Exo 20:4-5, 23, 23:24, 34:17, Lev 19:4, Deu 4:16-19, 5:8-9, 16:21-22, 27:15 | TSK

23; Isa 40:18; Joh 4:24; Ac 17:29; 20:4,5; 1Ti 1:17 In these verses there is an evident allusion to the idolatrous worship in Egypt. Among the Egyptians, almost everything in nature was the object of their idolatry; among beasts were oxen, heifers, sheep, goats, lions, dogs, monkeys, and cats; among birds, the ibis, crane, and hawk; among reptiles, the crocodile, serpents, frogs, flies, and beetles; all the fish of the Nile, and the Nile itself; besides the sun, moon, planets, stars, fire, light, air, darkness, and night. These are all included in the very circumstantial prohibition in the text, and very forcibly in the general terms of Ex 20:4, the reason of which prohibition becomes self-evident, when the various objects of Egyptian idolatry are considered.

Ro 1:23

when thou.

17:3; 2Ki 23:4,5,11; Job 31:26,27; Jer 8:2; Eze 8:16; Am 5:25,26

the host.

Ge 2:1; 2Ki 17:16; 21:3; Jer 19:13; Zep 1:5; Ac 7:42; Ro 1:25

which the Lord.

Ge 1:16-18; Jos 10:12,13; Ne 9:6; Ps 74:16,17; 136:7-9; 148:3-5

Jer 31:35; 33:25; Mt 5:45

divided. or, imparted.

Deuteronomy 5:8-9

graven image.

4:15-19; Ex 20:4

shalt not.

Ex 20:4-6

the Lord.On the import of the word {yehowah,} which we translate Lord, see Note on Ex. 3:15. The word {elohim,} which is rendered God, in the singular, {eloah,} and in Arabic {allah,} is derived from the Arabic {alaha,} he worshipped, adored, was struck with astonishment, fear, or terror: and hence, he adored with sacred honour and veneration: it also signifies, he succoured, liberated, kept in safety, or defended. Here we learn that {elohim} denotes the sole object of adoration; the perfections of whose nature must astonish all who contemplate them, and fill with horror all who rebel against him; that consequently he must be worshipped with reverence and religious fear; and that every sincere worshipper may expect help in all his weaknesses, etc., freedom from the power, guilt, and consequences of sin, and support and defence to the uttermost.

a jealous God.

Ex 34:14

visiting.

Ex 34:7; Jer 32:18; Da 9:4-9; Mt 23:35,36; Ro 11:28,29

Deuteronomy 16:21-22

Ex 34:13; Jud 3:7; 1Ki 14:15; 16:33; 2Ki 17:16; 21:3; 2Ch 33:3

image. or, statue, or pillar.

Ex 20:4; Le 26:1

which.

12:31; Jer 44:4; Zec 8:17; Re 2:6,15

Deuteronomy 27:15

Cursed be.

28:16-19; Ge 9:25; 1Sa 26:19; Jer 11:3

maketh.

4:16-23; 5:8; Ex 20:4,23; 32:1-4; 34:17; Le 19:4; 26:1

Isa 44:9,10,17; Ho 13:2,3

an abomination.

29:17; 1Ki 11:5-7; 2Ki 23:13; 2Ch 33:2; Isa 44:19; Eze 7:20

Da 11:31; Mt 24:15; Re 17:4,5

and putteth.

Ge 31:19,34; 2Ki 17:19; Ps 44:20,21; Jer 23:24; Eze 8:7-12; 14:4

And all.

Nu 5:22; Jer 11:5; 28:6; Mt 6:13; 1Co 14:16

Amen.To each of the curses the people were to say Amen, as well as to the blessings; to denote a profession of their faith in the truth of them, that they were the real declarations of the wrath of God; and an acknowledgement of the equity of these curses. It was such an imprecation upon themselves, as strongly obliged them to have nothing to do with those evil practices on which the curse is entailed. We read of those who entered a curse to walk in God's law. Ne 10:29. All the people, by saying this Amen, became bound one for another, that they would observe God's laws, by which every man was obliged, as far as he could, to prevent his neighbour from breaking these laws, and to reprove those that had offended, lest they should bear sin and the curse for them.