The Ten Commandments, Today's Verses: Ex 20:2-6

We continue our look at The Ten Commandments with an in-depth look at Ex 20:1

 

You can find the posts on a few of the Scripture passages that precede The Ten Commandments at the following links:

The observational overview of Ex 19:3-11 can be found HERE

And the in depth look at Ex 19:3-6 can be found HERE.

The in depth look at Ex 19:7-11 can be found HERE.

The concluding thoughts on Ex 19:3-11 can be found HERE. 

The initial overview of Ex 20:1-17 can be found HERE.   

 

The in-depth look at Ex 20:1 can be found HERE.

I do encourage everyone to look at all the prior posts in this series as the preceding context helps us to a deeper understanding of the Ten Commandments.

 

You can hover your pointer over any verse reference to read the corresponding verse(s).

 Exodus 20:2-6 (NASB)
² "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
³ "You shall have no other gods before Me.
⁴ "You 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.
⁵ "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,
⁶ but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

Grammatical Considerations:

• "I am the LORD your God...":  Before stating that we shall have no other gods before Him, God tells us why!  
• "...any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath....":  No idols are to be made of anything!  We are to worship God.  He is everywhere, so no idol or image can take the place of Him.  There is no wiggle room here. 
• God is who we worship!
• God is a jealous God!  But also a loving God.

My Questions:

• What exactly does God mean when He says that He is a jealous God? (note to self:  God's love for is so beyond what we are able to imagine that we can't understand it.  So He has to frame it in this way so that we can at least wrap our heads around it.) 
• I know it is wrong because God says so, but why does He not want us to make an image of anything even in Heaven?  Is it because we can't even really comprehend it?  Or is it because it takes our attention off of him?

Verse Cross References:

• Ex 20:2 -- Ex 13:3 Hos 13:4 Lev 26:1 Dt 5:6 Psa 81:10 Ex 15:13 Ex 15:16 dt 7:8 Gen 17:7-8 Lev 26:13 Dt 6:4-5 Psa 50:7 Jer 31:1 Jer 31:33 Ro 3:29 De 5:15 Dt 7:8 Dt 13:10 Dt 26:6-8 
• Thoughts -- God wants the Isrealites to remember what He had done for them.  He rescued them, saved them.  We would do well to constantly remember that Jesus Christ freed us from the slavery of sin!
• Ex 20:3 -- Dt 6:14 Jer 35:15 2Ki 17:35 Jer 25:6 Ex 15:11 Ex 20:23 Dt 5:7 Dt 6:5 Jos 24:18-24  2Ki 17:29-35 Psa 81:9 Isa 26:4 Isa 43:10 Isa 44:8 Isa 45:21-22  Isa 46:9 Mat 4:10 1Co 8:4-6 1John  5:21 Rev 19:10 Rev 22:9 Dt 4:35 Joel 2:27  Isa 42:8  Dt 30:17 Acts 17:29 2Sam 7:22 
• Thoughts -- It is quite simple. We are to worship the one true God!   And only Him shall we serve.  Luke 4:8 These words were enough for Jesus when he was temped in the desert.  ( Dt 6:13 Dt 10:20 Mat 4:10 )
• Ex 20:4 -- Lev 26:1 Dt 27:15  Lev 19:4 Dt 4:15-19 Dt 27:15 Dt 4:23-25 Psa 135:15-18 Isa 44:9-20 Jer 10:3-5 Acts 17:29 Isa 40:12-26 
• Thoughts -- And the answer to my question above (Why does God not want us to make an image of anything even in heaven) can be found in the verses:  Dt 4:15-19  The Israelites did not see God!  How could they possibly make an image of Him.  How can any of us??  Anything we would or could create would be lacking in comparison:  Isa 40:12-31    God is too great for us to conceive of an image.  Anything we would make would be incorrect and if we then bowed down to that image we created we would be bowing down to an incorrect image.  We just need to bow down to God!  Who is right there!    WoW!  I have always wondered why God did not want us to make an image of Him but until now had not actually formed the question!  Once I asked the correct question, God opened up the Scriptures to show me the correct answer!  It is as Jesus said:  Matt 7:7-8   !!   And yet even after all He had done for them and after hearing His commands with their own ears the Israelites were quick to forget and/or lose faith:  Ex 32:1-8   We can all learn from this moment in history.  None of us are immune to this forgetfulness!  We must all beon guard! 
• Ex 20:5 -- Ex 34:14 Dt 4:24 Nu 14:18 Psa 79:8 Ex 23:24 Jos 24:19 Na 1:2 ex 34:6-7 Dt 5:9-10 Jer 32:18 Jos 23:16 Dt 6:15 Dt 32:21 1Co 10:22 Ro 8:7 James 4:4 Josh 22:5 Matt 22:37-38 
• Thoughts -- The term jealous is still unclear to me.  Not unclear...God is very clear but I feel like there is more to that word than the English word conveys....or maybe there isn't.
• Ex 20:6 -- Dt 7:9 dt 4:37 Dt 5:29 Jer 32:39 Jer 32:40 Acts 2:39 Ro 11:29 John 14:15 John 14:21 1John 4:19  1John 5:3  Dt 4:40  Psa 136 John 3:16 
• Thoughts -- God ends this commandment with a promise of mercy for those who love Him and keep His commandments.  God promises mercy.  And knowing that we can't by nature keep all of His commandments (for we are not perfect) He gave us the gift of mercy (mercy that He promised) through His Son Jesus Christ!  God doesn't lie.  He is holy and His laws are perfect and he demands perfect adherence to those laws and yet He knows we are not able to be perfect so He came down to us in the form of His Son, so that His Son could take our sins upon Himself.  So that we may obtain the mercy God promised so long ago.  God does keep His promises.

