Polytheism

"You shall have no other gods before me" (Exodus 20:3). The first prohibition the Creator gave His people was against bringing other gods before Him. Polytheism, the worship of many gods, stands at the head of the sins named in the Ten Words, because everything else flows from Who we worship. The Ten Words begin by declaring Who is speaking: "I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt" (Exodus 20:2). Because He alone rescued Israel, He alone is to be their God. This category is part of the series on the Ten Words. No separate articles have been posted here yet, so for now this page introduces the theme through the commandment itself. To go further, read the related category on Idolatry, which looks at serving images in place of God, and the teaching "Yahweh is One," which studies Deuteronomy 6:4 and the Hebrew word echad. Together they show why Yahweh alone is worthy of our worship and trust.