Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647), Westminster Assembly

Question 49

Which is the second commandment?

The second commandment is, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them; for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me: and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.a

Which is the second commandment?

The second commandment is, You shall not make unto you any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down yourself to them, nor serve them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me: and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.a

  1. a. Exodus 20:4–6

    Exodus 20:4–6

    20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 20:6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

    20:4 You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath. 20:5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 20:6 but showing loving devotion to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

Diff style

Changes in The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 54

No change, but in spelling and punctuation.

No change, but in spelling and punctuation.

The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 54

Which is the second commandment?

The second commandment is, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them; for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647), Question 49

Which is the second commandment?

The second commandment is, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them; for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me: and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 54

Which is the second commandment?

The second commandment is, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them; for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 54

Which is the second commandment?

The second commandment is, You shall not make unto you any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down yourself to them, nor serve them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

Westminster Shorter Catechism (modernized) (1647), Question 49

Which is the second commandment?

The second commandment is, You shall not make unto you any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down yourself to them, nor serve them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me: and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 54

Which is the second commandment?

The second commandment is, You shall not make unto you any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down yourself to them, nor serve them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

Related (1)

Westminster Larger Catechism (1647), parallel to this question

Question 107

Which is the second commandment?

The second commandment is, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

Commentaries (9)

  • Joseph Alleine, 1672, A Most Familiar Explanation of the Assemblies Shorter Catechism

    Which is the second Commandment? The second Commandment is, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven Image, or any likeness of any thing that is in Heaven above, or that is in the…

    Joseph Alleine’s text
  • Thomas Lye, 1672, The Assemblies Shorter Catechism Drawn out into Distinct Propositions

    Which is the second Commandment? The second Commandment, is, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven Image, or any likeness of any thing, that is in heaven above, or that is in…

    Thomas Lye’s text
  • Thomas Vincent, 1673, An Explicatory Catechism

    What is the second Commandment? The second Commandment is, Thou shalt not make unto thee any Graven Image, or the likeness of any thing that is in Heaven above, or that is in the…

    Thomas Vincent’s text
  • 1675, An Explicatory Catechism

    Which is the second Commandment? The second Commandment is, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven Image, or any likeness of any thing that is in Heaven above, or that is in the…

    Its text
  • John Flavel, 1692, An Exposition of the Assembly’s Catechism

    Which is the second Commandment? The second Commandment is, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven Image, or any likeness of any thing that is in Heaven above, or that is in the…

    John Flavel’s text
  • Thomas Watson, 1692, A Body of Practical Divinity

    Exod. 20.4. Thou shalt not make unto thee any Graven Image, &c. In the First Commandment is forbidden the worshipping a False God, in this, the worshipping the true God in a false…

    Thomas Watson’s text
  • Matthew Henry, 1703, A Scripture Catechism

    What is the Second Commandment? The Second Commandment is, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven Image, or any Likeness of any thing that is in Heaven above, or that is in the…

    Matthew Henry’s text
  • Alexander Whyte, 1883, A Commentary on the Shorter Catechism

    The unity and sole supremacy of Jehovah is the subject of the first commandment, and in the same manner the spirituality of the Divine Nature is taught and guarded in the second.…

    Alexander Whyte’s text
  • Benjamin Beddome, 1752, A Scriptural Exposition of the Baptist Catechism

    On The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 54, which adapts this question

    Should we be careful to avoid idolatry? Yes. Take heed, lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, Is idolatry any infatuating sin? Yes. They are mad upon their…

    Benjamin Beddome’s text