“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.
Parallel Translations
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“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.
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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.
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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.
Cross-references (17)
Passages linked to Exodus 23:13 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- 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;
- Zechariah 13:2 It will come to pass in that day, says Yahweh of Armies, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they will be remembered no more. I will also cause the prophets and the spirit of impurity to pass out of the land.
- 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—
- Hosea 2:17 For I will take away the names of the Baals out of her mouth, and they will no longer be mentioned by name.
- 1 Timothy 4:16 Pay attention to yourself and to your teaching. Continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
- 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 23:11 Take good heed therefore to yourselves, that you love Yahweh your God.
- Psalms 16:4 Their sorrows shall be multiplied who give gifts to another god. Their drink offerings of blood I will not offer, nor take their names on my lips.
- Jeremiah 10:11 “You shall say this to them: ‘The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth will perish from the earth, and from under the heavens.’ ”
- 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,
- Psalms 39:1 I said, “I will watch my ways, so that I don’t sin with my tongue. I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me.”
- Ephesians 5:15 Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise,
- Hebrews 12:15 looking carefully lest there be any man who falls short of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and many be defiled by it,
- 1 Chronicles 28:7-9 I will establish his kingdom forever if he continues to do my commandments and my ordinances, as it is today.’ Now therefore, in the sight of all Israel, Yahweh’s assembly, and in the audience of our God, observe and seek out all the commandments of Yahweh your God; that you may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you forever. You, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind; for Yahweh searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.
- Ephesians 5:12 For it is a shame even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.
- Numbers 32:38 Nebo, and Baal Meon, (their names being changed), and Sibmah. They gave other names to the cities which they built.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (15 sources)
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain Neither by swearing by them nor speaking of them,…
Neither by swearing by them nor speaking of them, Ps. 16:4; Eph. 5:3.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain Exo 23:13 And in all [things] that I have…
Exo 23:13 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.
Ver. 13. Be circumspect.] Or wary; keep you close to the rule, and up to your principles. {See Trapp on "Eph 5:15"}
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Of the name of other gods,] sc., Without dislike. The primitive Christians would not call their days of the week, Dies Martis, Mercurii, &c., as Mercurius Trismegistus had named them; but the first, second, third, &c., day of the week, Deastrorum nomina ne nota quidem esse voluerunt inter Christi cultores, saith one. They desired that Christians should spit out of their mouths those dunghill deities with utmost contempt; as David did. {Psa 16:4}
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain Make no mention, to wit, with honour or delight,…
Make no mention, to wit, with honour or delight, or without detestation; as fornication is not to be named among saints, Eph 5:3. Or, not mention them in your worship, or in oaths, or in common discourse, and without special occasion, lest the frequent mention of them might keep up their memory, or introduce their worship. Hence the names of idols and idolatrous places were ofttimes changed by the Israelites. See Num 32:38; Jos 23:7 Compare Psa 16:4; Hos 2:17; Zec 13:2.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain Three times thou shall keep a feast unto me…
Three times thou shall keep a feast unto me in the year. The feast of the passover, on the fourteenth of the month Nisan or March; and the feast of weeks or pentecost fifty days after that; and the feast of tabernacles on the fifteenth day of Tisri or September.
Three times thou shall keep a feast unto me in the year. The feast of the passover, on the fourteenth of the month Nisan or March; and the feast of weeks or pentecost fifty days after that; and the feast of tabernacles on the fifteenth day of Tisri or September.
