Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.
Showing love and kindness to thousands of people, forgiving wrongdoing, rebellion, and sin, but never letting the guilty go unpunished; holding children and their children responsible for their fathers' sins, even to the third and fourth generation.
God is both incredibly merciful and perfectly just - He forgives sin but also ensures that consequences for wrongdoing are real and lasting.
📚 Historical Context
This verse is part of God's self-revelation to Moses on Mount Sinai after the golden calf incident, when God was renewing His covenant with Israel. God is describing His own character and how He deals with both mercy and justice. This declaration became foundational to Israel's understanding of who God is and how He operates in the world.
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