Exodus 23:13 · Bible study
Exodus 23:13 Commentary: The Command to Avoid Other Gods
Hebrew · 8 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Exodus 23:13 prohibits invoking other gods' names and even casual mention. Explore verse meaning, context, and application.
Research Summary
- Meaning: A command to avoid invoking or even casually mentioning the names of other gods, protecting exclusive loyalty to Yahweh.
- Key words: tazkiru (cause to remember / invoke), shem (name), elohim acherim (other gods), shamar (take heed).
- Main debate: Does it forbid any utterance of other gods’ names, or only their use in worship and oaths?
- Theological theme: Exclusive worship of Yahweh and the danger of syncretism through speech.
- Best use: Preaching on purity of worship, the power of language, and whole-hearted devotion.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
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.
WEB World English Bible 2000
“Be careful to do all things that I have said to you; and don’t invoke the name of other gods or even let them be heard out of your mouth.
KJV King James Version 1769
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.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And in all things that I have said unto you take ye heed: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
and in all that which I have said unto you ye do take heed; and the name of other gods ye do not mention; it is not heard on thy mouth.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And ye shall be on your guard as to everything that I have said unto you; and shall make no mention of the name of othergods — it shall not be heard in thy mouth.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Keep all things that I have said to you. And by the name of strange gods you shall not swear, neither shall it be heard out of your mouth.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y en todo lo que os he dicho seréis avisados. Y nombre de otros dioses no mentaréis, ni se oirá de vuestra boca.
E em tudo o que vos disse sereis avisados. E nome de outros deuses não mencionareis, nem se ouvirá de vossa boca.
Vous observerez tout ce que je vous ai dit, et vous ne prononcerez point le nom d’ autres dieux: qu’ on ne l’ entende point sortir de votre bouche.
Alles, was ich euch gesagt habe, das haltet. Und anderer Götter Namen sollt ihr nicht gedenken, und aus eurem Munde sollen sie nicht gehört werden.
In alles, wat Ik tot ulieden gezegd heb, zult gij op uw hoede zijn; en den naam van andere goden zult gij niet gedenken; uit uw mond zal hij niet gehoord worden!
Porrete ben mente a tutte le cose che io vi ho dette, e non pronunzierete il nome di dèi stranieri: non lo si oda uscire dalla vostra bocca.
A we wszystkiem, com wam powiedział, ostrożnymi bądźcie. Imienia też cudzych bogów nie wspominajcie, nie będzie słyszane z ust twoich.
Соблюдайте всё, что Я сказал вам, и имени других богов не упоминайте; да не слышится оно из уст твоих.
「凡 我對你們 說的話，你們要謹守。別 神 的名，你不可 提，也不可從 你口 中 傳說。」
Take note of all these things which I have said to you, and let not the names of other gods come into your minds or from your lips.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Exodus 23:13
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree on the central thrust of this verse: God’s people must not invoke the names of other gods in worship or oath, and should avoid even casual mention that might normalize idolatry. Calvin connects the prohibition to the Third Commandment, arguing that swearing by other gods transfers divine honor to them. Gill emphasizes the need for careful avoidance: “make no mention” means never utter their names with pleasure or reverence. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown note the danger of familiar use in conversation lessening horror of idolatry. Cambridge Bible sees the verse as a concluding guard against syncretism, perhaps originally appended to the Book of the Covenant. Matthew Henry calls for “circumspection”, careful awareness that the path of obedience is narrow. The shared concern is that speech about other gods, even outside worship, can erode exclusive loyalty to Yahweh.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Absolute prohibition of utterance: Literal reading of 'neither let it be heard out of thy mouth'; any mention, even in passing, is prohibited (some early Reformed traditions).
- Prohibition of invocation in worship or oath: The Hebrew verb tazkiru (Hiphil of zakhar) connotes 'cause to remember' in a formal calling upon; Calvin and Gill emphasize swearing by other gods as the primary target.
