Exodus 23:13

Pay close attention to everything I have said to you. You must not invoke the names of other gods; they must not be heard on your lips.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Yahweh addresses the assembled Israelites at Sinai, positioned between Sabbath rest instructions and annual pilgrimage feast commands. The words — תִּשָּׁמֵ֑רוּ (ti.sha.Me.ru) means you will take heed, and אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים ('E.lo.Him 'a.che.Rim) translates literally to other gods. The thread — The command to silence foreign divine names reappears in Joshua 23:7 and Zechariah 13:2. Why it lands — The verse demands exclusive verbal loyalty to Yahweh by forbidding the utterance of any rival deity's name.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וּבְכֹ֛לu./ve./Kholand/ to/ all אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-that אָמַ֥רְתִּי'a.Mar.tiI have said אֲלֵיכֶ֖ם'a.lei./Khemto/ you תִּשָּׁמֵ֑רוּti.sha.Me.ruyou will take heed וְשֵׁ֨םve./Shemand/ [the] name of אֱלֹהִ֤ים'E.lo.Himgods אֲחֵרִים֙'a.che.Rimother לֹ֣אlo'not תַזְכִּ֔ירוּtaz.Ki.ruyou will bring to remembrance לֹ֥אlo'not יִשָּׁמַ֖עyi.sha.Ma'it will be heard עַל־'al-on פִּֽיךָ׃Pi./khamouth/ your

King James Version

And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.

Cross-references

Joshua 23:7 So you are not to associate with these nations that remain among you. You must not call on the names of their gods or swear by them, and you must not serve them or bow down to them.
Zechariah 13:2 And on that day, declares the LORD of Hosts, I will erase the names of the idols from the land, and they will no longer be remembered. I will also remove the prophets and the spirit of impurity from the land.
Deuteronomy 4:9 Only be on your guard and diligently watch yourselves, so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen, and so that they do not slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and grandchildren.
Deuteronomy 12:3 Tear down their altars, smash their sacred pillars, burn up their Asherah poles, cut down the idols of their gods, and wipe out their names from every place.
Hosea 2:17 For I will remove from her lips the names of the Baals; no longer will their names be invoked.
1 Timothy 4:16 Pay close attention to your life and to your teaching. Persevere in these things, for by so doing you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
Joshua 22:5 But be very careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”
Joshua 23:11 Therefore watch yourselves carefully, that you love the LORD your God.
Psalms 16:4 Sorrows will multiply to those who chase other gods. I will not pour out their libations of blood, or speak their names with my lips.
Jeremiah 10:11 Thus you are to tell them: “These gods, who have made neither the heavens nor the earth, will perish from this earth and from under these heavens.”