yourself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;bow down<a href="/exodus/23-24.htm">Exodus 23:24</a> Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images.<a href="/leviticus/26-1.htm">Leviticus 26:1</a> Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the LORD your God.<a href="/joshua/23-7.htm">Joshua 23:7,16</a> That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them: … for I<a href="/exodus/34-14.htm">Exodus 34:14</a> For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:<a href="/deuteronomy/4-24.htm">Deuteronomy 4:24</a> For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.<a href="/deuteronomy/6-15.htm">Deuteronomy 6:15</a> (For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.visiting<a href="/exodus/34-7.htm">Exodus 34:7</a> Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.<a href="/leviticus/20-5.htm">Leviticus 20:5</a> Then I will set my face against that man, and against his family, and will cut him off, and all that go a whoring after him, to commit whoredom with Molech, from among their people.<a href="/leviticus/26-29.htm">Leviticus 26:29,39,40</a> And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat… of them<a href="/deuteronomy/7-10.htm">Deuteronomy 7:10</a> And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face.<a href="/deuteronomy/32-41.htm">Deuteronomy 32:41</a> If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me.<a href="/psalms/81-15.htm">Psalm 81:15</a> The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/exodus/12-28.htm">Bow</a> <a href="/exodus/19-6.htm">Children</a> <a href="/exodus/13-11.htm">Fathers</a> <a href="/genesis/15-16.htm">Fourth</a> <a href="/exodus/17-16.htm">Generation</a> <a href="/exodus/16-33.htm">Generations</a> <a href="/exodus/1-10.htm">Hate</a> <a href="/genesis/44-16.htm">Iniquity</a> <a href="/genesis/37-11.htm">Jealous</a> <a href="/acts/26-11.htm">Punishing</a> <a href="/exodus/18-22.htm">Serve</a> <a href="/exodus/17-1.htm">Sin</a> <a href="/exodus/19-16.htm">Third</a> <a href="/exodus/20-4.htm">Thyself</a> <a href="/acts/18-23.htm">Visiting</a> <a href="/exodus/12-31.htm">Worship</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/exodus/23-24.htm">Bow</a> <a href="/exodus/20-22.htm">Children</a> <a href="/exodus/22-24.htm">Fathers</a> <a href="/exodus/28-20.htm">Fourth</a> <a href="/exodus/20-6.htm">Generation</a> <a href="/exodus/20-6.htm">Generations</a> <a href="/leviticus/26-15.htm">Hate</a> <a href="/exodus/28-38.htm">Iniquity</a> <a href="/exodus/34-14.htm">Jealous</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/5-9.htm">Punishing</a> <a href="/exodus/21-2.htm">Serve</a> <a href="/exodus/20-20.htm">Sin</a> <a href="/exodus/25-35.htm">Third</a> <a href="/exodus/23-24.htm">Thyself</a> <a href="/exodus/32-34.htm">Visiting</a> <a href="/exodus/23-24.htm">Worship</a><div class="vheading2">Exodus 20</div>1. <a href="/exodus/20-1.htm">The ten commandments are spoken by Jehovah</a> 18. <a href="/exodus/20-18.htm">The people are afraid, but Moses comforts them</a> 21. <a href="/exodus/20-21.htm">Idolatry is forbidden</a> 23. <a href="/exodus/20-23.htm">Of what sort the altar should be</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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This commandment is part of the Decalogue, given to Moses on Mount Sinai. It prohibits the worship of idols, which was a common practice among the surrounding nations, such as the Egyptians and Canaanites. The Israelites were called to be distinct, serving only Yahweh. This commandment underscores the importance of monotheism and the rejection of polytheism. The act of bowing down signifies submission and allegiance, which should be reserved for God alone. This principle is reiterated in the New Testament, where Jesus emphasizes worshiping God in spirit and truth (<a href="/john/4-24.htm">John 4:24</a>).for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, The term "jealous" here is not to be understood in a human sense of envy but rather as a zealousness for maintaining the covenant relationship. God's jealousy is a protective love, ensuring that His people remain faithful to Him. This reflects the covenantal nature of God's relationship with Israel, akin to a marriage, where faithfulness is paramount. The jealousy of God is also seen in the New Testament, where believers are called the bride of Christ (<a href="/2_corinthians/11-2.htm">2 Corinthians 11:2</a>).visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children This phrase highlights the concept of generational consequences of sin. In ancient Near Eastern culture, the family unit was tightly knit, and the actions of one member could affect the entire household. This does not imply that children are punished for their parents' sins, but rather that the consequences of sin can have lasting effects. <a href="/ezekiel/18-20.htm">Ezekiel 18:20</a> clarifies that each person is responsible for their own sin, yet the environment and patterns set by previous generations can influence future ones.to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, The mention of "third and fourth generations" indicates the enduring impact of sin, but it also implies a limit to God's judgment, contrasting with His mercy, which extends to thousands of generations (<a href="/exodus/20-6.htm">Exodus 20:6</a>). The phrase "those who hate Me" refers to those who reject God and His commandments. This is a call to repentance and a warning of the seriousness of turning away from God. The generational aspect underscores the importance of teaching and living out faithfulness to God, as seen in <a href="/deuteronomy/6-6.htm">Deuteronomy 6:6-7</a>, where parents are instructed to diligently teach their children about God.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD (Yahweh)</a> The covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal, self-existent nature and His relationship with Israel. 2. <a href="/topical/i/israelites.htm">Israelites</a> The recipients of the Ten Commandments, God's chosen people, who were delivered from Egypt and are being instructed on how to live in covenant with God. 3. <a href="/topical/m/mount_sinai.htm">Mount Sinai</a> The location where God gave Moses the Ten Commandments, including this commandment against idolatry. 4. <a href="/topical/i/idols.htm">Idols</a> Objects of worship that are forbidden by God, representing false gods and leading people away from true worship. 5. <a href="/topical/g/generational_consequences.htm">Generational Consequences</a> The concept that the sins of one generation can affect subsequent generations, particularly in the context of idolatry and disobedience to God.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/g/god's_jealousy.htm">God's Jealousy</a> Understand that God's jealousy is not like human jealousy; it is a righteous desire for His people to worship Him alone, reflecting His love and commitment to them. <a href="/topical/i/idolatry's_consequences.htm">Idolatry's Consequences</a> Recognize the serious consequences of idolatry, not only for individuals but for future generations, and the importance of breaking cycles of sin. <a href="/topical/g/generational_influence.htm">Generational Influence</a> Consider how our actions and faithfulness to God can impact our families and communities positively or negatively. <a href="/topical/p/personal_responsibility.htm">Personal Responsibility</a> While generational sin is a reality, each person is responsible for their own relationship with God and can choose to follow Him. <a href="/topical/a/avoiding_modern_idolatry.htm">Avoiding Modern Idolatry</a> Identify and reject modern forms of idolatry, such as materialism, power, or anything that takes precedence over God in our lives.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_exodus_20.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Exodus 20</a> <a href="/q/do_children_inherit_parents'_sins.htm">Are parents' sins inherited by their children?</a> <a href="/q/is_god_characterized_by_jealousy.htm">Is God characterized by jealousy?</a> <a href="/q/what_are_hereditary_spirits_in_the_bible.htm">What does the Bible say about hereditary spirits?</a> <a href="/q/what_does_atavism_mean.htm">What does atavism mean?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/exodus/20.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(5) Nor serve them.--The idolatry of the ancient world was, practically, not a mere worship of celestial beings through material representations of them, but an actual culture of the images themselves, which were regarded as possessed of miraculous powers. "I myself," says Arnobius, "not so very long ago, worshipped gods just taken out of the furnace, fresh from the anvil of the smith, ivory, paintings, stumps of trees swathed in bandages; and if I happened to cast my eyes on a polished stone smeared with olive oil, I made reverence to it, as if a power were present therein, and addressed myself in supplication for blessings to the senseless block" (Advers. Gentes, i. 29). "People pray," says Seneca, "to the images of the gods, implore them on bended knees, sit or stand long days before them, throw them money, and sacrifice beasts to them, so treating them with deep respect" (Ap. Lactant., ii. 2).A jealous God.--Not in the sense in which He was regarded as "jealous" by some of the Greeks, who supposed that success or eminence of any kind provoked Him (Herod. iii. 40, 125), but jealous of His own honour, one who will not see "His glory given to another" (<a href="/isaiah/42-8.htm" title="I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.">Isaiah 42:8</a>; <a href="/isaiah/48-11.htm" title="For my own sake, even for my own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory to another.">Isaiah 48:11</a>), or allow rivals to dispute His sole and absolute sovereignty. (Comp. <a href="/exodus/34-14.htm" title="For you shall worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:">Exodus 34:14</a>; <a href="/deuteronomy/4-24.htm" title="For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.">Deuteronomy 4:24</a>; <a href="/deuteronomy/5-9.htm" title="You shall not bow down yourself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of them that hate me,">Deuteronomy 5:9</a>; <a href="/deuteronomy/6-15.htm" title="(For the LORD your God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD your God be kindled against you, and destroy you from off the face of the earth.">Deuteronomy 6:15</a>; <a href="/joshua/24-19.htm" title="And Joshua said to the people, You cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.">Joshua 24:19</a>.) . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/exodus/20.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 5. - Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them. Every outward sign of honour was shown to images in the ancient world. They were not regarded as emblems, but as actual embodiments of deity. There was a special rite in Greece (Theopoea) by means of which the gods were inducted into their statues, and made to take up their abodes in them. Seneca says of the Romans of his own day - "They pray to these images of the gods, implore them on bended knee, sit or stand long days before them, throw them money, and sacrifice beasts to them, so treating them with deep respect, though they despise the man who made them" (Ap. Lact. 2:2). I, the Lord thy God am a jealous God. God "will not give his glory to another" (<a href="/isaiah/42-8.htm">Isaiah 42:8</a>; <a href="/isaiah/48-11.htm">Isaiah 48:11</a>), will not suffer a rival near his throne. He is not "jealous." as the Greeks thought (Herod. 