You shall not bow down to them, literally “not you [singular] will kneel to them,” is the third of the twelve uses of the “you shall not” form. (See the introduction above and the comment at verse 3.) The word for bow down often means to do obeisance or “pay homage” (Translator’s Old Testament). (See 18.7, where the same word is used for Moses when he greets his father-in-law by prostrating himself before him.) To them is plural, so it seems to refer back to the “other gods” in verse 3 rather than to the “graven image” in verse 4. In this way it combines verses 3-6 grammatically; for this reason certain traditions have considered these verses to be one commandment rather than two. (Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version are not precise here.) However, one may include both the gods and the “graven images” by saying “Do not bow down to any likeness [or, image] of these gods.” Or serve them is literally “and not you will serve them.” Serve means to “worship” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version).

For I the LORD your God am is the same as verse 2, which may be translated “because I am the LORD your God” (Good News Translation). The am is not in the Hebrew and may be inserted at either place. (See the comment at 6.2.) A jealous God uses a word meaning to be envious of or zealous for someone. The root meaning of “red” may suggest the color of one’s face produced by deep emotion. It is a human emotion, to be sure, but it is used here to describe the intense reaction of a holy God who demands unqualified loyalty from his chosen people. Jealous in modern English usually carries negative overtones that may seem inappropriate in reference to God. However, the emphasis here is on Yahweh’s righteous anger in response to any who violate their pledge not to bow down or serve any other god. (See also 34.14.) New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh prefers to say “an impassioned God,” and Good News Translation avoids using any adjective, “I tolerate no rivals.” If Good News Translation is followed it will be necessary in some languages to make the meaning of “rivals” explicit by saying, for example, “I will not tolerate your worshiping [or, serving] other gods.” The word for God here is ʾel.

Visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children is quite literal from the Hebrew and difficult to understand. The iniquity of the fathers is literally “the evil activity of the fathers,” which in this context refers to breaking the terms of the covenant by making “graven images” and worshiping other gods (verses 3-4). Visiting the iniquity is literally “attending to [or, searching out] the evil.” In this context, therefore, it means punishing because of the iniquity. But here punishment is placed not upon the fathers, but rather upon the children. (The same word for “visit” is used in 13.19, but not in the sense of punishment.) Fathers in this case is not intended to exclude mothers, so New Revised Standard Version brings out the meaning quite clearly: “punishing children for the iniquity of parents.”

To the third and the fourth generation means that the punishment is also extended to “the grandchildren, and the great-grandchildren” (New Jerusalem Bible). Of those who hate me refers back to the fathers, not to the future generations. Good News Translation combines fathers and those who hate me to read “I bring punishment on those who hate me and on their descendants down to the third and fourth generation.” (See the comment on descendants at 1.7.) In rendering hate the translator should keep the following verse in mind, for the word is used in direct contrast to “love” (see the comment there). Just as loving Yahweh means keeping his commandments, so hating Yahweh is understood as rejecting them, or more directly, rejecting Yahweh himself. So New Revised Standard Version has “of those who reject me.” Contemporary English Version puts this clause at the beginning of the sentence, making it conditional: “If you reject me, I will punish….” Translator’s Old Testament reflects the Hebrew more accurately: “I bring the consequences of the sin of those who hate me upon their sons, grandsons and great-grandsons.”

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .