What does Exodus 20:3 mean?

Exodus 20:3 (KJV) reads: "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." — This verse is from Exodus in the Old Testament. Read the full in-depth commentary at thelivingsword.org/commentary/exodus/20/3.

What is the context of Exodus 20:3?

Exodus 20:3 is found in Exodus chapter 20, verse 3. Exodus is part of the Old Testament. Read the full chapter at thelivingsword.org/read/exodus/20.

What does "Thou shalt have no other gods before me.…" mean in the Bible?

This is Exodus 20:3 from the King James Version. Read the full in-depth commentary and application notes at The Living Sword Bible: thelivingsword.org/commentary/exodus/20/3.

Commentary on Exodus 20:3 — The Living Sword

“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”
Exodus 20:3 (King James Version)

This page contains an in-depth Bible commentary on Exodus 20:3 — covering historical context, meaning, and application. The full AI-powered commentary is available in the interactive Bible reader.

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About this Passage

Exodus 20:3 is verse 3 of chapter 20 in the Book of Exodus, part of the Old Testament. In the King James Version (1611), it reads: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”

Exodus 20:3 (King James Version): "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." Exodus 20:3 appears in the Book of Exodus, Old Testament, chapter 20, verse 3. The Book of Exodus was written by Moses (c. 1445–1405 BC). Exodus — meaning 'the way out' — is the story of the greatest redemption in the Old Testament and the clearest picture of the gospel in the entire Hebrew Bible. Israel has been enslaved in Egypt for 400 years. God hears their cries, appears to Moses in a burning bush, and commissions him with four words that define the entire book: 'I AM WHO I AM.' Through ten devastating plagues on Egypt's gods, Key themes in Exodus include: exodus, Passover, Moses, Ten Commandments, tabernacle. To study Exodus 20:3 in depth — including word-by-word analysis in the original Hebrew and Aramaic, cross-references, multiple translations (KJV, WEB, Geneva, ASV, YLT, Darby), and AI-powered commentary — visit The Living Sword Bible at thelivingsword.org.

Study Exodus 20:3 at The Living Sword

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