Exodus 20:5 nasb — "You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fat…

NASB

""You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,"

— Exodus 20:5, NASB

Read in Another Translation

5 of 21 translations

Exodus 20:5 in Other Translations

7 versions All translations
  • KJV

    “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;”

  • ASV

    “thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them; for I Jehovah thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation of them that hate me, ”

  • WEB

    “you shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them, for I, Yahweh your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me,”

  • NET

    “You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I, the LORD, your God, am a jealous God, responding to the transgression of fathers by dealing with children to the third and fourth generations of those who reject me,”

  • DRB

    “Thou shalt not adore them, nor serve them: I am the Lord thy God, mighty, jealous, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me:”

  • BBE

    “You may not go down on your faces before them or give them worship: for I, the Lord your God, am a God who will not give his honour to another; and I will send punishment on the children for the wrongdoing of their fathers, to the third and fourth generation of my haters;”

  • KJVA

    “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;”

Exodus 20 — Context

2

"I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

3

"You shall have no other gods before Me.

4

"You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.

5

"You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,

6

but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

7

"You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.

8

"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Exodus 20:5 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Exodus 20:5 say?
Exodus 20:5 in the NASB reads: “"You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,”
Where is Exodus 20:5 in the Bible?
Exodus 20:5 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Exodus, chapter 20, verse 5.
Who wrote Exodus?
Exodus is traditionally attributed to Moses (traditional). It was written c. 1446–1406 BC.
What is the book of Exodus about?
Exodus tells of Israel's deliverance from slavery in Egypt and the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai. Through the plagues, the Passover, the crossing of the Red Sea, and the covenant at Sinai, God reveals himself as Redeemer and comes to dwell among his people in the tabernacle.
What are the major themes of Exodus?
Exodus explores themes including Deliverance, Covenant, Law, God's Presence, Worship, Redemption. These themes shape the meaning and context of Exodus 20:5.
What translation should I read Exodus 20:5 in?
Exodus 20:5 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Exodus 20:5?
Exodus 20:5 reads (NASB): “"You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
GodsGoodBook logo

GodsGoodBook

Making God's Word accessible to everyone

Experience the Bible like never before with multiple translations, powerful search tools, and features to make God's Word personal to you. Completely free, forever.

Features

15+ Bible Translations
Powerful Search Tools
Highlight & Annotate
Share Verses
100% Free Forever
© 2025 GodsGoodBookVersion 1.8.2