Exodus 20:6 kjv
And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
Exodus 20:6 nkjv
but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
Exodus 20:6 niv
but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
Exodus 20:6 esv
but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
Exodus 20:6 nlt
But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.
Exodus 20 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 5:10 | ...showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. | Direct parallel, emphasizes love and obedience. |
| Ex 34:6-7 | ...abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness...keeping steadfast love for thousands... | Reiterates God's character of immense ḥesed. |
| Num 14:18 | ...slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity...but who will by no means clear the guilty... | Balances justice and ḥesed, God's patient love. |
| Deut 7:9 | Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love... | Affirms God's covenant faithfulness to those who love Him. |
| Ps 103:17-18 | But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him... | God's eternal love for those who keep His covenant. |
| Neh 1:5 | ...who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments... | A prayer acknowledging God's faithfulness to His people. |
| Dan 9:4 | ...the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him... | Another affirmation of God's unchanging nature. |
| Ps 89:28 | My steadfast love I will keep for him forever, and my covenant will stand firm for him. | God's commitment to His covenant through His love. |
| Lam 3:22-23 | The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end... | The boundless and enduring nature of God's love. |
| Deut 6:5 | You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart... | The fundamental commandment of loving God fully. |
| Josh 22:5 | ...to love the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments... | Connects loving God directly to walking in His ways and obedience. |
| John 14:15 | If you love me, you will keep my commandments. | New Testament principle: love for God expresses itself in obedience. |
| John 14:21 | Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. | Explicit link between keeping commands and loving Christ. |
| John 15:10 | If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love... | Obedience leads to abiding in Christ's love. |
| 1 John 2:3-5 | By this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments... | Knowing God is demonstrated through obedience to His word. |
| 1 John 5:3 | For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. | Defines what the love of God entails: obedience, not burden. |
| Rom 13:8-10 | Owe no one anything, except to love each other...Love is the fulfilling of the law. | Love for God and neighbor fulfills the moral law. |
| Matt 22:37-40 | You shall love the Lord your God...and your neighbor...On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets. | Summarizes all commandments under love for God and neighbor. |
| Ps 1:2-3 | ...his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night... | Blessings are pronounced upon those who delight in God's law. |
| Prov 3:1-2 | My son, do not forget my teaching...for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. | Emphasizes long-term blessings for obedience. |
| Ps 37:25-26 | I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. | God's provision and care across generations for the righteous. |
| Mal 3:17 | ...they shall be mine, declares the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession. | God's special regard for those who serve and love Him. |
Exodus 20 verses
Exodus 20 6 Meaning
Exodus 20:6 reveals the abundant character of God as a covenant-keeping Deity. While the preceding verse highlights God's justice against idolatry across generations, this verse strongly emphasizes His steadfast, loyal love (ḥesed) extended to innumerable generations. It defines those who receive this blessing as those who truly love Him from the heart and express that love through obedience to His commandments, thereby upholding their part of the covenant relationship. It beautifully contrasts the limited scope of judgment with the vast and perpetual scope of His mercy and grace towards those faithful to Him.
Exodus 20 6 Context
Exodus 20:6 is a pivotal part of the Decalogue (Ten Commandments), given by God to Israel at Mount Sinai, establishing the foundational covenant between God and His chosen people. Specifically, it directly follows and contrasts with verse 5, which states God visits the iniquity of those who hate Him to the third and fourth generation. While verse 5 declares the consequences of idolatry and disobedience for those who actively reject God, verse 6 presents God's opposing and overwhelmingly generous disposition towards those who faithfully respond to Him. It frames God's character as primarily desirous of showing abundant ḥesed (steadfast love), revealing His heart is more inclined to mercy and blessing than judgment, by an immeasurable factor (thousands of generations vs. 3-4). The broader context of the giving of the Law is to provide the framework for a holy nation, where love for God is the supreme motive for all actions and societal living.
