Deuteronomy 5:9
Deuteronomy 5:9 in Multiple Translations
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,
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 unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me,
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, and upon the third and upon the fourth generation of them that hate me;
You may not go down on your faces before them or give them worship: for I, the Lord your God, am a God who will not give his honour to another; and I will send punishment on the children for the wrongdoing of their fathers, to the third and fourth generation of my haters;
You must not bow down before them or worship them; for I am the Lord your God and I am passionately exclusive. I lay the consequences of the sin of those who hate me on their sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons;
Thou shalt neither bowe thy selfe vnto them, nor serue them: for I the Lord thy God am a ielous God, visiting the iniquitie of the fathers vpon the children, euen vnto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me:
thou dost not bow thyself to them nor serve them, for I Jehovah thy God [am] a zealous God, charging iniquity of fathers on children, and on a third [generation], and on a fourth, to those hating Me;
You shall 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 on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me
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,
Thou shalt not adore them, and thou shalt not serve them. For I am the Lord thy God, a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon their children unto the third and fourth generation, to them that hate me,
You must not bow down to any idol and worship it, because I am Yahweh God, and I ◄am very jealous/want you to worship me only►. I punish those who sin and hate me. I punish not only them, but I will punish ◄their descendants, down to the third and fourth generation/their children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren►.
Berean Amplified Bible — Deuteronomy 5:9
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Deuteronomy 5:9 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — Deuteronomy 5:9
Study Notes — Deuteronomy 5:9
- Context
- Cross References
- Deuteronomy 5:9 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Deuteronomy 5:9
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Deuteronomy 5:9
- Ellicott's Commentary on Deuteronomy 5:9
- Cambridge Bible on Deuteronomy 5:9
- Whedon's Commentary on Deuteronomy 5:9
- Sermons on Deuteronomy 5:9
Context — The Ten Commandments
9You 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,
10but showing loving devotion to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments. 11You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave anyone unpunished who takes His name in vain.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exodus 20:4–6 | 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. 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, but showing loving devotion to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments. |
| 2 | Exodus 34:7 | maintaining loving devotion to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished; He will visit the iniquity of the fathers on their children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.” |
| 3 | Daniel 9:4–9 | And I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed, “O, Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of loving devotion to those who love Him and keep His commandments, we have sinned and done wrong. We have acted wickedly and rebelled. We have turned away from Your commandments and ordinances. We have not listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, leaders, and fathers, and to all the people of the land. To You, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but this day we are covered with shame—the men of Judah, the people of Jerusalem, and all Israel near and far, in all the countries to which You have driven us because of our unfaithfulness to You. O LORD, we are covered with shame—our kings, our leaders, and our fathers—because we have sinned against You. To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness, even though we have rebelled against Him |
| 4 | Numbers 14:18 | ‘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.’ |
| 5 | Matthew 23:35–36 | And so upon you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Truly I tell you, all these things will come upon this generation. |
| 6 | Exodus 34:14 | For you must not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. |
| 7 | Jeremiah 32:18 | 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, |
| 8 | Romans 11:28–29 | Regarding the gospel, they are enemies on your account; but regarding election, they are loved on account of the patriarchs. For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable. |
Deuteronomy 5:9 Summary
This verse is saying that we should not worship anything or anyone except God, because He is a jealous God who wants our exclusive devotion. If we do worship other things, we can experience negative consequences that can affect our children and grandchildren, but if we love and obey God, He will show us loving devotion for thousands of generations, as stated in Deuteronomy 5:10. This means that we should be careful to prioritize our relationship with God above all else, and to seek His forgiveness and restoration when we fail. By doing so, we can experience the blessings of God's love and provision in our lives, as seen in Psalm 103:17.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for God to be a jealous God?
God's jealousy is not like human jealousy, but rather a righteous and passionate desire for our exclusive devotion, as seen in Exodus 34:14, where He commands us not to worship other gods.
Why does God visit the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations?
This is not a matter of arbitrary punishment, but rather a consequence of the natural effects of sin being passed down through generations, as seen in Exodus 20:5, and it serves as a warning to us to repent and turn to God.
Does this verse mean that God is unfair to punish children for their parents' sins?
No, God is not unfair, as each person is responsible for their own sins, as stated in Deuteronomy 24:16, but the effects of sin can have far-reaching consequences that impact future generations.
How can we avoid the consequences of God's jealousy and instead experience His loving devotion?
We can do this by loving and obeying God, as stated in Deuteronomy 5:10, and keeping His commandments, which will bring us into a deep and intimate relationship with Him, as seen in John 14:15.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I may be bowing down to idols in my own life, and how can I repent and turn to God?
- How can I ensure that I am passing down a legacy of faith and obedience to God to my own children and future generations?
- What are some practical ways that I can demonstrate my love and devotion to God in my daily life?
- How can I balance the fear of God's jealousy with the knowledge of His loving devotion, and what role should each play in my life?
- What are some areas in my life where I may be experiencing the consequences of sin, and how can I seek God's forgiveness and restoration?
Gill's Exposition on Deuteronomy 5:9
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Deuteronomy 5:9
Ellicott's Commentary on Deuteronomy 5:9
Cambridge Bible on Deuteronomy 5:9
Whedon's Commentary on Deuteronomy 5:9
Sermons on Deuteronomy 5:9
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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A Startling Statement by J. Wilbur Chapman | J. Wilbur Chapman preaches on the consequences of sin, emphasizing that the wicked shall not go unpunished, as seen in various Bible passages. He highlights the certainty of reapin |
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Are You Saved? by Paul Washer | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on Exodus 20:1-7 and emphasizes the importance of having a personal relationship with God. He highlights that God owns us and desires our compl |
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Where Does Passion Come From? by Paul Washer | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the problem of taking our victories over problems and putting them aside, thinking we no longer need God. He emphasizes the constant need for |
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David and Goliath by Leonard Ravenhill | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the promise of a land flowing with milk and honey, which is described as the glory of all lands on earth. He emphasizes the importance of cas |
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(Genesis) Genesis 31:14-19 by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the story of Jacob and his encounter with God at Bethel. The preacher emphasizes that one cannot run away from God, as David also wrote about |
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Boasting in the Law by Don McClure | In this sermon, the speaker discusses how the apostle Paul systematically addresses different types of people and their beliefs about acceptance before God. He emphasizes that all |
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The Joy of Fearing God by Hans Peter Royer | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the importance of the fear of God in today's world. He references 2 Samuel 23:3, which states that when one rules in the fear of God, they are |






