Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
You must not bow down to idols or worship them, because I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God. I will punish the children and grandchildren, even to the third and fourth generation, for the sins of parents who hate me.
God is warning that worshiping idols instead of Him brings consequences that can affect families for generations because He demands exclusive devotion.
📚 Historical Context
This verse is part of the Ten Commandments, which God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai shortly after delivering the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. At that time, the Israelites were influenced by surrounding pagan cultures that practiced idol worship, so God was establishing His exclusive claim on their allegiance to prevent them from turning to false gods. This commandment highlights the seriousness of idolatry in a covenant relationship where God demands undivided loyalty from His people.
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