Exodus 20 6 Word analysis
- but showing steadfast love:
- Hebrew: wə‘ōśeh ḥesed (וְעֹשֶׂה חֶסֶד)
- wə‘ōśeh means "and doing" or "and showing" – indicating an active, ongoing expression.
- ḥesed is a crucial term, translating to loyal love, steadfast love, unfailing love, covenant love, or kindness. It denotes loyalty and faithfulness within a relationship, especially a covenant relationship. It is more than just an emotion; it is love demonstrated through faithful action and commitment. It is the defining attribute of God's dealings with His people, particularly His mercy and grace despite human failings.
- to thousands:
- Hebrew: lā’ălāfîm (לַאֲלָפִים)
- Means "to thousands," often implying innumerable generations. This stands in stark contrast to the "third and fourth generations" of consequence mentioned for those who reject Him (Ex 20:5). This quantitative difference powerfully illustrates God's greater propensity to bless than to judge, emphasizing His abounding mercy. It suggests His covenant faithfulness extends indefinitely.
- of those who love me:
- Hebrew: lə’ohăbāy (לְאֹהֲבַי)
- Refers to those who possess genuine affection and devotion to God from their heart. This highlights that God desires an internal, relational bond, not merely outward compliance or ritual. This is deeply tied to the "Shema" in Deut 6:5, which calls for love for God with one's entire being.
- and keep my commandments:
- Hebrew: wəlōshmərê miṣwōtay (וּלְשֹׁמְרֵי מִצְוֹתָֽי)
- wəlōshmərê means "and guarding/observing/keeping." miṣwōtay means "my commandments."
- This phrase clarifies that genuine love for God is not merely an emotion but is manifested and validated by active obedience to His divine instructions. It demonstrates that true piety is evidenced in conduct, as the commandments provide the practical framework for expressing love for God and others within the covenant.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- but showing steadfast love to thousands: This phrase presents a radical shift from the preceding verse. It underlines God's intrinsic character of overflowing goodness and His ultimate desire for redemptive relationship rather than punitive judgment. The scale of His blessing is infinitely larger than the scope of His judgment for unfaithfulness.
- of those who love me and keep my commandments: This crucial coupling reveals the essence of the covenant relationship. It establishes that genuine love for God is intrinsically linked to active obedience. Obedience is not burdensome or legalistic, but a natural outflow and demonstration of true love. God's blessings are poured out upon those who enter into this dynamic, reciprocal relationship of love expressed through faithful adherence to His revealed will.
Exodus 20 6 Bonus section
The concept of ḥesed in Exodus 20:6 extends beyond simple affection; it's a profound commitment of loyal love and covenant faithfulness that God actively "does" or "shows." This active nature signifies that God's love is not passive but constantly working towards the well-being and preservation of His people, upholding His promises. The immeasurable scope ("thousands") serves as a reassurance of God's abundant grace, highlighting that His character is preeminently disposed to mercy and patience. This verse also implicitly defines true faith and piety: it's not a transactional obedience for reward, but a heartfelt love for God that inherently seeks to please Him by observing His commandments. This internal motivation is paramount.
Exodus 20 6 Commentary
Exodus 20:6 encapsulates a core truth about God's character: His immense, unwavering love (ḥesed) that far surpasses His judgment. Placed immediately after the stern warning in verse 5, it demonstrates that God's desire is always for relationship and blessing. The "thousands" versus "third and fourth generation" is a powerful contrast, emphasizing that God's mercy is exponentially greater than His wrath, always giving room for repentance and a turning towards Him. This vast scope of blessing is reserved for "those who love me and keep my commandments." This pairing defines the covenant's ideal recipient: not merely someone who fears judgment, but one who possesses a heartfelt love for God. This internal love then naturally translates into external, tangible obedience to His revealed will. The commandments are not just rules but guideposts for living out this relational love. This verse beautifully reveals that God is just in His dealings with sin, but even more abundantly merciful and loving towards those who, through love, walk in His ways. It is a foundational statement about the grace inherent in God's covenant with humanity.