Exo 20:3-11 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Exod 20:3-17: 20:3-17 The terms of the covenant specify the behavior the people were expected to manifest if they were to be in a covenant with God. Only the first four instructions (20:2-11 ) relate directly to God, while the remaining six (20:12-17 ) have to do with human-to-human relationships. A covenant with God stipulates how we are to treat each other because God is profoundly ethical, and he expects us to manifest his character in all our relationships. Other law codes in the ancient Near East did not incorporate such absolute prohibitions, probably because polytheism mitigated against absolute principles. In contrast, covenants with a king did include absolute prohibitions because a single king could demand whatever he wished of his subjects. Here the single king is the sole Creator of the universe, who truly has authority to state absolute principles, demands, and prohibitions. Summary for Exod 20:3-11: 20:3-11 The first four commandments relate to one’s relationship with God. Observing them would foster a correct understanding of God in contrast to the idolatrous notions of deity that the Israelites had encountered in Egypt and would yet encounter in Canaan. 20:3 Not recognizing any other god is the first step toward learning the truth that there are no other gods besides the Lord (see Deut 4:35 ; 6:4 ; Isa 43:10-11 ; 45:21-22 ).

Summary for Exod 20:3-17: 20:3-17 ^a The terms of the covenant specify the behavior the people were expected to manifest if they were to be in a covenant with God. Only the first four instructions (20:2-11 ^b) relate directly to God, while the remaining six (20:12-17 ^c) have to do with human-to-human relationships. A covenant with God stipulates how we are to treat each other because God is profoundly ethical, and he expects us to manifest his character in all our relationships. Other law codes in the ancient Near East did not incorporate such absolute prohibitions, probably because polytheism mitigated against absolute principles. In contrast, covenants with a king did include absolute prohibitions because a single king could demand whatever he wished of his subjects. Here the single king is the sole Creator of the universe, who truly has authority to state absolute principles, demands, and prohibitions.
Summary for Exod 20:3-11: 20:3-11 ^d The first four commandments relate to one’s relationship with God. Observing them would foster a correct understanding of God in contrast to the idolatrous notions of deity that the Israelites had encountered in Egypt and would yet encounter in Canaan. 20:3 ^e Not recognizing any other god is the first step toward learning the truth that there are no other gods besides the Lord (see Deut 4:35 ^f; 6:4 ^g; Isa 43:10-11 ^h; 45:21-22 ⁱ).
20:4 ^j Not making an image of God is the first step toward recognizing that he is transcendent—that he is the Creator of the universe and distinct from it. To represent God as something in creation was inevitably to end up worshiping the creation rather than the Creator, and this immorality had deadly consequences (Rom 1:18-25 ^k).
Summary for Exod 20:5-6: 20:5-6 ^l jealous God: God is passionately opposed to our prostituting ourselves with false gods (see Josh 24:19-20 ^m).

• in the third and fourth generations ... for a thousand generations: It is important to keep both sides of this equation together. God does not punish children for their parents’ sins. Rather, he is saying that our sins affect future generations of descendants. But he is also restricting the natural effects of those sins to three or four generations, while graciously extending the effects of obedience to a thousand generations (see also 34:6-7 ⁿ; Deut 7:9 ^o).

• reject (literally hate): The Hebrew words commonly translated “love” (Exod 20:6 ^p) and “hate” are difficult to translate into English because they include an act of the will as well as the emotional element we are familiar with. In biblical thinking, to “love” is to choose something and to act consistently in accord with that choice. To “hate” is to reject something and to act in ways consistent with that choice. The choice is connected to emotion: Feeling expresses itself in choices, and our choices show how we really feel.
20:7 ^q In Hebrew, one’s name connotes nature and character (see study note on 3:13-22). To make the name of God empty (NLT, misuse) is to do anything that makes him appear insignificant or worthless. One way to do this is to invoke his name in an oath we do not mean to keep. But there are other, even more significant ways to bring shame on God’s name (see Num 20:12 ^r; Amos 2:7 ^s; cp. Matt 6:9 ^t).
Summary for Exod 20:8-11: 20:8-11 ^u The Sabbath day is kept holy when it is dedicated to the Lord (20:10 ^v). Whatever belongs exclusively to God shares his character. This is not to say that the other six days are unholy, but simply that they are for ordinary work (20:9 ^w). On this day set apart, we are reminded that it is not our work that supplies our needs. Our needs are supplied by God as an act of his grace (20:6 ^x).
20:11 ^y To be in covenant with God is to do what God does; since he rested from his work (Gen 2:1-3 ^z), how can we think that we need no rest?