Deuteronomy 5:7 (KJV)

What does Deuteronomy 5:7 mean?

Deuteronomy 5:7 tells Israel that the Lord alone is to be their God. His people are not to give other gods a place alongside him. The command calls for an exclusive relationship between the Lord and the people he addresses.

Moses is recounting the commands the Lord gave to Israel at the mountain. The words “before me” place the command in the presence of the speaker: the Lord himself. The previous verse identifies him as the one who brought Israel out of slavery in Egypt.

The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 5:7

• “gods” — אֱלֹהִים (elohim): This word can refer to God or to gods, depending on the setting. Here, “other” makes clear that the command refers to gods other than the Lord.
• “before” — פָּנִים (panim): This word often means “face” or “presence.” In “before me,” the phrase is often understood as “in my presence,” rather than merely describing which god comes first in a ranking.

Why Deuteronomy 5:7 matters

• The command concerns the people’s relationship with the God who rescued them. The words “before me” follow his identification of himself as the one who brought them out of Egypt in verse 6.
• The following command gives a concrete example of what loyalty to the Lord involves. Verses 8–9 forbid making an image to bow down to or serve, connecting the choice of gods with acts of worship.