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Exodus 23:15
exo 23:15
exo 23:15
exo 23:15Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread,.... Which began on the fourteenth of the month Abib or Nisan, and lasted seven days, during which time no leavened bread was to be eaten by the Israelites, or to be in their houses, of which see the notes on:See Gill on Exo 12:15, Exo 12:18, Exo 12:19, Exo 12:10, Exo 13:6, Exo 13:7.
thou shall eat unleavened bread, seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; from the fourteenth of the month to the twenty first:
for in it thou camest out of Egypt; in such haste that there was no time to leaven the dough in the troughs; in commemoration of which this law was given, and this feast was kept:
and none shall appear before me empty; at this feast and the two following ones; for, besides the offerings and sacrifices appointed, at the feast of passover was brought a sheaf of the first fruits of the barley harvest; and at the feast of pentecost the two wave loaves or cakes of the first fruits of the wheat harvest; and at the feast of tabernacles they appeared with palm tree branches, and boughs of goodly trees, and poured out water fetched from Siloam, before the Lord: but to this appearance the Jewish doctors (b) say,"there was no measure fixed; for everyone, if he would, might go up and appear, and go away: according to another interpretation, for the burnt offering of appearance, and the peace offerings of the Chagigah, which a man is bound to bring, as it is written, "ye shall not appear empty"; there is no measure from the law, as it is written, "a man according to the gift of his hand", Deu 16:17, but the wise men fix a measure; to the burnt offering a meah of silver, to the Chagigah two pieces of silver:''some understand this, not of their bringing anything with them to appear before the Lord with, but of what they should be blessed with there; even with the presence of God, and communion with him, and with the blessings of his grace and goodness; so that however they came, they should not remain, nor go away empty, and so have no cause to repent their appearance before him; but the former sense seems best.
(b) Bartenora in Misn. Peah, c. 1. sect. 1.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain In all things that I have said unto you…
In all things that I have said unto you be circumspect - We are in danger of missing our way on the right hand and on the left, and it is at our peril if we do, therefore we have need to look about us. A man may ruin himself through mere carelessness, but he cannot save himself without great care and circumspection; particularly since idolatry was a sin they were much addicted to, and would be greatly tempted to, they must endeavour to blot out the remembrance of the gods of the heathen, and must disuse all their superstitious forms of speech, and never mention them but with detestation. In Christian schools and academies (for it is in vain to think of re-forming the play-houses) it were to be wished that the names and stories of the heathen deities or demons rather were not so commonly and familiarly used.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain Exo 23:13. In all things be circumspect — We…
Exo 23:13. In all things be circumspect — We are in danger of missing our way on the right hand and on the left, and it is at our peril if we do, therefore we have need to look about us. A man may ruin himself through mere carelessness, but he cannot save himself without great care and circumspection. Particularly since idolatry was a sin they were much addicted to, and would be greatly tempted to, they must endeavour to blot out the remembrance of the gods of the heathen, and must disuse all their superstitious forms of speech, and never mention them but with detestation. In Christian schools and academies, (for it is in vain to think of reforming the play-houses,) it were to be wished that the names and stories of the heathen deities, or demons rather, were not so commonly and familiarly used.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain Compare Deu 4:9; Jos 22:5; Eph 5:15.
Compare Deu 4:9; Jos 22:5; Eph 5:15.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain Name. Hence it is supposed, the Jews had given…
Name. Hence it is supposed, the Jews had given abusive titles to the idols; as they call Beelzebub the god-fly, &c. No respect was to be shewn to them. (Calmet)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain make no mention of the name of other gods,…
make no mention of the name of other gods, &c.--that is, in common conversation, for a familiar use of them would tend to lessen horror of idolatry.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 13. No mention of the name of other gods…
13. No mention of the name of other gods — “In order to eradicate idolatry, with all its far-spreading roots, the idols shall not only be banished from the hearts, but also from the lips; they should not even be alluded to or mentioned, much less worshipped. And as it was forbidden to use the name of God falsely or disrespectfully, (Exo_20:7; Exo_22:28,) thus the heathen deities should entirely disappear from the language.” — Kalisch.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 13. God’s commands to be honoured; and ‘other gods’…
13. God’s commands to be honoured; and ‘other gods’ not even to be mentioned, still less invoked in worship. The verse can hardly be in place in the midst of laws relating to sacred seasons. It reads like the conclusion, perhaps added by a compiler, either to the Book of the Covenant itself, or to one of the smaller collections of laws, out of which (cf. p. 203) the Book of the Covenant seems to have been formed. Probably it has found its present place as a result of successive expansions or transpositions of the text. It is impossible to determine its original position: but it would follow suitably v. 19.
make] Heb. make ye; Sam. make thou.
