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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 20:3 You shall have no other gods before Me.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/exodus/20-3.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/3/02_Exo_20_03.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Exodus 20:3 - The Ten Commandments" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="You shall have no other gods before Me." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script 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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/20-2.htm" title="Exodus 20:2">◄</a> Exodus 20:3 <a href="/exodus/20-4.htm" title="Exodus 20:4">►</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"><b>Verse</b><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"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/exodus/20.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />&#8220You shall have no other gods before me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/exodus/20.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />“You must not have any other god but me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/exodus/20.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />“You shall have no other gods before me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/exodus/20.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />You shall have no other gods before Me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/exodus/20.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Thou shalt have no other gods before me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/exodus/20.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />“You shall have no other gods before Me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/exodus/20.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />“You shall have no other gods before Me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/exodus/20.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220You shall have no other gods before Me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/exodus/20.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“You shall have no other gods before Me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/exodus/20.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />“You shall have no other gods before Me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/exodus/20.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />“You shall have no other gods before Me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/exodus/20.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Do not have other gods besides me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/exodus/20.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Do not have other gods besides Me. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/exodus/20.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Thou shalt have no other gods before me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/exodus/20.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Do not worship any god except me. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/exodus/20.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Thou shalt have none other gods before me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/exodus/20.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />"Never have any other god.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/exodus/20.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />"Worship no god but me. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/exodus/20.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />You are to have no other gods besides me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/exodus/20.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />You shall have no other gods before Me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/exodus/20.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />"You shall have no other gods before me. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/exodus/20.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Do not have other gods before me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/exodus/20.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Thou shalt have no other gods before me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/exodus/20.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />“You shall have no other gods before me. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/exodus/20.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />You have no other Gods before Me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/exodus/20.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> 'Thou hast no other Gods before Me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/exodus/20.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />There shall be no other God to thee to my face.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/exodus/20.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Thou shalt not have strange gods before me. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/exodus/20.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />You shall not have strange gods before me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/exodus/20.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />You shall not have other gods beside me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/exodus/20.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />you shall have no other gods before me.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/exodus/20.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />You shall have no other gods except me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/exodus/20.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />You shall not have other gods outside of me.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/exodus/20.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/exodus/20.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Thou shalt have no other gods beside me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/exodus/20-3.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kVae3PiKqhs?start=4953" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/exodus/20.htm">The Ten Commandments</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">2</span>“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. <span class="reftext">3</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/lə·ḵå̄ (Prep:: 2ms) -- ">You</a> <a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: yih·yeh- (V-Qal-Imperf-3ms) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">shall have</a> <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.">no</a> <a href="/hebrew/312.htm" title="312: ’ă·ḥê·rîm (Adj-mp) -- Another. From 'achar; properly, hinder; generally, next, other, etc.">other</a> <a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: ’ĕ·lō·hîm (N-mp) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">gods</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.">before</a> <a href="/hebrew/6440.htm" title="6440: på̄·nå̄·ya (N-mpc:: 1cs) -- Face, faces. Plural of an unused noun; the face; used in a great variety of applications; also as a preposition.">Me.</a> </span><span class="reftext">4</span>You 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.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/5-7.htm">Deuteronomy 5:7</a></span><br />You shall have no other gods before Me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/45-5.htm">Isaiah 45:5-6</a></span><br />I am the LORD, and there is no other; there is no God but Me. I will equip you for battle, though you have not known Me, / so that all may know, from where the sun rises to where it sets, that there is none but Me; I am the LORD, and there is no other.