Deuteronomy 5:9
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God's jealousy here isn't about petty insecurity, but a fierce protection of His covenant love. He's "jealous" in the sense of a rightful spouse who won't tolerate infidelity; this divine jealousy explains why the consequences of rejecting Him ripple across generations, not as random punishment, but as the natural inheritance of a spiritual legacy of hate.
You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This commandment immediately follows the prohibition against making and worshipping idols. God declares His jealousy, not in a sinful human sense, but as a rightful claim to exclusive devotion, warning that the consequences of rejecting Him—especially through idolatry—will extend to future generations of those who persistently turn away from Him. This warning is set against the backdrop of the covenant God made with Israel, promising faithfulness and mercy to those who love Him and keep His commands.
Why does God's Word warn about consequences reaching 'to the third and fourth generation'? Is it about a cosmic blame game, or something more profound?
This verse speaks to the serious, long-term impact of choosing idolatry over God. It's not that children are automatically condemned for their parents' sins, but rather that patterns of sin and rebellion can create spiritual, social, and even physical environments that affect future generations.
The word 'jealous' in reference to God can sound harsh, even petty. What does it truly mean when God declares Himself a 'jealous God'?
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When the Bible describes God as 'jealous,' it's not the insecure, covetous jealousy of humans. It's a righteous, protective passion for His people and His honor.
Understand the original words
chavah · Hebrew Verb
The act of prostrating oneself or showing deep reverence to an object or being. In Scripture, this is an act of worship reserved exclusively for the one true God.
abad · Hebrew Verb
In this context, it denotes religious worship or active submission to an object or deity. It implies total allegiance and service.
qanna · Hebrew Adjective
A protective and exclusive zeal for His own honor and covenant relationship with His people. It is not an arbitrary passion but a holy reaction against the betrayal of His love.
avon · Hebrew Noun
A twistedness, perversion, or crookedness of character; it refers to sin that is deliberate, internal, and often involves a hardening of the heart against God's moral law.
This passage is the parallel account in the Ten Commandments, directly stating the same prohibition and divine attribute of jealousy, reinforcing the seriousness of idolatry.
Joshua 24:19-20Joshua echoes this warning, highlighting that God is a jealous God who will not forgive transgressions, underscoring the generational consequences of forsaking Him for other gods.
Ezekiel 18:2-3This passage directly addresses the proverb 'The fathers eat sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge,' affirming that individuals are responsible for their own sin, while still acknowledging the reality of generational consequences that can stem from the choices of ancestors.
Romans 1:23-25Paul describes how humanity, in turning from God, exchanged the truth for a lie and worshipped created things, illustrating the descent into idolatry that this commandment warns against and its spiritual repercussions.
1 Corinthians 10:22Paul cautions believers against provoking the Lord to jealousy, directly referencing the 'jealous God' attribute mentioned in Deuteronomy and warning against participating in things that would draw God's righteous anger.
ellicottDeuteronomy 5:9: "Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me,"
(9) Visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children. —There are no sins which so surely entail penal consequences upon succeeding generations as the abominations of idolatry. All idolatry means the degradation of the Divine image in man. But it is not meant h…
calvinDeuteronomy 5:8-10: "Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth:"
Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me,
Non adorabis ea, neque coles: ego enim Jehova Deus tuus, Deus zelotes, visitans in…
God's jealousy here isn't about petty insecurity, but a fierce protection of His covenant love. He's "jealous" in the sense of a rightful spouse who won't tolerate infidelity; this divine jealousy explains why the consequences of rejecting Him ripple across generations, not as random punishment, but as the natural inheritance of a spiritual legacy of hate.
This commandment immediately follows the prohibition against making and worshipping idols. God declares His jealousy, not in a sinful human sense, but as a rightful claim to exclusive devotion, warning that the consequences of rejecting Him—especially through idolatry—will extend to future generations of those who persistently turn away from Him. This warning is set against the backdrop of the covenant God made with Israel, promising faithfulness and mercy to those who love Him and keep His commands.
This commandment immediately follows the prohibition against making and worshipping idols. God declares His jealousy, not in a sinful human sense, but as a rightful claim to exclusive devotion, warning that the consequences of rejecting Him—especially through idolatry—will extend to future generations of those who persistently turn away from Him. This warning is set against the backdrop of the covenant God made with Israel, promising faithfulness and mercy to those who love Him and keep His commands.
"You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me," — God's jealousy here isn't about petty insecurity, but a fierce protection of His covenant love. He's "jealous" in the sense of a rightful spouse who won't tolerate infidelity; this divine jealousy ex…
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Last reviewed October 2026
