Exodus 22:20
Exodus 22:20 in Multiple Translations
If anyone sacrifices to any god other than the LORD alone, he must be set apart for destruction.
¶ He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed.
He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto Jehovah only, shall be utterly destroyed.
Complete destruction will come on any man who makes offerings to any other god but the Lord.
Anyone who sacrifices to any other god than the Lord must be set apart and executed.
Hee that offereth vnto any gods, saue vnto the Lord onely, shalbe slaine.
'He who is sacrificing to a god, save to Jehovah alone, is devoted.
“He who sacrifices to any god, except to the LORD only, shall be utterly destroyed.
He that sacrificeth to any god, save to the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed.
He that sacrificeth to gods, shall be put to death, save only to the Lord.
You must offer sacrifices only to Yahweh. You must execute anyone who offers a sacrifice to any other god.
Berean Amplified Bible — Exodus 22:20
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Exodus 22:20 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וְ/גֵ֥ר
לֹא
תוֹנֶ֖ה
וְ/לֹ֣א
תִלְחָצֶ֑/נּוּ
כִּֽי
גֵרִ֥ים
הֱיִיתֶ֖ם
בְּ/אֶ֥רֶץ
מִצְרָֽיִם
וְ/גֵ֥ר
gêr
H1616
sojourner
Conj | N-ms
לֹא
lôʼ
H3808
not
Part
תוֹנֶ֖ה
yânâh
H3238
to oppress
V-Hiphil-Imperf-2ms
וְ/לֹ֣א
lôʼ
H3808
not
Conj | Part
תִלְחָצֶ֑/נּוּ
lâchats
H3905
to oppress
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms | Suff
כִּֽי
kîy
H3588
for
Conj
גֵרִ֥ים
gêr
H1616
sojourner
N-mp
הֱיִיתֶ֖ם
hâyâh
H1961
to be
V-Qal-Perf-2mp
בְּ/אֶ֥רֶץ
ʼerets
H776
land
Prep | N-cs
מִצְרָֽיִם
Mitsrayim
H4714
Egypt
N-proper
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Exodus 22:20
וְ/גֵ֥ר
gêr
H1616
"sojourner"
Conj | N-ms
A sojourner is a foreigner or temporary resident, lacking inherited rights, but often given concessions in Israel. This term appears in the Bible to describe outsiders living among God's people.
Definition: 1) sojourner 1a) a temporary inhabitant, a newcomer lacking inherited rights 1b) of foreigners in Israel, though conceded rights
Usage: Occurs in 83 OT verses. KJV: alien, sojourner, stranger. See also: Genesis 15:13; Deuteronomy 10:19; Psalms 39:13.
לֹא
lôʼ
H3808
"not"
Part
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Definition: 1) not, no 1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition) 1b) not (with modifier-negation) 1c) nothing (subst) 1d) without (with particle) 1e) before (of time) Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Usage: Occurs in 3967 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as truly as, [phrase] of a truth, [phrase] verily, for want, [phrase] whether, without. See also: Genesis 2:5; Genesis 31:15; Exodus 4:9.
תוֹנֶ֖ה
yânâh
H3238
"to oppress"
V-Hiphil-Imperf-2ms
To oppress or treat someone violently, often implying a sense of injustice or wrongdoing, as found in the KJV.
Definition: 1) to oppress, suppress, treat violently, maltreat, vex, do wrong 1a) (Qal) to oppress, suppress 1b) (Hiphil) to treat violently, maltreat
Usage: Occurs in 19 OT verses. KJV: destroy, (thrust out by) oppress(-ing, -ion, -or), proud, vex, do violence. See also: Exodus 22:20; Jeremiah 46:16; Psalms 74:8.
וְ/לֹ֣א
lôʼ
H3808
"not"
Conj | Part
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Definition: 1) not, no 1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition) 1b) not (with modifier-negation) 1c) nothing (subst) 1d) without (with particle) 1e) before (of time) Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Usage: Occurs in 3967 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as truly as, [phrase] of a truth, [phrase] verily, for want, [phrase] whether, without. See also: Genesis 2:5; Genesis 31:15; Exodus 4:9.
תִלְחָצֶ֑/נּוּ
lâchats
H3905
"to oppress"
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms | Suff
To oppress means to treat someone unfairly or cruelly, often by using power or force. This can include squeezing or pressing someone to get what you want.
Definition: 1) to squeeze, press, oppress 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to squeeze, press 1a2) to oppress 1b) (Niphal) to squeeze oneself
Usage: Occurs in 18 OT verses. KJV: afflict, crush, force, hold fast, oppress(-or), thrust self. See also: Exodus 3:9; 1 Samuel 10:18; Psalms 56:2.