Important terms:

 idol (or graven image):

• WORDSearch concordance search -- Dt 5:8 Dt 27:15  Isa 45:20 Jer 10:8 Hos 4:12 Hab 2:18 1Co 8:4  Dt 4:16 Dt 4:23 Lev 26:1 Psa 97:7 Isa 44:9-11 Jer 10:14 
• Definition -- idol, a noun that comes from the verb meaning to cut.  (indicating man made!)

any likeness:

• WORDSearch concordance search -- Ge 1:26 Gen 5:1 Dt 4:15-18   Dt 4:12 Psa 17:15 Isa 40:18 Eze 1:28 Eph 4:24 Php 2:7 Dt 4:23 
• Thoughts -- The Hebrew word for likeness (Strong's H8544) is also often translated into likeness.  Which brings back the point of Dt 4:12-18  The Israelites had never seen the form of God ( as Jesus reinforces in John 5:37 ) so they cannot logically recreate it in an image or idol.  Php 2:4-11 Also reinforces the amazing fact (and humbling fact) that Jesus, who is God, came down in human form for us!!  But see God knows our form!  He created us.  So He can come down in the form of a man because He knows that form.  We can't create anything in the likeness of God because we haven't ever SEEN His likeness.  Jesus was God in the likeness of man so that we might be able to better understand and so that we could have salvation and forgiveness of sins.

jealous:

• WORDSearch concordance search -- ex 34:14 Dt 4:24 Dt 5:9 Dt 6:15 Dt 32:16 Dt 32:21 Jos 24:19 Eze 39:25 Na 1:2 Zec 8:2 
• Definition -- jealous.  Comes from a verb mean to be jealous or zealous.  In the OT the Hebrew word is only used to describe God's attitude toward the the worship of false gods. ( Ex 20:5 Ex 34:14 Dt 4:24 Dt 5:9 Dt 6:15 --These are the only verses where this Hebrew word is used! )  In Ex 34:14 God's name is given as this word!! From Vines:  To be zealous!  When God is the subject of this verb.
• According to the AMG Word Study Notes to ( Ex 34:16 ) the nation of Israel is often referred to as the bride of God.  ( Isa 54:5-6 Isa 62:5 Jer 31:33 )  So in that light, God would consider idolatry as spiritual adultery!! ( Jer 3:8-9 Jer 3:20 Ezek 16:20-34 Ezek 23:37 ) This helps to frame in a context we can understand, (and really does help answer my question regarding this word in this verse!!),  JUST how important our undivided devotion is to God!  We can understand how WE would feel if a spouse cheated on us with another!  Jealous does not really describe how we would feel.  And that is why this Hebrew word translated into jealousy is only used in this context.  It is the closest that we can come to understanding just how much God loves us.  He loves us that much!  ( John 3:16 ) 

visiting:

• WORDSearch concordance search -- Ex 34:7 Nu 14:18 Dt 5:9 The Hebrew word appears in a lot of different contexts, such as:  Ex 4:31 Ex 30:12 Lev 26:16 It often seems to refer to an accounting for or number.
• Definition -- The word usually refers to someone (usually God) paying attention to person either to do them good or to bring punishment.  And unrelated to this verse it does also means to number something (ie:  a census)  But that does make clearer its meaning in this verse.  God is paying attention.  And He will hold people accountable.

lovingkindess:

• WORDSearch concordance search -- Ge 24:12 Ge 24:14 Ge 24:27 Ex 15:13 Ex 20:6 Ex 34:7 Dt 7:9 Dt 7:12 2Ch 1:8 2Ch 6:14 Ne 9:17 Job 37:13 Psa 5:7 Psa 6:4 Psa 13:5 Psa 17:7 Psa 31:16 ISa 16:5 Da 9:4 John 4:2 Psa 136 
• Thoughts -- Everything God does is because of His goodness and lovingkindness and mercy.  Even though the Israelites (and yes, us...and yes, me) are not as constant or consistent as we should be, God's mercy endures forever!  (Or as the HCSB Bible translates it:  His love is eternal. -- Psa 136:1 )  Eternal.  Forever. He sent His Son to us despite all the times man had sinned and would sin.  God sent His son to save us out of His eternal lovingkindness!!
• Definition -- Meaning mercy, love, lovingkindness, goodness.  Vines:  three meanings that interact-strength, steadfastness and love.  Vines also mentions the word refers to a relationship.

