Keraia
Exodus 34

Exodus 34:7

New Stone Tablets · Exodus 34:1–9
Read Exodus 34

Translations

Modern
…maintaining loving devotion to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished; He will visit the iniquity of the fathers on their children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”
Traditional
Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.
Literal
…keeping loving devotion to the thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and he will surely not acquit the guilty, visiting iniquity of fathers upon sons and upon sons of sons, upon a third and upon a fourth.”
Latin
…qui custodis misericordiam in millia; qui aufers iniquitatem, et scelera, atque peccata, nullusque apud te per se innocens est; qui reddis iniquitatem patrum filiis, ac nepotibus in tertiam et quartam progeniem.

Original

Hebrew
English
…maintaining loving devotion to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished; He will visit the iniquity of the fathers on their children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”

Notes

Exodus 34:7

  • God’s unfailing love and his generous desire to forgive are not weakness or indecisiveness, nor are they reason to sin. Sin will have its effects, because God created a world of cause and effect. The murderer may repent, be forgiven, and lead a new life, but the effects of previous choices will continue to play out. We should not sin just because we know that God will forgive (see study note on 20:5–6).

  • a thousand generations: See Deuteronomy 7:9–11. 

  • He will visit the iniquity of the fathers: Our sins affect future generations, but God limits the effects to three or four generations. See also Exodus 20:5–6.

Exodus 34:5–9

Moses experienced God’s presence in a revelation of the name, or character, of God. As God had promised (33:19), he showed Moses the glory of his goodness.

Exodus 34:1–35

God granted the request of Moses (33:18). He showed Moses his goodness (34:1–9). He renewed the covenant (34:10–35).

This renewal was a statement made by God alone. God promised to stay with his people, keeping his covenant promises even though they had broken the covenant and deserved death and abandonment (32:1–6).

Parallels

Deuteronomy 10:1–11

Glossary

Bible, Quotations of the Old Testament in the New Testament Biblical Concept of Law Book of Exodus Deuteronomy, Book of Forgiveness God, Being and Attributes of History of Israel Mount Sinai New Covenant Pillar of Fire and Cloud Tabernacle

Topics

Access to God: Moses Children: Involved in Guilt of Parents Generation to Generation Generational Curses Glory of God: Exhibited to Moses God is Declared to Be: Merciful God: Judge, and his Justice God: Mercy of Heredity: General Scriptures Concerning Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Mount Sinai: God's Glory Shown to Moses Judgments: No Escape From Pardon: Exhibits The: Mercy of God Punishment: Entailed: Upon Children Sin: Consequences of, Entailed Upon Children Sin: Forgiveness of Sin: God: Alone Can Forgive Sin: Punishment of The Glory of God: Exhibited to Moses The Mercy of God is Part of his Character Wicked (People): Punishment of