Deuteronomy 5:9-11
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
9 [a]you shall not bow down before them or serve them. For I, the Lord, your God, am a jealous[b] God, bringing punishment for their parents’ wickedness on the children of those who hate me, down to the third and fourth generation, 10 but showing love down to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.
11 You shall not invoke the name of the Lord, your God, in vain.(A) For the Lord will not leave unpunished anyone who invokes his name in vain.
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- 5:9–10 Israel is confronted with a choice, to “love” or to “hate” the Lord, and with the consequences of each choice. “Wickedness” works destruction not only on those who do it but also down the generations, in a sort of ripple effect. Yet, if Israel keeps the commandments, they will experience the Lord’s hesed (“love”) down to the thousandth generation. Thus the Lord’s merciful love is disproportionate to the evil results of iniquity (“down to the third and fourth generation”). To the thousandth generation: lit., “to thousands”; cf. 7:9.
- 5:9 Jealous: see note on 4:24.
Deuteronomy 5:9-11
New International Version
9 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents(A) to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,(B) 10 but showing love to a thousand(C) generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.(D)
11 “You shall not misuse the name(E) of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.(F)
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