New International VersionDo not make any gods to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold.
New Living TranslationRemember, you must not make any idols of silver or gold to rival me.
English Standard VersionYou shall not make gods of silver to be with me, nor shall you make for yourselves gods of gold.
Berean Standard BibleYou are not to make any gods alongside Me; you are not to make for yourselves gods of silver or gold.
King James BibleYe shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold.
New King James VersionYou shall not make anything to be with Me—gods of silver or gods of gold you shall not make for yourselves.
New American Standard BibleYou shall not make other gods besides Me; gods of silver or gods of gold, you shall not make for yourselves.
NASB 1995You shall not make other gods besides Me; gods of silver or gods of gold, you shall not make for yourselves.
NASB 1977‘You shall not make other gods besides Me; gods of silver or gods of gold, you shall not make for yourselves.
Legacy Standard BibleYou shall not make other gods besides Me; gods of silver or gods of gold, you shall not make for yourselves.
Amplified BibleYou shall not make other gods [to worship] besides Me; gods of silver or gods of gold, you shall not make [these lifeless idols] for yourselves.
Christian Standard BibleDo not make gods of silver to rival me; do not make gods of gold for yourselves.
Holman Christian Standard BibleYou must not make gods of silver to rival Me; you must not make gods of gold for yourselves.”
American Standard VersionYe shall not make other gods with me; gods of silver, or gods of gold, ye shall not make unto you.
Contemporary English VersionSo you must never make idols of silver or gold to worship in place of me.
English Revised VersionYe shall not make other gods with me; gods of silver, or gods of gold, ye shall not make unto you.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationNever make any gods of silver or gold for yourselves. Never worship them.
Good News TranslationDo not make for yourselves gods of silver or gold to be worshiped in addition to me.
International Standard VersionYou are not to make gods of silver alongside me, nor are you to make for yourselves gods of gold.
NET BibleYou must not make gods of silver alongside me, nor make gods of gold for yourselves.
New Heart English BibleYou shall most certainly not make alongside of me gods of silver, or gods of gold for yourselves.
Webster's Bible TranslationYe shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make to you gods of gold. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleYou are not to make any gods alongside Me; you are not to make for yourselves gods of silver or gold.
World English BibleYou shall most certainly not make gods of silver or gods of gold for yourselves to be alongside me. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionyou do not make gods of silver and gods of gold [to be] with Me—you do not make [any idol] for yourselves.
Young's Literal Translation ye do not make with Me gods of silver, even gods of gold ye do not make to yourselves.
Smith's Literal TranslationYe shall not make to me gods of silver, and gods of gold ye shall not make to yourselves. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleYou shall not make gods of silver, nor shall you make to yourselves gods of gold.
Catholic Public Domain VersionYou shall not make gods of silver, nor shall you make for yourselves gods of gold.
New American BibleYou shall not make alongside of me gods of silver, nor shall you make for yourselves gods of gold.
New Revised Standard VersionYou shall not make gods of silver alongside me, nor shall you make for yourselves gods of gold. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleYou shall not make for yourselves gods of gold to be worshipped along with me, neither shall you make for yourselves gods of silver.
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedYou shall not make for yourselves gods of gold with me, neither gods of silver shall you make for yourselves. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Ye shall not make with Me--gods of silver, or gods of gold, ye shall not make unto you.
Brenton Septuagint TranslationYe shall not make to yourselves gods of silver, and gods of gold ye shall not make to yourselves.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Idolatry Forbidden22Then the LORD said to Moses, “This is what you are to tell the Israelites: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven. 23You are notto makeany godsalongside Me;you are notto makefor yourselvesgodsof silveror gold.
Cross References Deuteronomy 4:15-19So since you saw no form of any kind on the day the LORD spoke to you out of the fire at Horeb, be careful / that you do not act corruptly and make an idol for yourselves of any form or shape, whether in the likeness of a male or female, / of any beast that is on the earth or bird that flies in the air, ...
