The Law of Moses

Explore the Ten Commandments

• 1st Commandment
•  2nd Commandment
•  3rd Commandment
•  4th Commandment 
•  5th Commandment
•  6th Commandment
•  7th Commandment
•  8th Commandment
•  9th Commandment
• 10th Commandment

Exodus 20:2-3 (CJB)

 “I am Adonai your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the abode of slavery.
You are to have no other gods before me.”  

The first commandment, “You shall have no other gods before Me,” was given to the Hebrews in a cultural world dominated by polytheism, where worship of many gods was common and expected. Unlike the deities of Egypt or Canaan, who were tied to nature, politics, or fertility, the God of Israel identified Himself as the one who had personally delivered His people from slavery in Egypt. This commandment was not just a religious rule—it was a call to exclusive loyalty, rooted in a covenant relationship. It followed the structure of ancient political treaties, where a king would demand allegiance from a subject based on past acts of protection or rescue. Spiritually and culturally, this commandment set the Hebrews apart, declaring that their identity and security came not from idols or national gods, but from a living, liberating God who demanded their full devotion. 

A common misconception about the first commandment is that it simply demands belief in one God as an abstract idea. In reality, it calls for exclusive loyalty rooted in a personal, covenantal relationship with the God who delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt. Some think it was only meant for Jews, but it was given to the Hebrews before those identities existed and is relevant to all who enter into covenant with God—including Christians, who are grafted into this relationship. Another misunderstanding is that worshipping multiple gods was widely accepted without conflict; however, this commandment explicitly forbids worshiping other gods alongside Yahweh, marking Israel’s distinct identity. Additionally, many view the command as only a spiritual rule, but in its ancient context, it also had deep political and social significance. Finally, the commandment isn’t just about rejecting idols—it’s about entering into a living, saving relationship with God.