1 God spoke all these words, saying, 2 "I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 "You shall have no other gods before me. 4 "You shall not make for yourselves an idol, nor any image of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 you shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them, for I, Yahweh your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 and showing loving kindness to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. 7 "You shall not take the name of Yahweh your God in vain, for Yahweh will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. 8 "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 You shall labor six days, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to Yahweh your God. You shall not do any work in it, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your livestock, nor your stranger who is within your gates; 11 for in six days Yahweh made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day; therefore Yahweh blessed the Sabbath day, and made it holy. 12 "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which Yahweh your God gives you. 13 "You shall not murder. 14 "You shall not commit adultery. 15 "You shall not steal. 16 "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. 17 "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's." 18 All the people perceived the thunderings, the lightnings, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking. When the people saw it, they trembled, and stayed at a distance. 19 They said to Moses, "Speak with us yourself, and we will listen; but don't let God speak with us, lest we die." 20 Moses said to the people, "Don't be afraid, for God has come to test you, and that his fear may be before you, that you won't sin." 21 The people stayed at a distance, and Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was. 22 Yahweh said to Moses, "This is what you shall tell the children of Israel: 'You yourselves have seen that I have talked with you from heaven. 23 You shall most certainly not make alongside of me gods of silver, or gods of gold for yourselves. 24 You shall make an altar of earth for me, and shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your cattle. In every place where I record my name I will come to you and I will bless you. 25 If you make me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of cut stones; for if you lift up your tool on it, you have polluted it. 26 Neither shall you go up by steps to my altar, that your nakedness may not be exposed to it.'
The preface to the ten commandments, Exodus 20:1, Exodus 20:2. The First commandment, against mental or theoretic idolatry, Exodus 20:3. The Second, against making and worshipping images, or practical idolatry, Exodus 20:4-6. The Third, against false swearing, blasphemy, and irreverent use of the name of God, Exodus 20:7. The Fourth, against profanation of the Sabbath, and idleness on the other days of the week, Exodus 20:8-11. The Fifth, against disrespect and disobedience to parents, Exodus 20:12. The Sixth, against murder and cruelty, Exodus 20:13. The Seventh, against adultery and uncleanness, Exodus 20:14. The Eighth, against stealing and dishonesty, Exodus 20:15. The Ninth, against false testimony, perjury, etc., Exodus 20:16. The Tenth, against covetousness, Exodus 20:17. The people are alarmed at the awful appearance of God on the mount, and stand afar off, Exodus 20:18. They pray that Moses may be mediator between God and them, Exodus 20:19. Moses encourages them, Exodus 20:20. He draws near to the thick darkness, and God communes with him, Exodus 20:21, Exodus 20:22. Farther directions against idolatry, Exodus 20:23. Directions concerning making an altar of earth, Exodus 20:24; and an altar of hewn stone, Exodus 20:25. None of these to be ascended by steps, and the reason given, Exodus 20:26.
INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 20
In this chapter we have an account of the giving of the law on Mount Sinai; the preface to it, Exodus 20:1, the ten commandments it consists of, Exodus 20:8, the circumstances attending it, which caused the people to remove at some distance, Exodus 20:18, when they desired of Moses, that he would speak to them and not God, who bid them not fear, since this was for the trial of them; but still they kept at a distance, while Moses drew nigh to God, Exodus 20:19 who ordered him to caution the children of Israel against idolatry, and directed what sort of an altar he would have made whereon to offer their sacrifices, promising that where his name was recorded he would grant his presence and blessing, Exodus 20:22.
(Exodus 20:1, Exodus 20:2) The preface to the ten commandments.
(Exodus 20:3-11) The commandments of the first table.
(Exodus 20:12-17) Of the second table.
(Exodus 20:18-21) The fear of the people.
(Exodus 20:22-26) Idolatry again forbidden.
*More commentary available by clicking individual verses.