Exodus 20:3
What does Exodus 20:3 mean?
A plain-English look at Exodus 20:3 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Exodus 20:3 means
This commandment, the first, prohibits the worship of any deity other than Jehovah. It demands exclusive devotion, recognizing God as the singular, supreme authority in the lives of His people. "Before me" signifies both in My presence and in priority to Me, meaning no other god should ever be exalted or even considered alongside Him. This command establishes monotheism and requires the Israelites to wholly commit their reverence and worship to the one true God who saved them.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949You are to have no other gods but me.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`Thou hast no other Gods before Me.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Thou shalt not have strange gods before me.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Thou shalt have no othergods before me.
Context
This verse begins the pronouncement of the specific commandments, directly flowing from God's self-identification as Israel's deliverer. It establishes the primary concern of God: exclusive worship and allegiance. This command sets the theological framework for the entire covenant, indicating that all other laws depend on this foundational principle of singular devotion to Jehovah, differentiating Israel from the polytheistic nations around them.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Isaiah 44:8
Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have I not declared unto thee of old, and showed it? and ye are my witnesses. Is there a God besides me? yea, there is no Rock; I know not any.
- Isaiah 45:21
Declare ye, and bring it forth; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath showed this from ancient time? who hath declared it of old? have not I, Jehovah? and there is no God else besides me, a just God and a Saviour; there is none besides me.
- 1 Corinthians 8:4
Concerning therefore the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that no idol is anything in the world, and that there is no God but one.
- Isaiah 43:10
Ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, and my servant whom I have chosen; that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
- Joshua 24:18
and Jehovah drove out from before us all the peoples, even the Amorites that dwelt in the land: therefore we also will serve Jehovah; for he is our God.
- Psalms 73:25
Whom have I in heavenbut thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee.
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