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other gods] See on Exo_20:3. With the clause itself comp. Jos_23:7 (D2[193]).
[193] Deuteronomic passages in Josh., Jud., Kings.
upon (Psa_50:16 Heb.) thy mouth] Cf. Hos_2:17 [Heb. 19], Zec_13:2, Psa_16:4.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (13) Be circumspect.—Rather, take heed. The verb used is…
(13) Be circumspect.—Rather, take heed. The verb used is a very common one.
Make no mention of the name of other gods.—The Jewish commentators understand swearing by the name of other gods to be the thing here forbidden, and so the Vulg., “per nomen exterorum deorum non jurabitis.” But the words used reach far beyond this. Contempt for the “gods of the nations” was to be shown by ignoring their very names. They were not to be spoken of, unless by preachers in the way of warning, or by historians when the facts of history could not be otherwise set forth. Moses himself mentions Baal (Num_22:41), Baal-peor (Num_25:3; Num_25:5), Chemosh (Num_21:29), and Moloch (Lev_20:2-5; Lev_23:21).
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain Verse 13 contains two injunctions one general, one special:
Verse 13 contains two injunctions one general, one special:
1. "Be circumspect" (or cautious, careful) "in respect of all that I command you.
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2. "Do not so much as utter the name of any false god." Not even to mention their names, was to show them the greatest contempt possible; and, if followed out universally, would soon have produced an absolute oblivion of them. Moses, it may be observed, scarcely ever does mention their names. Later historians and prophets had to do so, either to deliver the true history of the Israelites, or to denounce idolatries to which they were given. There are many words one would wish never to utter; but while wicked men do the things of which they are the names, preachers are obliged to use the words in their sermons and other warnings.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain Be circumspect.
Exo_23:13
Be circumspect.
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Circumspection
I. In general. In all things. Moses is drawing to the close of these precepts, and looking back upon them, he says--Be circumspect. The original suggests--
1. That we should be fully awake to the importance of the Divine commands.
(1) Give them intelligent and reverent examination.
(2) Store them up in the memory.
(3) Study them in their beneficent operation.
2. That we should be on our guard against temptations to break the Divine commands. Temptations are
(1) sudden;
(2) insidious;
(3) deceiving.
3. That we should be careful to remember His commandments to do them.
(1) There is a danger lest an exaggerated estimate of human weakness should lead to despair on the one hand, and recklessness on the other.
(2) God would not command the impossible.
(3) There is grace to help in time of need.
II. In particular, make no mention, etc. Because--
1. That would be uncircumspect in the first and greatest commandment.
2. That would be to forfeit the help promised to the circumspect.
3. That would be to yield to a tendency to be uncircumspect in everything. Christians--
1. Watch and pray, lest ye enter rote, temptation.
2. Live so as to adorn the doctrine of God your Saviour m all things. (J. W. Burn.)
Circumspection needed
The mysterious perturbation of a ships compass is reported in a scientific journal. It appears that the compass of the ship Penguin, recently anchored off Australia, was deflected fifty-five degrees, and had a dip of eighty-three degrees. After the ship left the anchorage and proceeded on her voyage the disturbance ceased. At two miles from the point the variation was quite normal. The captain spent a day in investigating the phenomenon. He passed two or three times over the point where he had anchored, and found that whenever the ship crossed it, the compass was disturbed as before, and recovered when at a distance of two miles in any direction. This satisfied him that the centre of the submarine disturbance was limited to a circle of less than two miles magnetic minerals at the sea bottom. The journal reporting his observation says: Great as is the gain to the navigator to be thus warned of a formidable danger in certain places, it lays upon him the imperative duty of being always on his guard against such sources of disaster elsewhere, and of promptly reporting any new magnetic disturbance, as he would a rock or shoal.! Similar vigilance is necessary on the part of every voyager through life.
