You must not bow down to them nor be induced to serve them, because I Jehovah your God am a God exacting exclusive devotion, bringing punishment for the error of fathers upon sons, upon the third generation and upon the fourth generation, in the case of those who hate me; but exercising loving - kindness toward the thousandth generation in the case of those who love me and keep my commandments. ” ​ — Exodus 20: 4 - 6.
परमेश्‍वर ने इस्राएलियों को आज्ञा दी थी कि वे श्रद्धा की वस्तु के तौर पर प्रतिमाएं न बनाएं और न उनकी उपासना करें ।