Deuteronomy 5:10

but I show covenant faithfulness ¹  to the thousands ²  who choose ³  me and keep my commandments.

De 6:5,6; De 10:12,13; Isa 1:16-19; Jer 32:18; Da 9:4; Mt 7:21-27; Joh 14:15,21-23; Joh 15:14; Ro 8:28; Ga 5:6; Jas 1:25; 1Jo 1:7; 1Jo 5:2,3

¹ tn This theologically rich term (חֶסֶד, khesed) describes God’s loyalty to those who keep covenant with him. Sometimes it is used synonymously with בְּרִית (bÿrit, “covenant”; Deut 7:9), and sometimes interchangeably with it (Deut 7:12). See H.-J. Zobel, TDOT 5:44-64.

² tc By a slight emendation (לַאֲלּוּפִים [la’allufim] for לַאֲלָפִים [la’alafim]) “clans” could be read in place of the MT reading “thousands.” However, no ms or versional evidence exists to support this emendation.

tn Another option is to understand this as referring to “thousands (of generations) of those who love me” (cf. NAB, NIV, NRSV, NLT). See Deut 7:9.

³ tn Heb “love.” See note on the word “reject” in v. 9.