כִּֽי
kîy
H3588
"for"
Conj
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Definition: 1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since 1a) that 1a1) yea, indeed 1b) when (of time) 1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force) 1c) because, since (causal connection) 1d) but (after negative) 1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if 1f) but rather, but 1g) except that 1h) only, nevertheless 1i) surely 1j) that is 1k) but if 1l) for though 1m) forasmuch as, for therefore
Usage: Occurs in 3910 OT verses. KJV: and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + till, truly, + until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet. See also: Genesis 1:4; Genesis 26:16; Genesis 42:15.
גֵרִ֥ים
gêr
H1616
"sojourner"
N-mp
A sojourner is a foreigner or temporary resident, lacking inherited rights, but often given concessions in Israel. This term appears in the Bible to describe outsiders living among God's people.
Definition: 1) sojourner 1a) a temporary inhabitant, a newcomer lacking inherited rights 1b) of foreigners in Israel, though conceded rights
Usage: Occurs in 83 OT verses. KJV: alien, sojourner, stranger. See also: Genesis 15:13; Deuteronomy 10:19; Psalms 39:13.
הֱיִיתֶ֖ם
hâyâh
H1961
"to be"
V-Qal-Perf-2mp
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
בְּ/אֶ֥רֶץ
ʼerets
H776
"land"
Prep | N-cs
The land or earth refers to the soil or ground, and can also mean a country, territory, or region. In the Bible, it is used to describe the earth and its inhabitants, and is often translated as 'land' or 'country'.
Definition: : soil 1) land, earth 1a) earth 1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part) 1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven) 1a3) earth (inhabitants) 1b) land 1b1) country, territory 1b2) district, region 1b3) tribal territory 1b4) piece of ground 1b5) land of Canaan, Israel 1b6) inhabitants of land 1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world 1b8) city (-state) 1c) ground, surface of the earth 1c1) ground 1c2) soil 1d) (in phrases) 1d1) people of the land 1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance) 1d3) level or plain country 1d4) land of the living 1d5) end(s) of the earth 1e) (almost wholly late in usage) 1e1) lands, countries 1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan
Usage: Occurs in 2190 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 18:18; Genesis 42:13.
מִצְרָֽיִם
Mitsrayim
H4714
"Egypt"
N-proper
This word means Egypt, a country in northeastern Africa, and is used in the Bible to describe the land and its people. It appears in books like Genesis and Isaiah, often referring to the Nile River and the Egyptians. Egypt is an important setting for many biblical events.
Definition: § Egypt = "land of the Copts" a country at the northeastern section of Africa, adjacent to Palestine, and through which the Nile flows Egyptians = "double straits" adj 2) the inhabitants or natives of Egypt
Usage: Occurs in 569 OT verses. KJV: Egypt, Egyptians, Mizraim. See also: Genesis 10:6; Exodus 6:13; Exodus 34:18.
Study Notes — Exodus 22:20
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Exodus 22:20 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Exodus 22:20
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Exodus 22:20
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Exodus 22:20
- Trapp's Commentary on Exodus 22:20
- Ellicott's Commentary on Exodus 22:20
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Exodus 22:20
- Cambridge Bible on Exodus 22:20
- Barnes' Notes on Exodus 22:20
- Sermons on Exodus 22:20
Context — Laws of Social Responsibility
18You must not allow a sorceress to live.
19Whoever lies with an animal must surely be put to death.
20If anyone sacrifices to any god other than the LORD alone, he must be set apart for destruction.
