Post by iris89 on Apr 17, 2008 10:40:33 GMT -5
Misunderstanding of Exodus 20:3 – The Word “Before.”
INTRODUCTION:
Many fail to realize the significance of the word “before” as used in Exodus 20:3. This may seem strange, but it is due to what they have been incorectly taught. Let’s look at the facts, the reality per John 8:32, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (Authorized King James Bible; AV).
Let's look at the scripture from several different Bibles:
3 (American Standard Version; ASV) Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
3 (Authorized King James Bible; AV) Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
3 (DARBY 1884 VERSION; DARBY) Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
3 (Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible; Douay) Thou shalt not have strange gods before me.
3 (English Revised Version; ERV) Thou shalt have none other gods before me.
3 (Jewish Publication Society; JPS) Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.
3 (Young's Literal Translation; YLT) 'Thou hast no other Gods before Me.
THE MEANING OF THE WORD “BEFORE”:
Now let's look at the meaning of before in several dictionaries:
[1] The American Heritage(r) Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.
before
SYLLABICATION:
be·fore
PRONUNCIATION:
/61/wavs/97/B0159700.wav/61/wavs/97/B0159700.wavb-fôr, -fr
ADVERB:
1. Earlier in time: They called me the day before. 2. In front; ahead.
PREPOSITION:
1. Previous to in time; earlier than. 2. In front of. 3. In store for; awaiting: The young man's whole life lies before him. 4. Into or in the presence of: She asked that the visitor be brought before her. 5. Under the consideration or jurisdiction of: The case is now before the court. 6. In a position superior to: The prince is before his brother in the line of succession.
[2] Encarta(r) World English Dictionary [North American Edition] (c) & (P)2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.
before
1. preposition earlier: earlier than a date, time, or event
2. preposition indicates sequence: used to indicate a sequence of actions, one preceding the other and closely connected with it
3. preposition in presence of: in the presence of a person or body of people
spoke before a huge crowd
4. preposition with more importance than: indicating that one thing is preferable to or more important than another
Their needs come before yours.
5. preposition indicates location: located close to something but just ahead of it
6. preposition ahead of: stretching ahead of somebody
7. adverb previously: on a previous occasion
8. conj rather than: used to indicate that somebody would prefer to do one thing rather than what he or she considers to be a worse thing
I'll die before I'll tell you anything about it.
[ Old English beforan< Germanic]
[3] One Look Dictionary
BEFORE
adverb: earlier in time; previously (Example: "I had known her before")
adverb: at or in the front (Example: "With the cross of Jesus marching on before")
LET’S INVESTIGATE STATUS LEVEL IN HEAVEN:
Let’s now look at what Jesus (Yeshua) said showing that his Father, Almighty God (YHWH), had higher status then himself in brief.
At Matthew 4:10-11 Jesus (Yeshua) clearly showed we should only worship his Father, Almighty God (YHWH), and no one else when he said,
10 (ASV) Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
11 Then the devil leaveth him; and behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
10 (AV) Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
10 (Darby) Then says Jesus to him, Get thee away, Satan, for it is written, Thou shalt do homage to the Lord thy God, and him alone shalt thou serve.
11 Then the devil leaves him, and behold, angels came and ministered to him.
10 (Diaglot) Then says to him the Jesus: Go thou behind of me, adversary; it is written for: Lord the God of thee thou shalt worship, and to him only thou shalt render service.
11 Then leaves him the accuser; and lo, messengers came and ministered to him.
10 (Douay) Then Jesus saith to him: Begone, Satan: for it is written: The Lord thy God shalt thou adore, and him only shalt thou serve.
11 Then the devil left him; and behold angels came and ministered to him.
10 (ERV) Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
11 Then the devil leaveth him; and behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
And he clearly testified to the fact that the words he was using were NOT his own at John 12:49-50,
49 (ASV) For I spake not from myself; but the Father that sent me, he hath given me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
50 And I know that his commandment is life eternal: the things therefore which I speak, even as the Father hath said unto me, so I speak.
49 (AV) For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.
49 (Darby) For I have not spoken from myself, but the Father who sent me has himself given me commandment what I should say and what I should speak;
50 and I know that his commandment is life eternal. What therefore I speak, as the Father has said to me, so I speak.
49 (Diaglot) Because I from myself not spoke; but the having sent me Father he me a commandment gave, what I should say and what I should I speak.
