Meaning, commentary and cross references
Exodus 20:3
“You shall have no other gods before me.”In other translations
KJV · King James Version
Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
NIV · New International Version
“You shall have no other gods before me.
WEB · World English Bible
“You shall have no other gods before me.
What does Exodus 20:3 mean?
John Gill · Exposition of the Entire Bible, on Exodus 20:3
Thou shalt have no other gods before me. This is the first command, and is opposed to the polytheism of the Gentiles, the Egyptians, from whom Israel was just come, and whose gods some of them might have had a favourable opinion of and liking to, and had committed idolatry with; and the Canaanites, into whose land they were going; and to prevent their joining with them in the worship of other gods, this law was given, as well as to be of standing us to them in all generations; for there is but one only living and true God, the former and maker of all things, who only is to be had, owned, acknowledged, served, and worshipped as such; all others have only the name, and are not by nature gods…
John Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible (1746–63). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
John Calvin · Commentaries, on Exodus 20:3
Exodus 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. In this commandment God enjoins that He alone should be worshipped, and requires a worship free from all superstition. For although it seems to be a simple prohibition, yet must we deduce an affirmation from the negative, as will be more apparent from the following words. Therefore does He set Himself before them, in order that the Israelites may look to Him alone; and claims His own just right, in order that it may not be transferred elsewhere.
John Calvin, Commentaries (Calvin Translation Society English text). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Context: Exodus 20:1–6 (WEB)
1God spoke all these words, saying, 2“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3“You shall have no other gods before me. 4“You shall not make for yourselves an idol, nor any image of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5you 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, on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6and showing loving kindness to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
Cross references
- Deuteronomy 5:7
“You shall have no other gods before me.
- Matthew 4:10
Then Jesus said to him, “Get behind me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.’”
- Psalms 81:9
- Isaiah 46:9
Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other. I am God, and there is none like me.
- Deuteronomy 6:5
You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.
- Deuteronomy 6:14
You shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the peoples who are around you,
- Jeremiah 25:6
Don’t go after other gods to serve them or worship them, and don’t provoke me to anger with the work of your hands; then I will do you no harm.”
- Joshua 24:18–24
The LORD drove out from before us all the peoples, even the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the LORD; for he is our God.”
In the Baptist Catechism
- Q51. Which is the first commandment?
The first commandment is, “Thou shalt have no other Gods before me.”