- Prohibition of casual familiarity: Jamieson-Fausset-Brown and Wesley argue the danger is in frequent use reducing horror of idolatry; the command targets the mindset as much as the action.
What is clear: It is clear that the verse commands exclusive loyalty to Yahweh and opposes any form of worship or verbal acknowledgment of other gods as legitimate.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Scope of prohibition | Christians agree the verse forbids invoking other gods in worship or oath, as that transfers divine honor (Calvin). | Some traditions read the verse as an absolute ban on uttering the names even in everyday speech, while others understand it as a warning against casual familiarity that leads to idolatry. |
| Connection to the Third Commandment | Many commentators connect this verse to the use of God's name (Exodus 20:7). | Calvin explicitly links it; others see it as a separate command against syncretism rather than a direct extension of the Third Commandment. |
| Application today | Christians affirm exclusive loyalty to God and avoid practices that associate with idolatry. | How this applies to engaging with other religious traditions (academic study, interfaith dialogue) is disputed. Some see the verse as prohibiting any positive mention; others as applying to devotional invocation only. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Exodus 23:13 appears within the collection known as the Book of the Covenant (Exodus 21, 23), a series of laws given to Israel after the Ten Commandments. The immediate context (vv. 10, 19) concerns sacred seasons: the sabbatical year and the three annual feasts. Cambridge Bible observes that this verse “can hardly be in place in the midst of laws relating to sacred seasons” and suggests it may be a concluding summary, perhaps added by a compiler. Its position may be a result of textual transmission, but its thematic fit is clear: worship of the true God must be protected from the intrusion of other gods.
The Israelites were surrounded by polytheistic cultures, Egyptian, Canaanite, and others, whose gods had names like Baal, Asherah, Molech. To mention these names casually risked acknowledging them as legitimate. The command to “not invoke” (Hebrew tazkiru, Hiphil of zakhar, “to cause to remember”) carries the nuance of calling upon or bringing to remembrance in a context of worship or oath. Calvin saw this as reinforcing the Third Commandment: just as one must not misuse Yahweh’s name, one must not treat other gods as worthy of oath-taking. The surrounding laws on feasts and offerings (vv. 14, 19) emphasize exclusive devotion to Yahweh. This verse acts as a fence around the worship commands, ensuring that no rival deity gains a foothold through speech.
Textual Notes
The supplied commentary sources note no significant textual variants for Exodus 23:13. The verse is grammatically consistent across Hebrew manuscripts, with the main variation being a singular vs. plural address in the Samaritan Pentateuch (Cambridge Bible notes “make ye” vs. “make thou”). This does not affect the meaning.
Reception History
Exodus 23:13 has been cited in Christian tradition to underscore the exclusivity of worship owed to God alone. Calvin used it to argue against invoking saints or angels as mediators, reading it as an extension of the Third Commandment. Wesley warned against the familiar use of pagan names in Christian schools and literature, urging that they be mentioned only with detestation. In modern contexts, the verse has been referenced in discussions about syncretism and the boundaries of interfaith dialogue. It continues to challenge believers to examine how speech reflects allegiance.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Guard Your Speech: The command targets both public worship and private talk. What comes out of our mouth shapes what we worship.
- Protect Exclusive Loyalty: Casual mention of other gods can erode the exclusive love owed to Yahweh. The Israelites needed to “blot out the remembrance” (Wesley) of pagan deities.
- Circumspection in Daily Life: The opening call to “be circumspect” (KJV) frames everything that follows. Obedience requires constant awareness, not occasional effort.
Five-point outline
- The call to careful obedience (v. 13a)
- The prohibition of invocation (v. 13b)
- The extension to casual mention (v. 13c)
- The heart of the matter: exclusive worship
- Implications for believers in a pluralistic world: how do we name other faiths without honoring them?
Illustration hooks
- Name-dropping: Mentioning a powerful person casually can signal allegiance. Similarly, speaking the names of other gods as if they were options reflects divided loyalty.
- Marketing language: Brands use familiar catchphrases to build trust. The Israelites were to avoid the “brand names” of idolatry entirely.
