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You stand before Adonai

The Second Commandment actually spans four verses (Exod. 20:3-6) that contain four separate prohibitions against various aspects of idolatry. The first part, lo yiyeh-lekha elohim acheirim, can be rendered, "There shall not be to you the gods of others," which logically flows from the First Commandment that we must attribute all power to the one true God alone. The phrase elohim acheirim should not be understood to mean that actually are other gods other than the God of Israel, but is a reference to the (so-called) gods of other nations or peoples. Since God is eternal and omnipresent, the expression 'al-panai (literally "before My face") means forever and every place. Idolatry of any kind applies at all times and to all generations.

Do not make idols

The following verse (Exod. 20:4) explains in detail what the various profane manifestations of elohim acheirim, the "gods of others," are:

Lo ta'aseh-lekha fesel v'khol-temunah asher bashamayim mima'al
va'asher ba'aretz mitachat va'asher bamayim mitachat la'aretz.

Lo ta'seh-lekha fesel... "You shall not make for yourself a carved image." The Hebrew word Pesel is often translated as "graven image" or carved image," and refers to any three dimensional image (regardless of how it may be produced) that is meant to represent the divine. Connected with this prohibition is any form of human idealization as represented by a statue (e.g., of Pharaoh or a bust of Caesar).

v'khol-temunah asher bashamayim mima'al ba'aretz mitachat... "and [you shall not make for yourself] any likeness of what is in the heavens above, or on the earth below."  The key word here is temunah, often translated "likeness."  Temunah seems to be connected to the idea of "form" or "pattern," which has been generalized to refer to any symbolic representation of the divine.  Connected with this prohibition is the astrological deification of the sun, moon, and stars, or fetishes that involve geographical locations. Ritual magic and animism is thereby prohibited, as is any form of demonolatry (Deut. 32:17).

Do not worship or serve idols (avodah zarah)

The following two pesukim (Exod. 20:5-6) complete the Second Commandment:

Lo-tishtacheveh lahem v'lo ta'ovdem, ki anokhi Adonai Eloheykha El Kana,
pokeid 'avon avot 'al-banim 'al-shileishim, v'al-ribei'im l'sonai.
v'oseh chesed la'alafim, l'ohavai ul'shomrei mizvotai.

Expressing idolatrous worship is said to involve one (or more of the following):

1. Prostrating yourself before an idol (in adoration or reverential fear)
2. Offering sacrifices to idols (i.e., offering korbonot or any gift)
3. Eating before idols (i.e., partaking of meat offered to them)
4. Drinking before idols (i.e., performing any libation or drinking to them)

It is forbidden to engage in any activity that even resembles such behavior.

These verses also link Elohim (God as Judge) with the LORD YHVH (Adonai, reflecting God's attributes of compassion and mercy).

God is entirely committed to our relationship with Him, but are we putting other desires, affections, or interests ahead of His love?  Do we demonstrate our love for God by being faithful to Him?

Visting the sins of fathers upon children

Pokeid 'avon avot al-banim... "Visiting the sins of fathers upon children." God's memory is perfect, and His retribution is sure; however, He defers punishment and allows the sinner (and his children) to repent and turn to Him.  God will wait "until the third and fourth generation" until the measure of sin is complete, once again allowing us to turn away from the idols of our fathers and return to Him.  Note, however, that this judgment comes to those who are said to hate God.  By embracing the sins of your fathers, you may eventually be hardened into a hatred of the LORD and reckoned as one of His enemies.

Showing kindness to thousands

The Tosefta Sotah (3:4) mentions that the measure of God's steadfast love (chesed) for the one who loves Him is no less than 500 times greater than His retribution upon the faithless. How so? The word alafim ("thousands") is a dual plural in Hebrew, indicating at least 2,000 (generations). If God punishes to the fourth generation for sins, His love extends at least 500 times more to those who walk in love with Him (2,000/4=500). 

But how do we demonstrate love for the LORD? By keeping or guarding (shomer) His commandments (1 John 5:2-3, John 14:21; etc.).

Praise the LORD for His mercy and grace and love! For those of us who are trusting in Him for salvation, we can rejoice that His mercy extends even those who have come from lives of brokenness and sin.

The LORD alone is our God...

The second commandment, "You shall have no other gods before Me" (Exod. 20:3), implies individual accountability for your soul before the Creator of all reality. Pagan religions often believe in a supreme being but regard such as unknowable and distant and therefore they commonly appeal to divine "subordinates" (e.g., angels, other beings with godlike powers, etc.) to intervene on their behalf. The second commandment teaches that there are no intermediate or subordinate beings to which we may appeal, since there is only one God who holds all power and authority in heaven and earth and we are each accountable directly to him.  When we pray, then, we are not to venerate angels or saints or to appeal to God on behalf of intermediaries. We come boldly before the Throne of Grace to make our appeals personally before the Living God (Heb. 4:16). The second commandment implies monotheism with the implication that appealing to other gods (or god-like powers) is actually worship of demonic entities (see Deut. 32:17; 1 Cor. 10:20). We are to know that the LORD is one LORD, as the opening of the Shema proclaims (Deut. 6:4).


Hebrew Lesson:
Exodus 20:3 Hebrew reading:

• Exod. 20:3 verse with commentary (3 min audio)
• Exod. 20:3 Hebrew page (pdf)
• Theology and Art... (H4C article)

Hebrew for Christians
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