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary 1892 · Public Domain MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.—Exo_23:13
MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.—Exo_23:13
THE NEED OF CIRCUMSPECTION
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The man who makes a wise use of his eyes is in so far circumspect. Words that primarily set forth bodily actions are secondarily applied to the description of mental states and actions. Circumspection is descriptive of a mental condition, and denotes intensity and watchfulness of spirit. The man who takes heed to himself and his ways is circumspect. “In all things that I have said unto you be circumspect.” There never was greater need for circumspection. This exhortation is for all time.
I. Circumspection is difficult. It is difficult, from the fact that we are blind, and are unconscious of our sad state. The blind man moves with caution because he feels his defect. Carelessness, which may be taken as the opposite of circumspection, is characteristic of a childish state. It is difficult for the child to command its attention. There is a deal of childishness in full-grown men. It is difficult for the photographer to get a happy expression fixed upon the prepared glass. The sitter cannot bear the necessary fixity of gaze, and the countenance assumes an unnatural aspect. This is typical. It is difficult to keep the mind fixed upon the great problems of life, and the ears ever open to the reception, and the understanding ever on the stretch to the true perception of the voice of God. Circumspection is not a mere listless gaze. It is a looking round about, but it is a looking with an earnest purpose in order to see what dangers are to be avoided, what voice is to be obeyed, and what course is to be pursued. All mental efforts in the initial stages are difficult, and circumspection is a mental effort. It must sometimes be a prolonged mental strain.
II. Circumspection is wise. It is not by ease, but by difficulties, that the world’s great heroes have been created. The smooth pathway is the most attractive, but it is not the one selected by wisdom. “See that ye walk circumspectly; not as fools, but as wise redeeming the time.” The man is unwise who does not constantly employ his powers of mental vision. Circumspection we consider wise in the merchant, the soldier, the sailor, and the statesman. Circumspection is wise on the part of moral beings, or those who have great duties to discharge. There is a right spirit in which feast days and days of rest must be kept, and it is wise to be circumspect.
III. Circumspection is wise, for it is helpful. Helpful to the individual. The exercise of circumspection increases our power of being circumspect. It will become a habit. All difficulty will vanish. And then all his nature will be enlarged. He will march through this world thoroughly alive to its great movements, and its solemn realities. He will not be easily surprised by any foe. He cannot be taken unawares, for He is always on the watch-tower. Every power and faculty of His nature will be brought into play. Helpful to the community. The careless horse in the team hinders all the rest. A great many overlookers would have to be discharged if all workers were circumspect. What a blessed revolution would circumspection produce in civil and ecclesiastical communities! What holy rejoicings on feast days if all feasters were circumspect! What undisturbed and delightful repose on rest days if all were truly circumspect!
IV. This circumspection is required—
1. By reason of the condition of our nature. We are materialised. The spiritual essence has been eliminated. Idolatry is alluring and compatible. This was the danger of the Jews. This is still our danger. One of our great literary men lately said he was only interested in what he could “see and touch.” Is not this the idolater’s temper?
2. By reason of the condition of our surroundings. The Jews were the only theocratic nation. They were surrounded by idolaters. It was needful for them to be circumspect There is a revivification of materialistic philosophy. Matter is deified. Idols are being projected from the ingenious minds of scientists. We may not be in danger of bowing down to misshapen idols of the hand; but we are in danger of worshipping misshapen idols of the mind. We must be circumspect.
3. Increased circumspection is required with reference to those evils to which we are specially liable. The Jews were not even to mention the name of heathen gods; for this was their special danger. We know how easy a thing it was for them to lapse into idolatry; therefore the need of increased circumspection. “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset.” Where danger threatens let the forces gather. Let us consider the circumstances of our times, the peculiar dangers to which we are liable; let us be increasingly circumspect.