keep:

• WORDSearch concordance search -- Ge 18:19 Ge 28:15 Ex 13:10 Ex 15:26 Ex 19:5 Ex 20:8 Lev 22:31 Mt 19:17 John 8:55 John 12:25 John 12:47 John 14:15 John 14:23-24 John 15:10 John 15:20 John 17:11 Gal 5:3 1Ti 6:14 1John 2:3 1John 2:4 1John 3:22 1John 5:3 Rev 3:3 rev 12:17 Rev 14:12 Dt 16:12  (the Hebrew word is used an astounding 475 times in the old testament!)
• Thoughts -- Obedience!  Is is the key!  But we cannot obey on our own, Gal 5:3   We need Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord!   It isn't until we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord that we are free from sin.  But it is all about obedience. (and remembering....not wavering away from God!) 
• Definition -- to keep, guard, to preserve.

commandments:

• WORDSearch concordance search -- Ge 26:5 Ex 15:26 Ex 16:28 Ex 34:28 Lev 22:31 Dt 4:2 Dt 8:6 Dt 8:11 Dt 28:1 Psa 111:10 Psa 112:1 Psa 119:6 Psa 119:47 Psa 119:72 Ecc 12:13 John 14:21 
• Thoughts -- There is a lot of overlap in the cross references for these verses.  And that makes sense.  God shows His eternal mercy (lovingkindness) to those who keep His commandments!  And to do that, I mean to really do that we must love His son Jesus Christ!  John 14:15 1John 2:3 1John 5:3 
• Definition -- a command.  In the Pentateuch its only usage is in reference to God's commands!! Also appears most frequently in the plural form.

Answering My Questions:

• What exactly does God mean when He says that He is a jealous God? (note to self: God's love for is so beyond what we are able to imagine that we can't understand it. So He has to frame it in this way so that we can at least wrap our heads around it.) -- He is zealous for our love!
• I know it is wrong because God says so, but why does He not want us to make an image of anything even in Heaven? Is it because we can't even really comprehend it? Or is it because it takes our attention off of him? --  Dt 4:15-19 The Israelites did not see God! How could they possibly make an image of Him. How can any of us?? Anything we would or could create would be lacking in comparison: Isa 40:12-31 God is too great for us to conceive of an image. Anything we would make would be incorrect and if we then bowed down to that image we created we would be bowing down to an incorrect image. We just need to bow down to God! Who is right there! WoW! I have always wondered why God did not want us to make an image of Him but until now had not actually formed the question! Once I asked the correct question, God opened up the Scriptures to show me the correct answer! It is as Jesus said: Matt 7:7-8 !!

Summarizing:

•  Dt 4:15-19 really clarifies so much about these verses.  The Israelites never saw a form of God so there was no image to recreate.  God never let them see Him.  They heard Him.  Moses never even really saw God.  God wouldn't let it happen.  It is easy to see why making an image of anything else what upset God!  But until now I didn't completely understand why God did not want us to make images of Him.  Now I know!  We have nothing to go on so any image would be incorrect and therefore not really an image of Him!
• God's jealousy was also always interesting to me...but it is more a form of intense zealous love for us!  We are NOT to give our praise worship to anything else.  Only God alone deserves our praise and worship.  Period!
• When we worship something other than God, it could be considered spiritual infidelity.  And we understand that emotion which is why God frames it in that way for us.  So that we CAN come close to understanding it, even though God's loves is so huge and amazing it is beyond our complete grasp to understand!
• And we see why in Ex 20:6 God's love is forever, abundant and steadfast!  He gives us His love because He wants to!

Topics for further study:

• God's prerogative
• Image(s) of God (forbidden to be made)  along with the topic of Christ as the image of God.
• Jealous of God, spiritual adultery
• God's lovingkindness or mercy ( Psalm 136 ) 
• Mercy Promised

 Bibliography

• Baker, Warren, ed. – The Complete Word Study Old Testament. Chattanooga, TN: AMG, 1994. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• Baker, Warren and Eugene Carpenter. The Complete Word Study Dictionary – Old Testament. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2003. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• Brand, Chad, Charles Draper, Archie England, ed. Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• God's Word: Today's Bible Translation That Means What It Says Holiday, FL: Green Key Books, n.d.. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• God's Word Application Index. Holiday, FL: Green Key Books, n.d.. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• . WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• – Holman Christian Standard Bible Nashville: Holman Bible, 1999. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• Holy Bible, New American Standard. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• . WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• Holy Bible, New American Standard La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• Thompson, Frank Charles. Thompson Chain Reference Bible. Indianapolis, IN: B. B. Kirkbride Bible Co., 1997. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• Torrey, R. A. The New Topical Textbook. New York: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1897. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• . WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
• Vine, William E. Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old Testament and New Testament Words. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1940. WORDsearch CROSS e-book. 

Next time we will look at Ex 20:7