- Social media: What we talk about most becomes the center of our attention. The verse challenges what we “mention” in our daily conversations.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does this mean I can never talk about other religions or their gods in a classroom or discussion?
- How do I apply this verse without becoming legalistic about words?
- Is it wrong to say “Oh my God” or “Jesus” casually? Does this relate?
Leading a Discussion
Exodus 23:13 calls God’s people to a rigorous watchfulness over speech and worship. In a world filled with competing loyalties, this verse challenges us to examine what we give verbal honor to. Small groups can use these questions to explore the text and its contemporary implications.
Discussion questions
- Read Exodus 23:10, 19 together. How does verse 13 fit among the laws about sacred seasons?
- What does the Hebrew verb tazkiru (“cause to remember”) tell us about the kind of “mention” being prohibited?
- Calvin connects this prohibition to the Third Commandment. Why does swearing by other gods dishonor the true God?
- How might casual mention of other gods or spiritual figures affect our devotion to Christ?
- In a pluralistic society, when is it appropriate to talk about other religious beliefs, and when does conversation become compromise?
- What does “be circumspect” (v. 13a) look like in your daily routines, phone, workplace, family dinner?
- How does this verse shape your understanding of worship as a whole-of-life activity?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Numbers 32:38 | Nebo, and Baal Meon, (their names being changed), and Sibmah. They gave other names to the cities which they built. |
| Deuteronomy 4:9 | Only be careful, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes saw, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your children and your children’s children— |
| Deuteronomy 4:15 | Be very careful, for you saw no kind of form on the day that Yahweh spoke to you in Horeb out of the middle of the fire, |
| Deuteronomy 12:3 | You shall break down their altars, dash their pillars in pieces, and burn their Asherah poles with fire. You shall cut down the engraved images of their gods. You shall destroy their name out of that place. |
| Joshua 22:5 | Only take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded you, to love Yahweh 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 23:7 | that you not come among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow down yourselves to them; |
| Joshua 23:11 | Take good heed therefore to yourselves, that you love Yahweh your God. |
| I Chronicles 28:7 | I will establish his kingdom forever if he continues to do my commandments and my ordinances, as it is today.’ |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin sees the ban on swearing by other gods as a direct part of the Third Commandment. Swearing invokes God as witness and judge, so any oath by a false god robs the true God of the honor that belongs to Him alone and profanes His holy name.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
This commentator sees the verse as a fragment that likely does not belong in its current position among festival laws. It reads like a compiler's conclusion to the Book of the Covenant, perhaps originally following an earlier verse, and has ended up here through later expansions or rearrangements of the text.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Note emphasizes the absolute prohibition against even speaking the names of other gods. God's command is so strict that the names of false deities must be completely absent from daily speech, not just from worship. This silence is a safeguard against any familiarity with idolatry.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill emphasizes that being circumspect means observing every command meticulously and constantly. He then presses the prohibition against other gods to its fullest extent: not only must one not worship or swear by them, but the very names of those gods must never be spoken with any pleasure or honor, only with utter abhorrence.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB emphasizes that the command applies to everyday conversation, not just formal worship. The concern is that casually mentioning other gods’ names would gradually reduce one’s horror of idolatry. Familiarity with those names would make the sin seem less serious.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange argues that these civil laws are not primarily a criminal code but a system designed to train Israel for freedom. He highlights that the section begins with emancipation regulations, signaling that personal liberty is the central concern, and that slavery as an existing institution is transformed within the theocracy's educational purpose.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes that the sabbatical year taught Israel to trust God's provision by letting the land lie fallow. The self-grown crops were not to be stored but eaten immediately, providing food for the poor and even wild animals. This practice cultivated both dependence on God and compassion for the needy.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley stresses that avoiding idolatry requires constant watchfulness, not casual effort. He warns that even careless talk about pagan gods or their stories can lead believers into danger, so Christians should deliberately erase their memory and never mention them except with disgust. He especially applies this to Christian schools.