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/4-10.htm">Matthew 4:10</a></span><br />“Away from Me, Satan!” Jesus told him. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/8-4.htm">1 Corinthians 8:4-6</a></span><br />So about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one. / For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many so-called gods and lords), / yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/6-14.htm">Deuteronomy 6:14</a></span><br />Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/44-6.htm">Isaiah 44:6-8</a></span><br />Thus says the LORD, the King and Redeemer of Israel, the LORD of Hosts: “I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God but Me. / Who then is like Me? Let him say so! Let him declare his case before Me, since I established an ancient people. Let him foretell the things to come, and what is to take place. / Do not tremble or fear. Have I not told you and declared it long ago? You are My witnesses! Is there any God but Me? There is no other Rock; I know not one.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_john/5-21.htm">1 John 5:21</a></span><br />Little children, keep yourselves from idols.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/17-35.htm">2 Kings 17:35</a></span><br />For the LORD had made a covenant with the Israelites and commanded them, “Do not worship other gods or bow down to them; do not serve them or sacrifice to them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/25-6.htm">Jeremiah 25:6</a></span><br />Do not follow other gods to serve and worship them, and do not provoke Me to anger with the works of your hands. Then I will do you no harm.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_timothy/2-5.htm">1 Timothy 2:5</a></span><br />For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/13-4.htm">Hosea 13:4</a></span><br />Yet I am the LORD your God ever since the land of Egypt; you know no God but Me, for there is no Savior besides Me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/17-22.htm">Acts 17:22-31</a></span><br />Then Paul stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I see that in every way you are very religious. / For as I walked around and examined your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore what you worship as something unknown, I now proclaim to you. / The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by human hands. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/81-9.htm">Psalm 81:9</a></span><br />There must be no strange god among you, nor shall you bow to a foreign god.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/18-21.htm">1 Kings 18:21</a></span><br />Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him. But if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people did not answer a word.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/1-21.htm">Romans 1:21-23</a></span><br />For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. / Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, / and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">You shall have no other gods before me.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/15-11.htm">Exodus 15:11</a></b></br> Who <i>is</i> like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who <i>is</i> like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful <i>in</i> praises, doing wonders?</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/5-7.htm">Deuteronomy 5:7</a></b></br> Thou shalt have none other gods before me.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/6-5.htm">Deuteronomy 6:5,14</a></b></br> And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/exodus/18-11.htm">Gods</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/exodus/20-23.htm">Gods</a><div class="vheading2">Exodus 20</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/20-1.htm">The ten commandments are spoken by Jehovah</a></span><br><span class="reftext">18. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/20-18.htm">The people are afraid, but Moses comforts them</a></span><br><span class="reftext">21. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/20-21.htm">Idolatry is forbidden</a></span><br><span class="reftext">23. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/20-23.htm">Of what sort the altar should be</a></span><br></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'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/exodus/20.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/exodus/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/exodus/20.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>You shall have</b><br>This phrase is a direct command, indicating the imperative nature of the instruction. It reflects the authoritative voice of God, emphasizing the non-negotiable aspect of the commandment. The use of "shall" denotes a future obligation, suggesting that this command is to be continually observed by the Israelites and, by extension, all who follow the God of Israel.<p><b>no other gods</b><br>In the ancient Near Eastern context, polytheism was prevalent, with various cultures worshiping multiple deities. This commandment establishes monotheism as the foundation of Israelite religion, setting them apart from surrounding nations. The term "gods" refers to any entity or object that might be worshiped or revered in place of the one true God. This includes idols, celestial bodies, or even human leaders. The commandment underscores the exclusivity of worship that God demands, rejecting the syncretism common in the ancient world.<p><b>before Me</b><br>The phrase "before Me" can be understood as "in My presence" or "in opposition to Me." It implies that God is aware of all actions and thoughts, and nothing can be hidden from Him. This commandment is not just about physical idols but also about the heart's allegiance. It calls for complete devotion and loyalty to God, without any rival. Theologically, this reflects God's sovereignty and His rightful place as the sole object of worship. It also foreshadows the New Testament teaching of Jesus Christ, who affirmed the greatest commandment as loving God with all one's heart, soul, and mind (<a href="/matthew/22-37.htm">Matthew 22:37</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/m/moses.htm">Moses</a></b><br>The prophet and leader of the Israelites who received the Ten Commandments from God on Mount Sinai.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/m/mount_sinai.htm">Mount Sinai</a></b><br>The mountain where God gave Moses the Ten Commandments, including the commandment in <a href="/exodus/20-3.htm">Exodus 20:3</a>.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/i/israelites.htm">Israelites</a></b><br>The chosen people of God, who were delivered from slavery in Egypt and were the initial recipients of the Ten Commandments.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God (Yahweh)</a></b><br>The one true God who delivered the Israelites from Egypt and established a covenant with them, emphasizing His exclusive worship.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/e/egypt.htm">Egypt</a></b><br>The land of slavery from which the Israelites were delivered, representing a place of idolatry and false gods.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/e/exclusive_worship.htm">Exclusive Worship</a></b><br>God demands exclusive worship, highlighting His unique nature and authority. This commandment calls believers to examine their lives for anything that might take precedence over God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/i/idolatry_in_modern_context.htm">Idolatry in Modern Context</a></b><br>Idolatry is not limited to physical idols but includes anything that takes priority over God, such as money, power, or relationships.