Exodus 20:3 - Printer Friendly

What does Exodus 20:3 mean?

ESV: "You shall have no other gods before me.

NIV: "You shall have no other gods before me.

NASB: You shall have no other gods before Me.

CSB: Do not have other gods besides me.

NLT: You must not have any other god but me.

KJV: Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

NKJV: “You shall have no other gods before Me.

Verse Commentary:

The first commandment (Exodus 19:5–6; 20:1) is the ultimate foundation of all understanding of the Lord. It is the necessary beginning for all Christian belief and practice. So far in the book of Exodus, God has proven His power (Exodus 3:20; 12:29–31; 14:21–28) and love for Israel (Exodus 15:22–25; 16:13–15). These were practical demonstrations of His absolute authority over all creation (Exodus 20:2). The biblical "fear" of God (Proverbs 1:7) is a reverence which acknowledges God for who and what He is.

Both the Egyptian and Canaanite cultures worshipped many false gods. This command uses the generic Hebrew term for a deity: 'elōhim. This functions much as the English word "god," which can also be used as a reference to the one true "God." In the prior verse, God specifically identified Himself using the term Yahweh, or YHWH. There is no question as to who is meant by this commandment (Exodus 34:13; Daniel 3:29; Deuteronomy 5:7). Since the God of Israel is the only God which exists (Isaiah 45:5), any form of worship of any other deity is offensive to Him. The word translated as "before" (Genesis 17:18; 23:12; Joshua 24:1) in many translations can also be rendered as "besides."

The principle established here grounds every other command from God. This is the initial step in understanding His nature and humanity's relationship to Him. All sins, starting from the first, violate this concept (Genesis 3:10–13) by putting human preferences above the Creator's will. Every act of sin begins with and includes a rejection of the Lord's role as the one and only God. Sin also indicates an inappropriate desire (James 1:14), so the Ten Commandments both begin and end (Exodus 20:17) with mankind's need to know our place in Creation.

Catholicism links this statement with the next, later splitting the tenth commandment. This links the carved images which God prohibits (Exodus 20:4–6) to other deities. In this way, it is easier to claim that icons and statues used for veneration are not prohibited. Keeping God's supremacy and banning of idols separate clarifies that the Lord disapproves any use of objects or images for worship.

Exodus 20:1–17 contains the Ten Commandments: the foundational laws of the ancient nation of Israel. These provide a basis for every other Mosaic law (2 Chronicles 5:10). The laws prohibit worship of other gods, idolatry, blasphemy, perjury, theft, murder, adultery, and covetousness. They command Israelites to honor parents and observe a weekly Sabbath rest. Like the rest of the old covenant, these commandments will be "fulfilled" and no longer applicable after Christ's completed work (Galatians 4:4–5; Hebrews 8:8–13). However, all these rules, other than the command to observe the Sabbath, are repeated in Christ's teachings.

Chapter Summary:

At Mount Sinai, God begins declaring the laws of His covenant with Israel. The first of these are the Ten Commandments. These establish core principles intended to guide the Lord's chosen people (Deuteronomy 7:6). Further details will come in other chapters and books. This chapter ends with specifics about altars and idols. The following chapters will address various social and civil issues (Exodus 21—23)

Chapter Context:

Centuries after being enslaved in Egypt (Exodus 1), Israel has been freed (Exodus 12). God leads the people across the Red Sea (Exodus 14) and into the wilderness of Sinai (Exodus 17—19). Here, He will give them laws which distinguish them from other nations. The first of these are the renowned Ten Commandments. The Lord will continue to provide details and statutes (Exodus 21—23) before confirming the covenant (Exodus 24) and establishing regulations for the tabernacle and priests (Exodus 25—31).

The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.

Accessed 6/15/2025 11:20:59 PM