Deuteronomy 5:8-9You 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,
Leviticus 19:4Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves molten gods. I am the LORD your God.
Isaiah 44:9-20All makers of idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Their witnesses fail to see or comprehend, so they are put to shame. / Who fashions a god or casts an idol which profits him nothing? / Behold, all his companions will be put to shame, for the craftsmen themselves are only human. Let them all assemble and take their stand; they will all be brought to terror and shame. ...
Psalm 115:4-8Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. / They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; / they have ears, but cannot hear; they have noses, but cannot smell; ...
Psalm 135:15-18The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. / They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; / they have ears, but cannot hear; nor is there breath in their mouths. ...
1 Kings 12:28-30After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves and said to the people, “Going up to Jerusalem is too much for you. Here, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” / One calf he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. / And this thing became a sin; the people walked as far as Dan to worship before one of the calves.
2 Kings 17:16-18They abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God and made for themselves two cast idols of calves and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the host of heaven and served Baal. / They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire and practiced divination and soothsaying. They devoted themselves to doing evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger. / So the LORD was very angry with Israel, and He removed them from His presence. Only the tribe of Judah remained,
Jeremiah 10:3-5For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut down a tree from the forest; it is shaped with a chisel by the hands of a craftsman. / They adorn it with silver and gold and fasten it with hammer and nails, so that it will not totter. / Like scarecrows in a cucumber patch, their idols cannot speak. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them, for they can do no harm, and neither can they do any good.”
Hosea 13:2Now they sin more and more and make for themselves cast images, idols skillfully made from their silver, all of them the work of craftsmen. People say of them, “They offer human sacrifice and kiss the calves!”
Acts 17:29Therefore, being offspring of God, we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by man’s skill and imagination.
Romans 1:22-23Although 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.
1 Corinthians 10:19-20Am I suggesting, then, that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? / No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons.
1 Corinthians 8:4-6So 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.
1 John 5:21Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
Treasury of Scripture You shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall you make to you gods of gold. Exodus 20:3-5 Thou shalt have no other gods before me… Exodus 32:1-4 And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; foras for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him… 1 Samuel 5:4,5 And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagonwas fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his handswere cut off upon the threshold; onlythe stump of Dagon was left to him… Jump to Previous AlongsideBesidesGodsGoldSilverYourselvesJump to Next AlongsideBesidesGodsGoldSilverYourselvesExodus 20 1.The ten commandments are spoken by Jehovah18.The people are afraid, but Moses comforts them21.Idolatry is forbidden23.Of what sort the altar should beYou are not to make any gods alongside Me;This phrase emphasizes the exclusivity of worship that God demands from His people. In the context of the ancient Near East, polytheism was prevalent, with many cultures worshiping a pantheon of gods. The Israelites, having recently been delivered from Egypt, would have been familiar with Egyptian deities. This command underscores the monotheistic nature of the Israelite faith, setting it apart from surrounding nations. Theologically, this reflects the first commandment, "You shall have no other gods before Me," reinforcing the idea that God alone is worthy of worship. This exclusivity is echoed in the New Testament, where Jesus affirms the greatest commandment is to love God with all one's heart, soul, and mind ( Matthew 22:37). you are not to make for yourselves gods of silver or gold.