50 And I know, that the commandment of him life age–lasting is. What therefore say I, as has spoken to me the Father, so I speak.
49 (Douay) For I have not spoken of myself: but the Father who sent me, he gave me commandment what I should say and what I should speak.
50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting. The things therefore that I speak, even as the Father said unto me, so do I speak.
And he, Jesus (Yeshua), testified to this fact once more at John 14:24,
24 (ASV) He that loveth me not keepeth not my words: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s who sent me.
24 (AV) He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.
24 (Darby) He that loves me not does not keep my words; and the word which ye hear is not mine, but that of the Father who has sent me.
24 (Diaglot) He not loving me, the words of me not will keep; and the word which you hear, not is mine, but of the sending me Father.
24 (Douay) He that loveth me not keepeth not my words. And the word which you have heard is not mine; but the Father’s who sent me.
In fact, the fact that Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) Father, Almighty God (YHWH), occupies a higher status and/or is before him is made obvious by the accounts the Inspired Word of Almighty God (YHWH), the Bible, gives of his status when he returned to heaven as follows. When he, Jesus (Yeshua), returned to heaven he sat at the right hand of his Father (YHWH) per John 6:62, "`What' then if ye should behold the Son of man ascending where he was before?" (American Standard Version; ASV), so he could, per Ephesians 1:20-22, "which he wrought in Christ, when he [[His Father, Almighty God (YHWH)]] raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly `places', 21 far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22 and he put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church," (ASV).
Now the fact that he, Jesus (Yeshua), is second only to his Father, Almighty God (YHWH), brings us to the important question, Why is Jesus (Yeshua) called the only begotten Son of God (YHWH) when in reality there are many sons of God (YHWH)? John 1:14 states, "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth." (ASV); And at John 3:16-18, " For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God sent not the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through him. 18 He that believeth on him is not judged: he that believeth not hath been judged already, because he hath not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God." (ASV); And at 1 John 4:9, "Herein was the love of God manifested in us, that God hath sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him." (ASV); now this does not mean that the other created spirit beings were not also God's (YHWH's) sons, as they are also called sons as affirmed at Genesis 6:2, "that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all that they chose." (ASV); And at job 1:6, "Now it came to pass on the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah, that Satan also came among them" (ASV); And at Job 38:4-7, "Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding. 5 Who determined the measures thereof, if thou knowest? Or who stretched the line upon it? 6 Whereupon were the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the corner-stone thereof, 7 When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?" (ASV); And at Job 2:1, "Again it came to pass on the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah, that Satan came also among them to present himself before Jehovah." (ASV). So what makes Jesus (Yeshua) unique?
He is unique by virtue of his being the only direct creation by Almighty God (YHWH), thus making him different from all others of God's (YHWH's) sons, allof whom were created or begotten by god (YHWH) through that firstborn Son, Jesus (Yeshua). Therefore, Jesus was God's (YHWH) 'only-begotten Son' in a very special sense just as Isaac was Abraham's 'only-begotten son' in a special sense even though he already had a son, Ishamel, but not by his wife Sarah as testified to at Hebrews 11:17, "By faith Abraham, being tried, offered up Isaac: yea, he that had gladly received the promises was offering up his only begotten [son];" (ASV); And at Genesis 16:15, "And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bare, Ishmael." (ASV).
Of course some will say begotten does not mean create, but they never quantify what it means. They have to consider the facts which are (1) the Bible says at Revelation 3:14, "And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God:" (ASV); (2) the meaning of the word create which is "To cause to come into existence; originate" [Funk & Wagnalls Standard College Dictionary, ISBN #s 0-308-10309-2 and 0-308-10310-6, and most other standard English dictionaries]; (3) That humans create by means of copulation as did Abraham in the creation or begetting of his son, Isaac, as shown in Hebrews 11:17 and Genesis 16:15, quoted previously; whereas, the Bible makes no mention of a Mrs. God (YHWH). Therefore, God (YHWH) creates differently, obviously, from man. He always existed as shown at Psalms 90:2, "Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. " (ASV); And at Psalms 93:2, "Thy throne is established of old: Thou art from everlasting." (ASV); and at Job 36:26, "Behold, God is great, and we know him not; The number of his years is unsearchable." (ASV); And at 1 Timothy 1:17, "Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, [be] honor and glory forever and ever. Amen." (ASV). Of course another way of looking at the verb beget is to look at its synonyms and its definition which are (1) To procreate; be the father of. (2) To cause to be; occasion [Funk & Wagnalls Standard College Dictionary, ISBN #s 0-308-10309-2 and 0-308-10310-6, and most other standard English dictionaries]. Now that makes it clear one of its meanings is to cause to be same as for create. If that is not clear enough for some, let's consider the definition of its synonym as given above, procreate which means by definition (1) To engender or beget (offspring), (2) To originate; produce; and at its ethnology from Latin, [- before + creare to create> ] which leaves no doubt that it means to create as does the other synonym, engender which by definition means (1) To cause to exist; give rise to; produce. (2) beget, (3) To come into being; and its ethnology from Latin [- in + genus, generis race] [Funk & Wagnalls Standard College Dictionary, ISBN #s 0-308-10309-2 and 0-308-10310-6, and most other standard English dictionaries].