4. Increased circumspection is required in those things that may seem of little importance. It is a strict charge not to let the name of other gods be heard out of the mouth. The Jew might be disposed to resist this as unreasonable. Words are little things, but in them are great powers. The utterance of our thoughts increases their vitality and their potency. The more we speak about the evil thing, the less is our repugnance to it. Let abhorrence of idolatry be so great that we shall not deign to mention the name of other gods. O God, keep the door of my lips, as well as guide the motions of my heart!—W. Burrows, B.A.
SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS ON THE VERSES
CIRCUMSPECTION.—Exo_23:13
I. In general. “In all things.” Moses is drawing to the close of these precepts, and looking back upon them, he says—“Be circumspect.” The original (שָמַד) suggests—
1. That we should be fully awake to the importance of the Divine commands.
(1.) Give them intelligent and reverent examination.
(2.) Store them up in the memory.
(3.) Study them in their beneficent operation.
2. That we should be on our guard against temptations to break the Divine commands. Temptations are
(1.) sudden;
(2.) insidious;
(3.) deceiving.
3. That we should be careful “to remember His commandments to do them.”
(1.) There is a danger lest an exaggerated estimate of human weakness should lead to despair on the one hand, and recklessness on the other.
(2.) God would not command the impossible.
(3.) There is “grace to help in time of need.”
II. In particular, “make no mention,” &c. Because—
1. That would be uncircumspect in the first and greatest commandment.
2. That would be to forfeit the help promised to the circumspect.
3. That would be to yield to a tendency to be uncircumspect in everything.
Christians—i. “Watch and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.” ii. Live so as “to adorn the doctrine of God your Saviour in all things.”
—J. W. Burn.
ILLUSTRATIONS
BY
REV. WILLIAM ADAMSON
Mosaic Morals! Exo_23:1-19. A modern jurist, Hennequin, says: “Good right had Moses to challenge the Israelites, what nation hath statutes like yours? a worship so exalted—laws so equitable—a code so complex?” A Frenchman and an infidel, he observes that, compared with all the legislations of antiquity, none so thoroughly embodies the principles of everlasting righteousness. Lycurgus wrote, not for a people, but for an army: It was a barrack which he erected, not a commonwealth. Solon, on the other hand, could not resist the surrounding effeminate influences of Athens. It is in Moses alone that we find a regard for the right, austere and incorruptible; a morality distinct from policy, and rising above regard for times and peoples.
“But what could Moses’ law have done
Had it not been divinely sent?
The power was from the Lord alone,
And Moses but the instrument.”
—Newton.
Circumspection! Exo_23:13.
(1) Circumspection is nothing else but the soul running up and down, to and fro, busy everywhere. It is the heart busied and employed with diligent observation of what comes from within us, and of what comes from without us and into us. Ah! souls, says Brookes, you are no longer safe and secure than when you are upon your watch. While Antipater kept the watch, Alexander was safe. A watchful soul is a soul upon the wing, a soul out of gunshot, a soul upon a rock, a soul in a castle, a soul above the cloud, a soul held fast in the Everlasting Arms.
(2) Be circumspect, writes Dyke, over thine heart. It is like a wild horse; if a man once let go the bridle as he is walking on his journey, when it is gone, it is not so easily secured again; and much time may be spent in trying to recover the runaway. Keep thine heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.
(3) Be circumspect, counsels Reynolds, for thou hast many foes. When enemies are around, generals and subalterns and sentinels are all on the alert. The Christian’s foes are more relentless and numerous. They have no desire that thou shouldst reach the object of thy pursuit. And though they cannot shut thee out from the Land of Promise, the stronghold of eternity, yet may they do much to hinder thy march thitherward.
“Oh watch and pray! for thou hast foes to fight,
Foes which alone thou canst not overcome;
Watching and prayer will keep thine armour bright;
Soon will thy toils be o’er—thy victory won.”
—Mant.
The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary (gen. ed. Joseph S. Exell; Funk & Wagnalls, c. 1892) — public domain (pre-1929). A full-Bible homiletical/sermon-outline anthology covering 65 of 66 books (2 John is absent from the source module). Text from a community e-Sword module.