Exodus 20:6
New International Version
but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

New Living Translation
But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.

English Standard Version
but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Berean Standard Bible
but showing loving devotion to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.

King James Bible
And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

New King James Version
but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

New American Standard Bible
but showing favor to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

NASB 1995
but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

NASB 1977
but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

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

Amplified Bible
but showing graciousness and steadfast lovingkindness to thousands [of generations] of those who love Me and keep My commandments.

Christian Standard Bible
but showing faithful love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commands.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
but showing faithful love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commands.

American Standard Version
and showing lovingkindness unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.

Contemporary English Version
But if you love me and obey my laws, I will be kind to your families for thousands of generations.

English Revised Version
and shewing mercy unto thousands, of them that love me and keep my commandments.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But I show mercy to thousands of generations of those who love me and obey my commandments.

Good News Translation
But I show my love to thousands of generations of those who love me and obey my laws.

International Standard Version
but showing gracious love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Majority Standard Bible
but showing loving devotion to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.

NET Bible
and showing covenant faithfulness to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

New Heart English Bible
and showing loving kindness to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Webster's Bible Translation
And showing mercy to thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

World English Bible
and showing loving kindness to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and doing kindness to thousands, of those loving Me and keeping My commands.

Young's Literal Translation
and doing kindness to thousands, of those loving Me and keeping My commands.

Smith's Literal Translation
And doing kindness to thousands to them loving me and to them watching my commands.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And shewing mercy unto thousands to them that love me, and keep my commandments.

Catholic Public Domain Version
and showing mercy to thousands of those who love me and keep my precepts.

New American Bible
but showing love down to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.

New Revised Standard Version
but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And showing mercy to thousands of generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And I produce grace to thousands of generations of My friends and those keeping my commands.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
and showing mercy unto the thousandth generation of them that love Me and keep My commandments.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and bestowing mercy on them that love me to thousands of them, and on them that keep my commandments.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Ten Commandments
5You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6but showing loving devotion to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments. 7You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave anyone unpunished who takes His name in vain.…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 5:10
but showing loving devotion to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.

Deuteronomy 7:9
Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps His covenant of loving devotion for a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.

Nehemiah 1:5
Then I said: “O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps His covenant of loving devotion with those who love Him and keep His commandments,

Daniel 9:4
And I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed, “O, Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of loving devotion to those who love Him and keep His commandments,

Psalm 103:17-18
But from everlasting to everlasting the loving devotion of the LORD extends to those who fear Him, and His righteousness to their children’s children— / to those who keep His covenant and remember to obey His precepts.

Psalm 25:10
All the LORD’s ways are loving and faithful to those who keep His covenant and His decrees.

Psalm 89:28-29
I will forever preserve My loving devotion for him, and My covenant with him will stand fast. / I will establish his line forever, his throne as long as the heavens endure.

Psalm 105:8-10
He remembers His covenant forever, the word He ordained for a thousand generations— / the covenant He made with Abraham, and the oath He swore to Isaac. / He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant:

Psalm 111:5
He provides food for those who fear Him; He remembers His covenant forever.

Jeremiah 32:18
You show loving devotion to thousands but lay the iniquity of the fathers into the laps of their children after them, O great and mighty God whose name is the LORD of Hosts,

1 Kings 8:23
and said: “O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven above or on earth below, keeping Your covenant of loving devotion with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts.

2 Chronicles 6:14
and said: “O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven or on earth, keeping Your covenant of loving devotion with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts.

John 14:15
If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

John 14:21
Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him.”

John 15:10
If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.


Treasury of Scripture

And showing mercy to thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

shewing

Deuteronomy 4:37
And because he loved thy fathers, therefore he chose their seed after them, and brought thee out in his sight with his mighty power out of Egypt;

Deuteronomy 5:29
O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!

Deuteronomy 7:9
Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

love me

John 14:15,21
If ye love me, keep my commandments…

1 John 4:19
We love him, because he first loved us.

1 John 5:3
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

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Commandments Commands Generation Generations Keeping Kindness Laws Loving Mercy Shewing Showing Steadfast Thousand Thousands Thousandth
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Commandments Commands Generation Generations Keeping Kindness Laws Loving Mercy Shewing Showing Steadfast Thousand Thousands Thousandth
Exodus 20
1. The ten commandments are spoken by Jehovah
18. The people are afraid, but Moses comforts them
21. Idolatry is forbidden
23. Of what sort the altar should be














but showing loving devotion
The Hebrew word for "loving devotion" is "חֶסֶד" (chesed), which conveys a deep, steadfast love and mercy. This term is often associated with God's covenantal faithfulness. In the context of the ancient Near East, covenants were binding agreements, and God's chesed signifies His unwavering commitment to His people. This phrase highlights the contrast between God's judgment and His mercy, emphasizing His desire to bless rather than punish.

to a thousand generations
The phrase "a thousand generations" is a hyperbolic expression used to convey the idea of an immeasurable and enduring blessing. In the ancient world, genealogies were crucial for identity and inheritance, and this promise underscores the vastness of God's faithfulness. It suggests that God's blessings are not limited by time and extend far beyond human comprehension, reflecting His eternal nature.

of those who love Me
The Hebrew word for "love" here is "אָהַב" (ahav), which implies a deep, personal affection and commitment. In the biblical context, love for God is not merely an emotional response but involves loyalty and devotion. This phrase indicates that the relationship between God and His people is reciprocal; God's blessings are poured out on those who genuinely love Him, aligning their hearts with His will.

and keep My commandments
The word "keep" is translated from the Hebrew "שָׁמַר" (shamar), meaning to guard, observe, or give heed. This implies an active, diligent effort to follow God's laws. In the historical context of Israel, the commandments were not just rules but a way of life that set them apart as God's chosen people. This phrase emphasizes the importance of obedience as an expression of love for God, suggesting that true devotion is demonstrated through action.

(6) Shewing mercy unto thousands.--Rather, to the thousandth generation, as is distinctly expressed in Deuteronomy 7:9. God's mercy infinitely transcends His righteous anger. Sin is visited on three, or at most four, generations. Righteousness is remembered, and advantages descendants, for ever.

Verse 6. - Shewing mercy unto thousands. Or, "to the thousandth generation." (Compare Deuteronomy 7:9.) In neither case are the numbers to be taken as exact and definite. The object of them is to contrast the long duration of the Divine love and favour towards the descendants of those who love him, with the comparatively short duration of his chastening wrath in the case of those who are his adversaries. And keep my commandments. Thus only is love shown. Compare John 14:15-21; 1 John 2:5; 2 John 1:6.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
but showing
וְעֹ֥֤שֶׂה (wə·‘ō·śeh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

loving devotion
חֶ֖֙סֶד֙ (ḥe·seḏ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2617: Kindness, piety, reproof, beauty

to a thousand [generations]
לַאֲלָפִ֑֔ים (la·’ă·lā·p̄îm)
Preposition-l | Number - masculine plural
Strong's 505: A thousand

of those who love
לְאֹהֲבַ֖י (lə·’ō·hă·ḇay)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 157: To have affection f

Me and keep
וּלְשֹׁמְרֵ֥י (ū·lə·šō·mə·rê)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 8104: To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to

My commandments.
מִצְוֺתָֽי׃ (miṣ·wō·ṯāy)
Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 4687: Commandment


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OT Law: Exodus 20:6 And showing loving kindness to thousands (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 20:5
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