Of course some critics say that having been created makes Jesus (Yeshua) inferior, but the Bible shows the exact opposite at Philippians 2:1-11, "If there is therefore any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassions, 2 make full my joy, that ye be of the same mind, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind; 3 [doing] nothing through faction or through vainglory, but in lowliness of mind each counting other better than himself; 4 not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others. 5 Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; 8 and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient [even] unto death, yea, the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name; 10 that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven and [things] on earth and [things] under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (ASV). Obviously all thinking people should believe the Bible and not accept the opinions of man.
CONCLUSION:
So, whereas, Almighty God (YHWH) always existed, his only begotten Son, Jesus (Yeshua), had a beginning and that was when his Father, Almighty God (YHWH), created him as noted at Revelation 3:14,
14 (ASV) And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God:
14 (AV) And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God:
14 (Darby) And to the angel of the assembly in Laodicea write: These things says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God:
14 (Diaglot) And by the messenger of the in Laodicea congregation write: These things says the Amen, the witness the faithful and true, the beginning of the creation of God:
14 (Douay) And to the angel of the church of Laodicea write: These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, who is the beginning of the creation of God:
14 (ERV) And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God:
So as can readily be seen, Jesus (Yeshua) Christ is NOT a god before his Father, Almighty God (YHWH); therefore, no violation of Exodus 20:3.
Your Friend in Christ Iris89
INTRODUCTION:
Many fail to realize the significance of the word “before” as used in Exodus 20:3. This may seem strange, but it is due to what they have been incorectly taught. Let’s look at the facts, the reality per John 8:32, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (Authorized King James Bible; AV).
Let's look at the scripture from several different Bibles:
3 (American Standard Version; ASV) Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
3 (Authorized King James Bible; AV) Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
3 (DARBY 1884 VERSION; DARBY) Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
3 (Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible; Douay) Thou shalt not have strange gods before me.
3 (English Revised Version; ERV) Thou shalt have none other gods before me.
3 (Jewish Publication Society; JPS) Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.
3 (Young's Literal Translation; YLT) 'Thou hast no other Gods before Me.
THE MEANING OF THE WORD “BEFORE”:
Now let's look at the meaning of before in several dictionaries:
[1] The American Heritage(r) Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.
before
SYLLABICATION:
be·fore
PRONUNCIATION:
/61/wavs/97/B0159700.wav/61/wavs/97/B0159700.wavb-fôr, -fr
ADVERB:
1. Earlier in time: They called me the day before. 2. In front; ahead.
PREPOSITION:
1. Previous to in time; earlier than. 2. In front of. 3. In store for; awaiting: The young man's whole life lies before him. 4. Into or in the presence of: She asked that the visitor be brought before her. 5. Under the consideration or jurisdiction of: The case is now before the court. 6. In a position superior to: The prince is before his brother in the line of succession.
[2] Encarta(r) World English Dictionary [North American Edition] (c) & (P)2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.
before
1. preposition earlier: earlier than a date, time, or event
2. preposition indicates sequence: used to indicate a sequence of actions, one preceding the other and closely connected with it
3. preposition in presence of: in the presence of a person or body of people
spoke before a huge crowd
4. preposition with more importance than: indicating that one thing is preferable to or more important than another
Their needs come before yours.
5. preposition indicates location: located close to something but just ahead of it
6. preposition ahead of: stretching ahead of somebody
7. adverb previously: on a previous occasion
8. conj rather than: used to indicate that somebody would prefer to do one thing rather than what he or she considers to be a worse thing
I'll die before I'll tell you anything about it.
