The Meaning of Exodus 20:6 Explained

Exodus 20:6

KJV: And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

YLT: and doing kindness to thousands, of those loving Me and keeping My commands.

Darby: and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.

ASV: and showing lovingkindness unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And shewing  mercy  unto thousands  of them that love  me, and keep  my commandments. 

What does Exodus 20:6 Mean?

Context Summary

Exodus 20:1-17 - The "ten Words" Spoken At Sinai
The Law was given by the disposition of angels, through the medium of Moses. See John 1:17; Acts 7:53. It tells us, not what God is, for that is only shown in Jesus Christ, but what man should be. It combines in a concise form that moral code which is part of the nature of things, and is written on man's conscience. See Romans 2:5. Even the Fourth Commandment is deeply graven on our physical nature. These laws are mostly negative, but their positive side is stated in Matthew 5:1-48. For practical purposes this divine code consists of two divisions or tables; the first, of our duties toward God; the second, of those to man; but these are summed up in the one great law of love. See Mark 12:29-31; Romans 13:8-10 and Galatians 5:14. Our Lord Jesus stands surety for us at the bar of Sinai. By His righteousness imputed and imparted, by His obedience and death, by the gracious indwelling of His Spirit, He comes "not to destroy, but to fulfill." See Matthew 5:17; Romans 8:4. [source]

Chapter Summary: Exodus 20

1  The ten commandments are spoken by Jehovah
18  The people are afraid, but Moses comforts them
21  Idolatry is forbidden
23  Of what sort the altar should be

What do the individual words in Exodus 20:6 mean?

But showing mercy to thousands to those who love Me and keep My commandments -
וְעֹ֥֤שֶׂה חֶ֖֙סֶד֙ לַאֲלָפִ֑֔ים לְאֹהֲבַ֖י וּלְשֹׁמְרֵ֥י מִצְוֺתָֽי ס

וְעֹ֥֤שֶׂה  But  showing 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
חֶ֖֙סֶד֙  mercy 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֶסֶד 
Sense: goodness, kindness, faithfulness.
לַאֲלָפִ֑֔ים  to  thousands 
Parse: Preposition-l, Number, masculine plural
Root: אֶלֶף 
Sense: a thousand.
לְאֹהֲבַ֖י  to  those  who  love  Me 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: אָהַב  
Sense: to love.
וּלְשֹׁמְרֵ֥י  and  keep 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.
מִצְוֺתָֽי  My  commandments 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: מִצְוָה  
Sense: commandment.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation