Exodus 22:20 kjv
He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed.
Exodus 22:20 nkjv
"He who sacrifices to any god, except to the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed.
Exodus 22:20 niv
"Whoever sacrifices to any god other than the LORD must be destroyed.
Exodus 22:20 esv
"Whoever sacrifices to any god, other than the LORD alone, shall be devoted to destruction.
Exodus 22:20 nlt
"Anyone who sacrifices to any god other than the LORD must be destroyed.
Exodus 22 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 20:3 | You shall have no other gods before me. | First Commandment on exclusive worship. |
| Ex 20:5 | You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God... | Prohibits idolatrous worship and service. |
| Deut 4:24 | For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. | God's zealousness against idolatry. |
| Deut 4:35 | To you it was shown, that you might know that the Lord is God; there is no | Declares YHWH's singularity and uniqueness. |
| Deut 6:14 | You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you. | Direct command against following other deities. |
| Deut 7:16 | ...nor shall you serve their gods, for that would be a snare to you. | Warns against entrapment by false worship. |
| Deut 13:5 | ...the prophet or the dreamer of dreams shall be put to death... | Penalty for leading Israel to other gods. |
| Lev 18:21 | You shall not give any of your offspring to offer them to Molech... | Prohibits child sacrifice to foreign deities. |
| Josh 23:7 | ...you shall not mention the name of their gods or swear by them... | Warnings against engaging with pagan practices. |
| Judg 2:13 | They abandoned the Lord and served Baal and the Ashtaroth. | Israel's cycle of abandoning God for idols. |
| 1 Kgs 11:4-8 | For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods... | Consequences of syncretism by leadership. |
| Isa 44:6 | I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no God. | Affirmation of God's absolute sovereignty. |
| Jer 1:16 | ...for all their evil in deserting me and making offerings to other gods... | Divine judgment for forsaking YHWH for idols. |
| Hos 13:2 | And now they sin more and more and make for themselves metal images... | Denunciation of Israel's persistent idolatry. |
| Zech 14:9 | And the Lord will be king over all the earth. In that day the Lord will be one... | Prophecy of future universal worship of one God. |
| 1 Cor 8:4-6 | ...an idol has no real existence... there is but one God, the Father... | New Testament declaration of one God and non-existence of idols. |
| Col 3:5 | Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality... covetousness, which is idolatry. | Spiritualizes idolatry to covetousness in New Covenant. |
| Gal 5:19-21 | Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality... idolatry... | Idolatry listed as a grave work of the flesh. |
| 1 Jn 5:21 | Little children, keep yourselves from idols. | A New Testament admonition against idolatry. |
| Rev 21:8 | ...but for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable... idolaters... | Idolaters excluded from the New Jerusalem. |
Exodus 22 verses
Exodus 22 20 Meaning
Exodus 22:20 declares a strict prohibition against sacrificing to any god other than the Lord alone, demanding that anyone who violates this command be utterly destroyed. This statute underscores the singular sovereignty and exclusive right of Yahweh to receive worship and sacrifice from Israel, defining a fundamental aspect of their covenant relationship. It establishes the grave consequence for apostasy and idolatry, signifying an ultimate spiritual and physical eradication of the transgressor from the community.
Exodus 22 20 Context
Exodus 22:20 is embedded within the "Book of the Covenant" (Ex 20:22-23:33), a collection of laws given immediately after the Ten Commandments. This section provides detailed statutes clarifying and expanding upon the principles established in the Decalogue. Following general moral and social laws (e.g., regarding theft, damage, social justice), this verse specifically addresses cultic purity and theological exclusivity. It stands as a profound re-iteration of the First Commandment ("You shall have no other gods before me," Ex 20:3), emphasizing Israel's absolute loyalty to Yahweh alone as their covenant God. Historically, Israel was situated among nations (e.g., Egypt, Canaanites) who practiced widespread polytheism, worshipping various deities like Baal, Ashtoreth, and Molech. This law was a critical safeguard against syncretism and apostasy, establishing a unique identity for Israel as a monotheistic nation set apart for God.
Exodus 22 20 Word analysis
- He who sacrifices (זֹבֵחַ, zovêach): This is a masculine singular participle, emphasizing an ongoing or habitual act. The term highlights a person who deliberately performs the cultic act of bringing an offering. In the ancient world, sacrifice was a central expression of devotion, homage, and communication with deities. This points to a conscious, overt act of worship.
- to any god (לָאֱלֹהִים, la'elohim): The Hebrew term אֱלֹהִים (elohim) is a plural noun commonly used for God, but here, with the definite article and in context, it specifically refers to "the gods" or "any other gods." It directly points to the polytheistic deities worshipped by surrounding nations, contrasting them with the unique God of Israel. This phrasing carries a polemic against the pervasive idolatry of the ancient Near East.
- except to the Lord only (בִּלְתִּי לַֽיהוָה לְבַדּוֹ, biltî Yahweh lĕvaddô):
- biltî: meaning "except," "apart from," or "besides." It functions as an exclusive particle.
- Yahweh (לַֽיהוָה): The tetragrammaton, the personal and covenantal name of God, indicating His unique and holy character. Its presence underscores the specific, exclusive devotion demanded.
- lĕvaddô: meaning "alone" or "only," adding an emphatic layer to the exclusivity. This compound phrase strongly asserts Israel's required monolatry/monotheism—that Yahweh is the sole legitimate recipient of sacrifice and worship. It defines the very boundary of covenant faithfulness.
- shall be utterly destroyed (יָחֳרַם, yacharam): This verb comes from the root חָרַם (charam), meaning "to devote to destruction," "to utterly destroy," or "to ban." This is the concept of ḥerem, or the ban, which implies something being completely dedicated to God for eradication. It indicates a capital offense resulting in absolute and unmitigated destruction, not merely death. The intensive form (Hophal stem) of the verb emphasizes the completeness of this destruction, leaving no remnant. It signifies that the individual who offers sacrifices to other gods is deemed beyond redemption within the community, becoming an anathema that must be removed.
Exodus 22 20 Bonus section
The severity of the ḥerem (utter destruction) invoked here demonstrates that apostasy was considered the most dangerous threat to Israel's national existence and spiritual well-being. It implied a complete severing from the covenant community, becoming a cursed entity. This concept resonates with the "holiness" of God, where defilement by other gods was an ultimate affront to His nature. This particular law establishes a vital theological principle that underpins all subsequent warnings and judgments against idolatry in the Old Testament: the uncompromisable truth that Yahweh alone is God, and no other deity shares in His divine prerogatives or demands the worship of His people.
Exodus 22 20 Commentary
Exodus 22:20 is a profound theological statement wrapped in a legal command. It defines the core of Israel's covenant identity as inextricably linked to exclusive worship of Yahweh. The act of sacrifice was not merely a ritual but a profound expression of ultimate allegiance. To offer it to "any god" was a direct repudiation of the covenant and a betrayal of the Lord, who had redeemed Israel from slavery. The severe penalty of "utter destruction" underscores the absolute gravity of this transgression. It wasn't just about preserving theological purity; it was about maintaining the spiritual and social integrity of the community and its distinct relationship with God. The God who brought them out of Egypt was a jealous God, tolerating no rivals for the worship of His chosen people. This commandment served as a stark deterrent, a vital safeguard against the corrupting influence of the pervasive polytheism and syncretistic practices of surrounding nations, reinforcing the principle that their life and prosperity were wholly dependent on their exclusive devotion to Yahweh. This foundational law anticipated later condemnations of idolatry throughout Israel's history and pointed to the unwavering demand for exclusive devotion found throughout Scripture.