[ Old English beforan< Germanic]
[3] One Look Dictionary
BEFORE
adverb: earlier in time; previously (Example: "I had known her before")
adverb: at or in the front (Example: "With the cross of Jesus marching on before")
LET’S INVESTIGATE STATUS LEVEL IN HEAVEN:
Let’s now look at what Jesus (Yeshua) said showing that his Father, Almighty God (YHWH), had higher status then himself in brief.
At Matthew 4:10-11 Jesus (Yeshua) clearly showed we should only worship his Father, Almighty God (YHWH), and no one else when he said,
10 (ASV) Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
11 Then the devil leaveth him; and behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
10 (AV) Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
10 (Darby) Then says Jesus to him, Get thee away, Satan, for it is written, Thou shalt do homage to the Lord thy God, and him alone shalt thou serve.
11 Then the devil leaves him, and behold, angels came and ministered to him.
10 (Diaglot) Then says to him the Jesus: Go thou behind of me, adversary; it is written for: Lord the God of thee thou shalt worship, and to him only thou shalt render service.
11 Then leaves him the accuser; and lo, messengers came and ministered to him.
10 (Douay) Then Jesus saith to him: Begone, Satan: for it is written: The Lord thy God shalt thou adore, and him only shalt thou serve.
11 Then the devil left him; and behold angels came and ministered to him.
10 (ERV) Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
11 Then the devil leaveth him; and behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
And he clearly testified to the fact that the words he was using were NOT his own at John 12:49-50,
49 (ASV) For I spake not from myself; but the Father that sent me, he hath given me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
50 And I know that his commandment is life eternal: the things therefore which I speak, even as the Father hath said unto me, so I speak.
49 (AV) For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.
49 (Darby) For I have not spoken from myself, but the Father who sent me has himself given me commandment what I should say and what I should speak;
50 and I know that his commandment is life eternal. What therefore I speak, as the Father has said to me, so I speak.
49 (Diaglot) Because I from myself not spoke; but the having sent me Father he me a commandment gave, what I should say and what I should I speak.
50 And I know, that the commandment of him life age–lasting is. What therefore say I, as has spoken to me the Father, so I speak.
49 (Douay) For I have not spoken of myself: but the Father who sent me, he gave me commandment what I should say and what I should speak.
50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting. The things therefore that I speak, even as the Father said unto me, so do I speak.
And he, Jesus (Yeshua), testified to this fact once more at John 14:24,
24 (ASV) He that loveth me not keepeth not my words: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s who sent me.
24 (AV) He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.
24 (Darby) He that loves me not does not keep my words; and the word which ye hear is not mine, but that of the Father who has sent me.
24 (Diaglot) He not loving me, the words of me not will keep; and the word which you hear, not is mine, but of the sending me Father.
24 (Douay) He that loveth me not keepeth not my words. And the word which you have heard is not mine; but the Father’s who sent me.
In fact, the fact that Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) Father, Almighty God (YHWH), occupies a higher status and/or is before him is made obvious by the accounts the Inspired Word of Almighty God (YHWH), the Bible, gives of his status when he returned to heaven as follows. When he, Jesus (Yeshua), returned to heaven he sat at the right hand of his Father (YHWH) per John 6:62, "`What' then if ye should behold the Son of man ascending where he was before?" (American Standard Version; ASV), so he could, per Ephesians 1:20-22, "which he wrought in Christ, when he [[His Father, Almighty God (YHWH)]] raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly `places', 21 far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22 and he put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church," (ASV).
Now the fact that he, Jesus (Yeshua), is second only to his Father, Almighty God (YHWH), brings us to the important question, Why is Jesus (Yeshua) called the only begotten Son of God (YHWH) when in reality there are many sons of God (YHWH)? John 1:14 states, "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth." (ASV); And at John 3:16-18, " For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God sent not the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through him. 18 He that believeth on him is not judged: he that believeth not hath been judged already, because he hath not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God." (ASV); And at 1 John 4:9, "Herein was the love of God manifested in us, that God hath sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him." (ASV); now this does not mean that the other created spirit beings were not also God's (YHWH's) sons, as they are also called sons as affirmed at Genesis 6:2, "that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all that they chose." (ASV); And at job 1:6, "Now it came to pass on the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah, that Satan also came among them" (ASV); And at Job 38:4-7, "Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding. 5 Who determined the measures thereof, if thou knowest? Or who stretched the line upon it? 6 Whereupon were the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the corner-stone thereof, 7 When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?" (ASV); And at Job 2:1, "Again it came to pass on the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah, that Satan came also among them to present himself before Jehovah." (ASV). So what makes Jesus (Yeshua) unique?