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/covenant_relationship.htm">Covenant Relationship</a></b><br>This commandment is foundational to the covenant relationship between God and His people, emphasizing loyalty and faithfulness.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/h/heart_examination.htm">Heart Examination</a></b><br>Believers are encouraged to regularly examine their hearts and lives to ensure that God remains their primary focus and devotion.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/cultural_influence.htm">Cultural Influence</a></b><br>In a world with many competing ideologies and beliefs, Christians are called to remain steadfast in their commitment to the one true God.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_exodus_20.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Exodus 20</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/can_christians_be_patriotic.htm">Can Christians be patriotic?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/can_christians_wear_a_bindi.htm">Is wearing a bindi acceptable for Christians?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/candombland#233;'s_role_in_brazil.htm">What is the significance of Candomblé in Brazilian culture?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/core_beliefs_of_shintoism.htm">What are the core beliefs of Shintoism?</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>(3) <span class= "bld">Thou shalt have no other gods before me.</span>--Heb., <span class= "ital">There shalt be to thee no other god before me. </span>The result is the same, whether we translate <span class= "ital">Elohim </span>by "god" or "gods;" but the singular verb shows that the plural form of the name is a mere plural of dignity.<p><span class= "bld">Before me</span>--literally, <span class= "ital">before my face--</span>means strictly, "side by side with me"--<span class= "ital">i.e., </span>"in addition to me." God does not suppose that the Israelites, after all that He had done for them, would discard Him, and substitute other gods in His place, but fears the syncretism which would unite His worship with that of other deities. All polytheisms were syncretic, and readily enlarged their pantheons, since, when once the principle of unity is departed from, whether the plurality be a little greater or a little less cannot much signify. The Egyptian religion seems to have adopted Ammon at a comparatively late period from Arabia; it took Bar, or Baal, Anta, or Ana?tis, Astaret, or Astarte, Reshpu, or Reseph, &c., from Syria, and it admitted Totuu from Ethiopia. Israel, in after-times, fell into the same error, and, without intending to apostatise from Jehovah, added on the worship of Baal, Ashtoreth, Moloch, Chemosh, Remphan, &c. It is this form of polytheism against which the first commandment is directed. It asserts the <span class= "ital">sole </span>claim of Jehovah to our religious regards.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/exodus/20.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 3.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Thou shalt have</span>. The use of the second person <span class="accented">singular</span> is remarkable when a covenant was being made with the <span class="accented">people</span> (<a href="/exodus/19-5.htm">Exodus 19:5</a>). The form indicated that each individual of the nation was addressed severally, and was required himself to obey the law, a mere general national obedience being insufficient. No one can fail to see how much the commands gain in force, through all time, by being thus addressed to the individual conscience. <span class="cmt_word">No other gods before me</span>. "Before me" literally, "before my face," is a Hebrew idiom, and equivalent to "beside me," "in addition to me." The commandment requires the worship of one God alone, Jehovah - the God who had in so ninny ways manifested himself to the Israelites, and implies that there is, in point of fact, no other God. A belief in the unity of God is said to lie at the root of the esoteric Egyptian religion; but Moses can scarcely have derived his belief from this source, since the Egyptian notions on the subject were tinged with pantheism and materialism, from which the religion of Moses is entirely free. Outwardly the Egyptian religion, like that of the nations of Western Asia generally, was a gross polytheism; and it is against polytheistic notions that the first commandment raises a protest. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/exodus/20-3.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">You</span><br /><span class="heb">לְךָ֛֩‪‬</span> <span class="translit">(lə·ḵā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> </span><span class="str2"></span><br /><br /><span class="word">shall have</span><br /><span class="heb">יִהְיֶֽה־</span> <span class="translit">(yih·yeh-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fall out, come to pass, become, be</span><br /><br /><span class="word">no</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹֽ֣א</span> <span class="translit">(lō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">other</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲחֵרִ֖֜ים</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·ḥê·rîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_312.htm">Strong's 312: </a> </span><span class="str2">Hinder, next, other</span><br /><br /><span class="word">gods</span><br /><span class="heb">אֱלֹהִ֥֨ים</span> <span class="translit">(’ĕ·lō·hîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> </span><span class="str2">gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative</span><br /><br /><span class="word">before</span><br /><span class="heb">עַל־</span> <span class="translit">(‘al-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> </span><span class="str2">Above, over, upon, against</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Me.</span><br /><span class="heb">פָּנָֽ֗יַ‪‬</span> <span class="translit">(pā·nā·ya)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6440.htm">Strong's 6440: </a> </span><span class="str2">The face</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/exodus/20-3.htm">Exodus 20:3 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/exodus/20-3.htm">Exodus 20:3 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/exodus/20-3.htm">Exodus 20:3 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/exodus/20-3.htm">Exodus 20:3 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/exodus/20-3.htm">Exodus 20:3 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/exodus/20-3.htm">Exodus 20:3 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/exodus/20-3.htm">Exodus 20:3 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/exodus/20-3.htm">Exodus 20:3 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/exodus/20-3.htm">Exodus 20:3 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/exodus/20-3.htm">Exodus 20:3 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/exodus/20-3.htm">OT Law: Exodus 20:3 You shall have no other gods before (Exo. Ex) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/exodus/20-2.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Exodus 20:2"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Exodus 20:2" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/exodus/20-4.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Exodus 20:4"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Exodus 20:4" /></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>