Exodus 20:5

The command of v.4 developed and emphasized.

bow down … serve The same combination, Deuteronomy 4:19; Deuteronomy 8:19; Deuteronomy 11:16; Deuteronomy 17:3; Deuteronomy 29:26; Deuteronomy 30:17; Judges 2:19 (D 2 [176]); and several times in Jer. [-worship" in these passages is in the Heb. bow down, as here].

[176] Deuteronomic passages in Josh., Jud., Kings.

a jealous God who will not tolerate that the reverence due to Him, should be given to another, whether to another god (Exodus 34:14), or, as here, to an image worshipped, or, if an image of Himself, likely to be worshipped, as Divine, and whose jealousy is described elsewhere burning like fire against those who thus dishonour Him. Occurring, as it does here, in a comment on the original command (see p. 192), the expression is derived probably from Exodus 34:14. It recurs Deuteronomy 4:24 (with -a devouring fire"), Exodus 6:15; Joshua 24:19 (E), each time in a similar connexion: cf. the verb in Deuteronomy 32:16; Deuteronomy 32:21 (the Song; hence Psalms 78:58). Jehovah's honour is, however, intimately connected with that of His people: so his -jealousy" may also be exerted, if circumstances permit it, on His people's behalf, as Isaiah 9:7; Isaiah 42:13; cf. Joel 2:18; Nahum 1:2; Zechariah 1:14, with the writer's notes.

of them that hate me The term is a strong one, and denotes those who persistently and defiantly oppose themselves to God.