21You must not exploit or oppress a foreign resident, for you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt. 22You must not mistreat any widow or orphan.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deuteronomy 17:2–5 | If a man or woman among you in one of the towns that the LORD your God gives you is found doing evil in the sight of the LORD your God by transgressing His covenant and going to worship other gods, bowing down to them or to the sun or moon or any of the host of heaven—which I have forbidden— and if it is reported and you hear about it, you must investigate it thoroughly. If the report is true and such an abomination has happened in Israel, you must bring out to your gates the man or woman who has done this evil thing, and you must stone that person to death. |
| 2 | Numbers 25:7–8 | On seeing this, Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, got up from the assembly, took a spear in his hand, followed the Israelite into his tent, and drove the spear through both of them—through the Israelite and on through the belly of the woman. So the plague against the Israelites was halted, |
| 3 | Deuteronomy 18:20 | But if any prophet dares to speak a message in My name that I have not commanded him to speak, or to speak in the name of other gods, that prophet must be put to death.” |
| 4 | Deuteronomy 13:1–15 | If a prophet or dreamer of dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you, and if the sign or wonder he has spoken to you comes about, but he says, “Let us follow other gods (which you have not known) and let us worship them,” you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. For the LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love Him with all your heart and with all your soul. You are to follow the LORD your God and fear Him. Keep His commandments and listen to His voice; serve Him and hold fast to Him. Such a prophet or dreamer must be put to death, because he has advocated rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery; he has tried to turn you from the way in which the LORD your God has commanded you to walk. So you must purge the evil from among you. If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you embrace, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, “Let us go and worship other gods” (which neither you nor your fathers have known, the gods of the peoples around you, whether near or far, whether from one end of the earth or the other), you must not yield to him or listen to him. Show him no pity, and do not spare him or shield him. Instead, you must surely kill him. Your hand must be the first against him to put him to death, and then the hands of all the people. Stone him to death for trying to turn you away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. Then all Israel will hear and be afraid, and will never again do such a wicked thing among you. If, regarding one of the cities the LORD your God is giving you to inhabit, you hear it said that wicked men have arisen from among you and have led the people of their city astray, saying, “Let us go and serve other gods” (which you have not known), then you must inquire, investigate, and interrogate thoroughly. And if it is established with certainty that this abomination has been committed among you, you must surely put the inhabitants of that city to the sword. Devote to destruction all its people and livestock. |
| 5 | Numbers 25:2–4 | who also invited them to the sacrifices for their gods. And the people ate and bowed down to these gods. So Israel joined in worshiping Baal of Peor, and the anger of the LORD burned against them. Then the LORD said to Moses, “Take all the leaders of the people and execute them in broad daylight before the LORD, so that His fierce anger may turn away from Israel.” |
| 6 | Joshua 23:15–16 | But just as every good thing the LORD your God promised you has come to pass, likewise the LORD will bring upon you the calamity He has threatened, until He has destroyed you from this good land He has given you. If you transgress the covenant of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and you will quickly perish from this good land He has given you.” |
| 7 | Numbers 21:3 | And the LORD heard Israel’s plea and delivered up the Canaanites. Israel devoted them and their cities to destruction; so they named the place Hormah. |
Exodus 22:20 Summary
This verse is saying that if someone worships any god other than the one true God, they will face serious consequences. This is because God is a jealous God, as seen in Exodus 20:5, and He will not tolerate us giving our love and devotion to anyone or anything else. We are called to love God with all our heart, soul, and strength, and to worship Him alone, as seen in Deuteronomy 6:5. By doing so, we can avoid the dangers of idolatry and experience the joy and freedom of knowing and loving the one true God.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to be 'set apart for destruction' in Exodus 22:20?
To be 'set apart for destruction' means to be completely cut off from God's people and to face His judgment, as seen in Deuteronomy 13:6-10, where those who worship other gods are to be put to death.
Is this verse saying that we can't worship any other god, or is it just talking about the Israelites?
This verse is specifically addressing the Israelites, but the principle applies to all people, as seen in Deuteronomy 6:13-15, where God commands His people to worship Him alone, and in 1 Timothy 2:5, where it says there is only one God and one mediator between God and man.
How does this verse relate to the command to love God with all our heart, soul, and strength?
This verse is closely tied to the command to love God with all our heart, soul, and strength, as seen in Deuteronomy 6:5, because when we worship other gods, we are not giving God the love and devotion He deserves, and are instead dividing our hearts between Him and idols.
What about people who don't know about the one true God, are they still held accountable for worshipping other gods?
According to Romans 1:20, all people have some knowledge of God, and are therefore accountable for their actions, but the Bible also teaches that God is merciful and desires all people to come to know Him, as seen in 1 Timothy 2:3-4, where it says God desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Reflection Questions
- What are some 'gods' in my life that I may be worshiping instead of the one true God, and how can I turn away from them?
- How can I ensure that my heart is fully devoted to God, and that I am not divided in my loyalties?
- What does it mean for me to 'love God with all my heart, soul, and strength', and how can I demonstrate this love in my daily life?
- In what ways can I be a witness to those around me who may be worshipping other gods, and how can I share the truth of the one true God with them?
Gill's Exposition on Exodus 22:20
He that sacrificeth unto [any] god,.... To Elohim, to strange gods, to the idols of the people, as the Targum of Jonathan; to the Egyptian deities, to the gods of the Moabites, Amorites, Edomites,
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Exodus 22:20
He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed. He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the Lord only.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Exodus 22:20
Sacrificeth, or otherwise worshippeth, as appears from , and many other places. One act of worship put for all by a very familiar synecdoche. Destroyed, Heb. anathematized, i.e. esteemed execrable, and as such destroyed without mercy. See 18:20.
Trapp's Commentary on Exodus 22:20
Exodus 22:20 He that sacrificeth unto [any] god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed.Ver. 20. He shall be utterly destroyed.] As an execrable and accursed creature.
