King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold.
Complete Jewish Bible:
You are not to make with me gods of silver, nor are you to make gods of gold for yourselves. (S: Maftir)
Berean Standard Bible:
You are not to make any gods alongside Me; you are not to make for yourselves gods of silver or gold.
American Standard Version:
Ye shall not make other gods with me; gods of silver, or gods of gold, ye shall not make unto you.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Ye shall not make{H6213} with me gods{H430} of silver{H3701}, neither shall ye make{H6213} unto you gods{H430} of gold{H2091}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Ezekiel 20:39
- As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter [also], if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.
Zephaniah 1:5
- And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship [and] that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham;
2 Kings 17:33
- They feared the LORD, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence.
1 Corinthians 10:21
- Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.
1 Corinthians 10:22
- Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
Exodus 20:3
- Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Exodus 20:5
- 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 unto the third and fourth [generation] of them that hate me;
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Exodus 20:23
1. Themes:
- Monotheism: The verse emphasizes the worship of one God, rejecting the creation or worship of other gods, which is a central theme throughout the Old Testament.
- Rejection of Idolatry: It specifically prohibits the making of idols from precious metals such as silver and gold, highlighting the importance of worshiping God in spirit and truth rather than through physical representations.
- Holiness and Purity of Worship: The command underscores the need for pure and undivided devotion to God, free from the corrupting influence of idols and false gods.
2. Historical Context:
- The verse is part of the Book of Exodus, which recounts the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and their journey towards the Promised Land.
- This command is given at Mount Sinai, where God reveals the Ten Commandments and other laws to Moses, establishing the covenant with the Israelite people.
- The command comes in a cultural and historical context where polytheism and idol worship were common practices among neighboring nations. The prohibition serves to distinguish the religious practices of the Israelites from those of their pagan neighbors.
- The prohibition against making gods of silver and gold also reflects the practical danger of wealth and materialism diverting the Israelites' allegiance from God to worldly possessions.
In summary, Exodus 20:23 reinforces the theme of exclusive worship of the one true God and rejects the syncretistic practices of the surrounding cultures, which is crucial for the formation of the Israelites' unique identity as God's chosen people.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H6213
There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָשָׂה
Transliteration: ʻâsâh
Pronunciation: aw-saw'
Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use. - Strong's Number: H430
There are 2334 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֱלֹהִים
Transliteration: ʼĕlôhîym
Pronunciation: el-o-heem'
Description: plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty. - Strong's Number: H3701
There are 343 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כֶּסֶף
Transliteration: keçeph
Pronunciation: keh'-sef
Description: from כָּסַף; silver (from its pale color); by implication, money; money, price, silver(-ling). - Strong's Number: H2091
There are 336 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: זָהָב
Transliteration: zâhâb
Pronunciation: zaw-hawb'
Description: from an unused root meaning to shimmer; gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e. yellow), as oil, a clear sky; gold(-en), fair weather.