and showing loving kindness to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
Parallel translations
- KJV And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that 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 8:28We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.
- 1 Jn 1:7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.
- Jer 32:18who show loving kindness to thousands, and recompense the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them; the great, the mighty God, Yahweh of Armies is his name;
- John 15:14You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you.
- Deut 6:5–6You shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.
- Dan 9:4I prayed to Yahweh my God, and made confession, and said, Oh, Lord, the great and dreadful God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness with those who love him and keep his commandments,
- Gal 5:6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision amounts to anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith working through love.
- Jas 1:25But he who looks into the perfect law of freedom, and continues, not being a hearer who forgets, but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in what he does.
- Matt 7:21–27Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
- Deut 10:12–13Now, Israel, what does Yahweh your God require of you, but to fear Yahweh your God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul,
- John 14:21–23One who has my commandments, and keeps them, that person is one who loves me. One who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him, and will reveal myself to him.”
- Isa 1:16–19Wash yourselves, make yourself clean. Put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes. Cease to do evil.
- John 14:15If you 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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Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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.