This prohibition against creating idols of silver or gold addresses the common practice of crafting physical representations of deities. In ancient cultures, such idols were often made from precious metals, signifying their importance and the wealth of the worshipers. The Israelites are warned against this practice, as it contradicts the nature of God, who is spirit and cannot be contained or represented by material objects. This command is further elaborated in the second commandment, which forbids the making of graven images. The New Testament continues this theme, with Paul warning against idolatry in passages like1 Corinthians 10:14. Theologically, this points to the sufficiency and supremacy of God, who does not require physical representation, and foreshadows the coming of Jesus Christ, who is the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15). Persons / Places / Events 1. God (Yahweh)The one true God who delivered the Israelites from Egypt and gave them the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. 2. IsraelitesThe chosen people of God, who were delivered from slavery in Egypt and are receiving the Law at Mount Sinai. 3. Mount SinaiThe mountain where God gave Moses the Ten Commandments and other laws for the Israelites. 4. MosesThe prophet and leader of the Israelites, who received the Law from God on Mount Sinai. 5. IdolatryThe act of worshiping idols or false gods, which is strictly prohibited by God in this commandment. Teaching Points Exclusive WorshipGod demands exclusive worship. This commandment underscores the importance of recognizing God as the sole object of our worship and devotion. Avoiding Modern IdolatryWhile we may not create physical idols, anything that takes precedence over God in our lives can become an idol. Reflect on what might be competing for your devotion. The Danger of MaterialismThe specific mention of silver and gold highlights the temptation of material wealth. Evaluate how material possessions influence your relationship with God. Faithfulness in ObedienceObedience to God's commands is a demonstration of our faithfulness. Consider how you can actively obey this command in your daily life. Cultural PressuresJust as the Israelites faced cultural pressures to conform to surrounding nations, we too face pressures. Stand firm in your commitment to God amidst societal influences. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Exodus 20
Why did Achan's disobedience lead to Israel's defeat?
What does Jesus' life as a ransom signify?
Where is your heart if your treasure is there?
What do idols and demons share in common?(23) Ye shall not make with me gods of silver.--The expression "make with me" is unusual, but does not seem to have any peculiar force. Gods of silver and gods of gold are specially forbidden, because it was to idolatry of this kind that the Israelites were specially inclined. The golden calf is no isolated phenomenon. Molten images of gods, generally of silver, sometimes of gold, were objects of worship to Israel throughout the ages which preceded the Captivity. Jeroboam set up molten images at Dan and Bethel (Kings 14:9; 2Kings 17:16). Baal was worshipped under the semblance of a molten image ( 2Chronicles 28:2) as were probably Ashtaroth, Chemosh, and Moloch. The animal worship of the Egyptians had no attractions for the Hebrews; they did not offer to images of stone or marble, like the Assyrians or the Greeks; much less was it their habit to "bow down to stocks," like so many of the heathen nations around them. The "molten image," generally completed by a certain amount of graving, was the form of idol which had most charms for them, and the more precious the material the more satisfied were they to worship it. (Comp. Isaiah 30:22; Isaiah 42:17; Jeremiah 10:14; Hosea 13:2, &c.). Occasionally indeed they overlaid wood or stone with plates of gold or silver, to produce an idol ( Habakkuk 2:19); but such images were at once less common and held in less account. . . . Verse 23. - Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, etc. This is a repetition, in part, of the second commandment, and can only be accounted for by the prohibition being specially needed. The first idea of the Israelites, when they considered that Moses had deserted them, was to make a golden calf for a god.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew You are notלֹ֥א(lō)Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808:Not, noto makeתַעֲשׂ֖וּן(ṯa·‘ă·śūn)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nun
Strong's 6213:To do, makeany godsאֱלֹ֤הֵי(’ĕ·lō·hê)Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 430:gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlativeto rival Me;אִתִּ֑י(’it·tî)Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 854:Nearness, near, with, by, at, amongyou are notלֹ֥א(lō)Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808:Not, noto makeתַעֲשׂ֖וּ(ṯa·‘ă·śū)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 6213:To do, makefor yourselvesלָכֶֽם׃(lā·ḵem)Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrewgodsוֵאלֹהֵ֣י(wê·lō·hê)Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 430:gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlativeof silverכֶ֙סֶף֙(ḵe·sep̄)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3701:Silver, moneyor gold.זָהָ֔ב(zā·hāḇ)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2091:Gold, something gold-colored, as oil, a clear sky
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OT Law: Exodus 20:23 You shall most certainly not make alongside (Exo. Ex) |