Ellicott's Commentary on Exodus 22:20
(20) He that sacrificeth.—Sacrifice in this place represents worship generally, being its most essential act. Elsewhere the death-penalty is affixed to any acknowledgment of false gods (Deuteronomy 13:1-16). Shall be utterly destroyed.—Heb., Shall be devoted, i.e., devoted to destruction.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Exodus 22:20
Verse 20. Utterly destroyed.] The word חרם cherem denotes a thing utterly and finally separated from God and devoted to destruction, without the possibility of redemption.
Cambridge Bible on Exodus 22:20
20. Sacrifice by an Israelite to any god save Jehovah to be punished with the ban. Jehovah is a ‘jealous God’ (Exodus 20:5), who does not tolerated the worship of any other god beside Himself. utterly destroyed] banned or devoted. The ‘ban’ (ḥ ?ιrem) was an archaic institution, often alluded to in the OT. A city or nation that was hostile to Jehovah was ‘banned,’ or ‘devoted’ (etymologically, as Arabic shews, separated or set apart1[189]), i.e. given over to Him as a form of offering, human beings being destroyed, with or without the cattle and spoil as well, according to the gravity of the occasion. For examples, see Deuteronomy 2:34 f., Exodus 3:6 f., Exodus 7:2, Exodus 13:12-18 (an idolatrous Isr. city to be ‘devoted’), Joshua 6:17-19; Joshua 6:21, Judges 1:17; Judges 21:11, 1 Samuel 15:3; 1 Samuel 15:9. Here the ‘ban’ is to be put in force against the Israelite who is disloyal to Jehovah. The ban was also a Moabite institution. Mesha in his inscription (see DB. s.v. Moab, or EB. s.v.
Mesha), ll. 16–18 tells us how, after he had carried off the ‘vessels of Yahweh’ from the town of Nebo (Numbers 32:38), and dragged them before Chemosh, he slew 7000 Israelite prisoners, for he had ‘devoted’ the city to Ashtor-Chemosh (cf. Numbers 21:2 f.). See further DB. v. 619b, EB. Ban. [189] The root is the Arabic ḥ ?arama, to shut off, set apart, whence ḥ ?arβm, the sacred enclosure round the Mosque of Omar at Jerusalem, and ḥ ?arξm, the secluded part of a Mohammedan establishment, in which the women live, applied also to its occupants, i.e. the ‘harem.’In AV. heḥ ?μrξm was usually rendered ‘utterly destroy,’ and the corresponding subst. ḥ ?ιrem ‘cursed thing’ (Deuteronomy 7:26), or (in Joshua 6, Joshua 7.) ‘accursed thing’: but these renderings both express secondary ideas, besides being to all appearance entirely unrelated to each other: in RV. the verb, when applied to things, is rendered ‘devote’ (as Leviticus 27:29 AV.); when applied to human beings it is still rendered ‘utterly destroy,’ but ‘Heb. devote’ has been added on the margin; and ‘devoted thing’ has been substituted for ‘cursed’ and ‘accursed thing’ (e.g. Joshua 6:18; Joshua 7:1 ff.): the connexion between the two cognate terms has thus been preserved throughout.
Barnes' Notes on Exodus 22:20
This was probably an old formula, the sense of which, on its ethical side, is comprised in the first and second commandments. Shall be utterly destroyed - The Hebrew word here used is חרם châram (i. e. devoted).
Sermons on Exodus 22:20
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Wait Upon the Lord by Erlo Stegen | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the significance of Jesus shedding his blood as a proof of his commitment to his words. The sermon references the story of Rachel weeping fo |
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Is Muhammad a True Prophet of God? by Sam Shamoun | Sam Shamoun presents six propositions that challenge the belief in Muhammad as a true prophet of God, urging Muslims to reflect on these claims. He argues that Muhammad's teachings |
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(The Law of the Holy Spirit) the Holy Spirit Within Us by Zac Poonen | In this sermon, the speaker addresses the issue of false prophets who manipulate people for their own financial gain. He emphasizes that this is not the true baptism in the Holy Sp |
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God's Heart in Church Discipline by Aaron Hurst | In this sermon, Brother Denny emphasizes the importance of church discipline without any bias or favoritism. He quotes various Bible verses to support his message, including 1 Cori |
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Sermon on the Mount: Wolves in Sheep's Wool by J. Glyn Owen | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of discerning false prophets and finding the narrow gate that leads to life. He cautions against adopting a judgmental attitud |
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The Greatest Commandment by Brian Long | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of loving the Lord with all our hearts. He states that the greatest commandment is to love God completely, and therefore, the |
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Church Discipline Part 2 by Jeff Noblit | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of Acts chapter 5 in understanding what it means to be a true church. He highlights the story of Ananias and Sapphira, who sol |