He is unique by virtue of his being the only direct creation by Almighty God (YHWH), thus making him different from all others of God's (YHWH's) sons, allof whom were created or begotten by god (YHWH) through that firstborn Son, Jesus (Yeshua). Therefore, Jesus was God's (YHWH) 'only-begotten Son' in a very special sense just as Isaac was Abraham's 'only-begotten son' in a special sense even though he already had a son, Ishamel, but not by his wife Sarah as testified to at Hebrews 11:17, "By faith Abraham, being tried, offered up Isaac: yea, he that had gladly received the promises was offering up his only begotten [son];" (ASV); And at Genesis 16:15, "And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bare, Ishmael." (ASV).
Of course some will say begotten does not mean create, but they never quantify what it means. They have to consider the facts which are (1) the Bible says at Revelation 3:14, "And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God:" (ASV); (2) the meaning of the word create which is "To cause to come into existence; originate" [Funk & Wagnalls Standard College Dictionary, ISBN #s 0-308-10309-2 and 0-308-10310-6, and most other standard English dictionaries]; (3) That humans create by means of copulation as did Abraham in the creation or begetting of his son, Isaac, as shown in Hebrews 11:17 and Genesis 16:15, quoted previously; whereas, the Bible makes no mention of a Mrs. God (YHWH). Therefore, God (YHWH) creates differently, obviously, from man. He always existed as shown at Psalms 90:2, "Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. " (ASV); And at Psalms 93:2, "Thy throne is established of old: Thou art from everlasting." (ASV); and at Job 36:26, "Behold, God is great, and we know him not; The number of his years is unsearchable." (ASV); And at 1 Timothy 1:17, "Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, [be] honor and glory forever and ever. Amen." (ASV). Of course another way of looking at the verb beget is to look at its synonyms and its definition which are (1) To procreate; be the father of. (2) To cause to be; occasion [Funk & Wagnalls Standard College Dictionary, ISBN #s 0-308-10309-2 and 0-308-10310-6, and most other standard English dictionaries]. Now that makes it clear one of its meanings is to cause to be same as for create. If that is not clear enough for some, let's consider the definition of its synonym as given above, procreate which means by definition (1) To engender or beget (offspring), (2) To originate; produce; and at its ethnology from Latin, [- before + creare to create> ] which leaves no doubt that it means to create as does the other synonym, engender which by definition means (1) To cause to exist; give rise to; produce. (2) beget, (3) To come into being; and its ethnology from Latin [- in + genus, generis race] [Funk & Wagnalls Standard College Dictionary, ISBN #s 0-308-10309-2 and 0-308-10310-6, and most other standard English dictionaries].
Of course some critics say that having been created makes Jesus (Yeshua) inferior, but the Bible shows the exact opposite at Philippians 2:1-11, "If there is therefore any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassions, 2 make full my joy, that ye be of the same mind, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind; 3 [doing] nothing through faction or through vainglory, but in lowliness of mind each counting other better than himself; 4 not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others. 5 Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; 8 and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient [even] unto death, yea, the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name; 10 that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven and [things] on earth and [things] under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (ASV). Obviously all thinking people should believe the Bible and not accept the opinions of man.
CONCLUSION:
So, whereas, Almighty God (YHWH) always existed, his only begotten Son, Jesus (Yeshua), had a beginning and that was when his Father, Almighty God (YHWH), created him as noted at Revelation 3:14,
14 (ASV) And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God:
14 (AV) And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God:
14 (Darby) And to the angel of the assembly in Laodicea write: These things says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God:
14 (Diaglot) And by the messenger of the in Laodicea congregation write: These things says the Amen, the witness the faithful and true, the beginning of the creation of God:
14 (Douay) And to the angel of the church of Laodicea write: These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, who is the beginning of the creation of God:
14 (ERV) And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God:
So as can readily be seen, Jesus (Yeshua) Christ is NOT a god before his Father, Almighty God (YHWH); therefore, no violation of Exodus 20:3.
Your Friend in Christ Iris89