The Meaning of Exodus 22:20 Explained

Exodus 22:20

KJV: He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed.

YLT: 'He who is sacrificing to a god, save to Jehovah alone, is devoted.

Darby: He that sacrificeth to any god, save to Jehovah only, shall be devoted to destruction.

ASV: He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto Jehovah only, shall be utterly destroyed.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

He that sacrificeth  unto [any] god,  save  unto the LORD  only, he shall be utterly destroyed. 

What does Exodus 22:20 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Exodus 22

1  Of Theft
5  Of damage
7  Of trespasses
14  Of borrowing
16  Of fornication
18  Of witchcraft
19  Of bestiality
20  Of idolatry
21  Of strangers, widows, and fatherless
25  Of usury
26  Of pledges
28  Of reverence to magistrates
29  Of the first fruits
31  Of torn flesh

What do the individual words in Exodus 22:20 mean?

He who sacrifices to [any] god he shall be utterly destroyed Except to Yahweh only
זֹבֵ֥חַ לָאֱלֹהִ֖ים יָֽחֳרָ֑ם בִּלְתִּ֥י לַיהוָ֖ה לְבַדּֽוֹ

זֹבֵ֥חַ  He  who  sacrifices 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: זָבַח  
Sense: to slaughter, kill, sacrifice, slaughter for sacrifice.
לָאֱלֹהִ֖ים  to  [any]  god 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
יָֽחֳרָ֑ם  he  shall  be  utterly  destroyed 
Parse: Verb, Hofal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָרַם 
Sense: to ban, devote, destroy utterly, completely destroy, dedicate for destruction, exterminate.
בִּלְתִּ֥י  Except 
Parse: Preposition
Root: בִּלְתִּי  
Sense: not, except adv.
לַיהוָ֖ה  to  Yahweh 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
לְבַדּֽוֹ  only 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בַּד 
Sense: alone, by itself, besides, a part, separation, being alone.