And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.
Parallel translations
- WEB and showing loving kindness to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
- BSB but showing loving devotion to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.
- NKJV but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
- NASB but showing favor to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
- NLT But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God shows steadfast love to thousands who love him and keep his commandments. His mercy vastly outweighs his judgment.
Overview
In deliberate contrast to the few generations of judgment, God promises lovingkindness to thousands. This reveals that mercy, not wrath, is God's overflowing disposition toward those who love him. This abounding covenant love is poured out fully in Christ, in whom God lavishes grace on all who believe (Ephesians 1:7-8).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Rom 8:28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
- 1 Jn 1:7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
- Jer 32:18Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name,
- John 15:14Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
- Deut 6:5–6And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
- Dan 9:4And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;
- Gal 5:6For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
- Jas 1:25But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
- Matt 7:21–27Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
- Deut 10:12–13And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,
- John 14:21–23He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
- Isa 1:16–19Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;
- John 14:15If ye love me, keep my commandments.
- 1 Jn 5:2–3By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Moses promised a Prophet like himself to whom Israel must listen (18:15); Jesus is that Prophet, the one who keeps the covenant we broke and becomes the curse for us by hanging on a tree (Gal 3:13).
How Deuteronomy 5:10 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.