Exodus 20:5
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
5 you shall not bow down before them or serve them.(A) For I, the Lord, your God, am a jealous God, inflicting punishment for their ancestors’ wickedness on the children of those who hate me, down to the third and fourth generation[a];
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- 20:5 Jealous: demanding exclusive allegiance. Inflicting punishment…the third and fourth generation: the intended emphasis is on God’s mercy by the contrast between punishment and mercy (“to the thousandth generation”—v. 6). Other Old Testament texts repudiate the idea of punishment devolving on later generations (cf. Dt 24:16; Jer 31:29–30; Ez 18:2–4). Yet it is known that later generations may suffer the punishing effects of sins of earlier generations, but not the guilt.
Exodus 23:21
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
21 Be attentive to him and obey him. Do not rebel against him, for he will not forgive your sin. My authority is within him.[a]
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- 23:21 My authority is within him: lit., “My name is within him.”
Exodus 34:14
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
14 You shall not bow down to any other god, for the Lord—“Jealous”[a] his name—is a jealous God.
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Leviticus 19:2
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
2 Speak to the whole Israelite community and tell them: Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy.[a](A)
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Deuteronomy 5:9
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,
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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.
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.