1 And God spake all these words, saying,
2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
— Exodus 20:1-3 (KJV)
What is the meaning of “You shall have no other gods before me.”
The meaning is pretty straightforward. Rest in the knowledge of who your Lord and one true living God is, who brought you out of Egypt and saved you from slavery; He includes a statement of identification in the commandment, so you might know Him as the true God and not mistake another as Him, because He liberated His people from slavery in Egypt, not anyone else. Gentiles grafted into Israel can know the history of the true God (Romans 11:11-31).
Rest and have no other gods before Him. The word “before” doesn’t mean just making God your first priority. It doesn’t mean you can believe in God first, and then also believe in others. Before God, who is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent, have in NO other gods, and put all of your faith in your Lord God, with all of your heart, mind, and soul (Matthew 22:37).
I am the LORD your God, which also means making God Lord of your life. Following and listening to him as your Father, who has the best intentions for you on how to live a healthy, long, peaceful, and abundantly happy life.
Polytheism
In ancient times many peoples like the Greeks and Romans often would be polytheists and worshipping multiple gods or even ancestors. In fact, they were so unsure and confused about who to worship that there were altars found where they worshipped an unknown god. It was sort of like trying to ensure you didn’t anger any gods out of superstition, by recognizing them all and anyone else unknown who might be a god.
The Bible refers to God as the living God many times, this is due to the fact that people were worshipping unliving gods (idols) of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see nothing, nor hear, nor know anything because they are just objects (Deuteronomy 4:28).
Henotheism
There were also in ancient times believers in henotheism, worshipping their one god, but also accepting there are other gods.
Some debate whether ancient Hebrews and Israelites were henotheistic. Historical and Biblical scholars consider the “before me” in the commandment as evidence of the Bible supporting this. But by saying “before” doesn’t prove the existence of any other actual gods, only that nothing should be put before God as a god. No others.
Pluriform Monotheism
Another more modern theory is the belief that there exist multiple gods, but that they are the same one god even if they may seem different.
This is also called inclusive monotheism, which you may have seen a similar concept driving around town as a “coexist” bumper sticker.
Or that all Abrahamic religions, Muslims, Jews, and Christians are all worshipping the same one god. Recently built was the Abrahamic Family House which embodies this idea.
But Jesus and the Bible are extremely clear. In John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” So the pluriform belief that despite differences, they can be the same god, is against what Jesus and the Bible say. There is no other god, no other gospel (Galatians 1:6-12).
Man-made gods
In many ways, people can turn anything on Earth into a false god when they should not, by treating it as something to worship. Such as worshipping family ancestors, a celebrity or famous person, or sports teams.
In the Bible God instructed altars to Him to be made of unhewn or uncut stone, so that the altars represent the work of God the Master Builder and not the work of man’s tools or hand. Because people as soon as they start making something are tempted to worship the creation rather than God.
People will also pick and choose parts of belief systems to make God as they prefer. This is also contrary to the commandment.
Satan and Demon-made gods
Lastly, remember the context of the history given to us in the Bible. Lucifer wanted to be like God (Isaiah 14:13-14). He fell from heaven with one-third of the holy angels. These fallen angels are demons working with Satan, the Devil.
Lucifer, being the father of lies (John 8:44), fell to earth is roaming it waging war against God. We on earth are in the middle of the battlefield with Satan and demons. Satan caused the fall of humans in the Garden of Eden by lying to Eve that she could be like God if she ate from the forbidden tree of knowledge (Genesis 3:5).
The next step for Satan was to set up false religions and false gods to worship himself and even demons pretending to be gods. The Bible describes the start of these religions in ancient times as mystery religions and Baal worship. Not only would this give Lucifer what he wants, to be worshipped, but also takes worship away from the true God and corrupts God’s creation to what he wants.
Read More About the First Commandment in these Bible Verses
Here are 28 Bible passages that specifically teach there is only one God (bold added for emphasis):
- Deuteronomy 4:35-39 (KJV)
35 Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him.
36 Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice, that he might instruct thee: and upon earth he shewed thee his great fire; and thou heardest his words out of the midst of the fire.
37 And because he loved thy fathers, therefore he chose their seed after them, and brought thee out in his sight with his mighty power out of Egypt;
38 To drive out nations from before thee greater and mightier than thou art, to bring thee in, to give thee their land for an inheritance, as it is this day.
39 Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else. - Deuteronomy 6:4 (KJV)
4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: - Deuteronomy 32:39 (KJV)
39 See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand. - 2 Samuel 7:22 (KJV)
22 Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears. - 1 Kings 8:60 (KJV)
60 That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else. - 2 Kings 5:15 (KJV)
15 And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant. - 2 Kings 19:15 (KJV)
15 And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth. - 1 Chronicles 17:20 (KJV)
20 O LORD, there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears. - Nehemiah 9:6 (KJV)
6 Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee. - Psalm 18:31 (KJV)
31 For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God? - Psalm 86:10 (KJV)
10 For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone. - Isaiah 37:16-20 (KJV)
16 O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth.
17 Incline thine ear, O LORD, and hear; open thine eyes, O LORD, and see: and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent to reproach the living God.
18 Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations, and their countries,
19 And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them.
20 Now therefore, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD, even thou only. - Isaiah 43:10-11 (KJV)
10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. - Isaiah 44:6-8 (KJV)
6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
7 And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them.
8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any. - Isaiah 45:21 (KJV)
21 Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. - Isaiah 46:9 (KJV)
9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, - Hosea 13:4 (KJV)
4 Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me. - Joel 2:27 (KJV)
27 And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed. - Zechariah 14:9 (KJV)
9 And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one. - Mark 12:29-34 (KJV)
29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question. - John 17:3 (KJV)
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. - Romans 3:30 (KJV)
30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. - 1 Corinthians 8:4-6 (KJV)
4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. - Galatians 3:20 (KJV)
20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. - Ephesians 4:6 (KJV)
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. - 1 Timothy 1:17 (KJV)
17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. - 1 Timothy 2:5 (KJV)
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; - James 2:19 (KJV)
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Know of a verse we are missing? Let us know.
Where did the First Commandment come from?
After God (using Moses) liberated His people from slavery in Egypt, God instructed them on how to live as a society under His rule. God, in a thick cloud from the top of Mount Sinai, spoke as a loud trumpet His laws so that Israelite people would know how to not sin, how to love God and love their neighbors as themselves (Matthew 22:37-40).
These laws are called the Ten Commandments or the Law of Liberty (liberty from sin). But did these commandments exist before then? Learn more about the Ten Commandments.
Related Questions:
- How can God be three beings in one trinity?
- Is the Christian God monotheistic when it is a trinity?
- How can we know Jesus is the only way?
- Are all other gods and deities lies made by Lucifier?
- How can we know God exists?
- How can we know there is only one God, the Christian God?
Our Adventist Life is a dedicated online evangelist and mother of two, deeply rooted in her Seventh-day Adventist faith. With over 15 years of experience in creating and optimizing digital content, she brings a unique blend of professional expertise and spiritual insight to her work. Her passion lies in exploring Biblical truths and their practical applications in daily living, self-care, and family nurturing. Through her writing, she aims to inspire and guide her readers toward a more fulfilling Christian lifestyle, drawing from her own experiences as a parent and a follower of Christ. Her thoughtful and engaging content reflects her commitment to sharing the love and wisdom found in the Scriptures with a modern audience living in the end times.