Exodus 20:5,6

EXODUS—NOTE ON Exodus 20:5 a jealous God. God the Creator is worthy of all honor from his creation. His creatures are functioning properly only when they give him the honor and worship that he deserves. God’s jealousy shows his concern for his creatures’ well-being. visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children. Human experience confirms that immoral behavior by parents often results in suffering for their children and grandchildren. But this general principle is qualified in two ways: First, it applies only to those who hate God; the cycle of sin and suffering can be broken through repentance. Second, the suffering comes to the third and the fourth generation, while God shows steadfast love (v. Exodus 20:6) to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments (that is, to the thousandth generation; see esv footnote and compare Deuteronomy 7:9).