7:10, § 5), of mere success, or greatness; but he is very jealous of his own honour, and will not have the respect and reverence, which is his due, bestowed on other beings or on inanimate objects. Compare with the present passage <a href="/exodus/34-14.htm">Exodus 34:14</a>; <a href="/deuteronomy/4-24.htm">Deuteronomy 4:24</a>; <a href="/deuteronomy/5-9.htm">Deuteronomy 5:9</a>; <a href="/deuteronomy/6-15.htm">Deuteronomy 6:15</a>; <a href="/joshua/24-19.htm">Joshua 24:19</a>; etc. Visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children. Exception has been taken to the plain meaning of this passage by a multitude of writers, who dread the reproach of the sceptic, that the God of the Old Testament is a God careless of justice and bent upon revenge. But neither does society, nor does civil justice itself, regard the visiting of parents' sins upon their children as in all cases unjust. Society by its scorn punishes for their parents' transgressions the illegitimate, the children of criminals, the children - especially the daughters - of adulteresses. Civil justice condemns to forfeiture of their titles and their estates, the innocent children of those executed for treason. God again manifestly does by the laws which obtain in his moral universe, entail on children many consequences of their parents' ill-doing - as the diseases which arise from profligacy or intemperance, the poverty which is the result of idleness or extravagance, the ignorance and evil habits which are the fruit of a neglected education. It is this sort of visitation which is intended here. The children and grandchildren of idolaters would start in life under disadvantages. The vicious lives of their parents would have sown in them the seeds both of physical and moral evil. They would commonly be brought up in wrong courses, have their moral sense early perverted, and so suffer for their parents' faults. It would be difficult for them to rise out of their unhappy condition. Still, "each would bear his own iniquity." Each would "be judged by that he had, not by that he bad not." An all-wise God would, in the final award, make allowance for the disadvantages of birth and inherited disposition, and would assign to each that position to which his own conduct - his struggles, efforts, endeavours after right - entitled him. To say that the threat "applies only to such children as follow the sins of their fathers" Kalisch) is to empty the passage of all force. It applies to all; but the visitation intended consists in temporal disadvantages, not in the final award of happiness or misery. <a href="/commentaries/exodus/20-5.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>You shall not לֹֽא־ (lō-) Adverb - Negative particle <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> Not, no bow down תִשְׁתַּחְוֶ֥֣ה‪‬ (ṯiš·taḥ·weh) Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - second person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7812.htm">Strong's 7812: </a> To depress, prostrate to them לָהֶ֖ם֮ (lā·hem) Preposition | third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> or וְלֹ֣א (wə·lō) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> Not, no worship them; תָעָבְדֵ֑ם֒ (ṯā·‘ā·ḇə·ḏêm) Verb - Hofal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5647.htm">Strong's 5647: </a> To work, to serve, till, enslave for כִּ֣י (kî) Conjunction <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> A relative conjunction I, אָֽנֹכִ֞י (’ā·nō·ḵî) Pronoun - first person common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_595.htm">Strong's 595: </a> I the LORD יְהוָ֤ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel your God, אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ (’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā) Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative am a jealous קַנָּ֔א (qan·nā) Adjective - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7067.htm">Strong's 7067: </a> Jealous God, אֵ֣ל (’êl) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_410.htm">Strong's 410: </a> Strength -- as adjective, mighty, the Almighty visiting פֹּ֠קֵד (pō·qêḏ) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6485.htm">Strong's 6485: </a> To visit, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit the iniquity עֲוֺ֨ן (‘ă·wōn) Noun - common singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5771.htm">Strong's 5771: </a> Iniquity, guilt, punishment for iniquity of the fathers אָבֹ֧ת (’ā·ḇōṯ) Noun - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1.htm">Strong's 1: </a> Father on עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> Above, over, upon, against [their] children בָּנִ֛ים (bā·nîm) Noun - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> A son to עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> Above, over, upon, against the third שִׁלֵּשִׁ֥ים (šil·lê·šîm) Noun - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8029.htm">Strong's 8029: </a> Pertaining to the third and fourth [generations] רִבֵּעִ֖ים (rib·bê·‘îm) Noun - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7256.htm">Strong's 7256: </a> Pertaining to the fourth of those who hate Me, לְשֹׂנְאָֽ֑י׃ (lə·śō·nə·’āy) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | first person common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8130.htm">Strong's 8130: </a> To hate <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/exodus/20-5.htm">Exodus 20:5 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/exodus/20-5.htm">Exodus 20:5 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/exodus/20-5.htm">Exodus 20:5 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/exodus/20-5.htm">Exodus 20:5 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/exodus/20-5.htm">Exodus 20:5 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/exodus/20-5.htm">Exodus 20:5 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/exodus/20-5.htm">Exodus 20:5 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/exodus/20-5.htm">Exodus 20:5 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/exodus/20-5.htm">Exodus 20:5 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/exodus/20-5.htm">Exodus 20:5 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/exodus/20-5.htm">OT Law: Exodus 20:5 You shall not bow yourself down (Exo. Ex) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/exodus/20-4.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Exodus 20:4"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Exodus 20:4" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/exodus/20-6.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Exodus 20:6"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Exodus 20:6" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>