Exodus 20:12-15

12 ¹“Honor your father and your mother, ²that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

13 ³“You shall not murder. ^[a]

14 ⁴“You shall not commit adultery.

15 ⁵“You shall not steal.

Exodus 20:12-15 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 20

In this chapter we have an account of the giving of the law on Mount Sinai; the preface to it, Ex 20:1,2, the ten commandments it consists of, Ex 20:8-17, the circumstances attending it, which caused the people to remove at some distance, Ex 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, Ex 20:19-21 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, Ex 20:22-26.

Cross References

• 1. 20:12 Lev. 19:3; Cited Matt. 15:4; 19:19; Mark 7:10; 10:19; Luke 18:20; Eph. 6:2; [Jer. 35:18, 19]
• 2. 20:12 Eph. 6:3
• 3. 20:13 Cited Matt. 5:21; 19:18; Rom. 13:9; [Gen. 9:5, 6; 1 John 3:15]
• 4. 20:14 Lev. 18:20; Deut. 22:22; Prov. 6:32; 1 Cor. 6:9; Heb. 13:4; Cited Matt. 5:27; Rom. 13:9
• 5. 20:15 Lev. 19:11; Eph. 4:28; Cited Matt. 19:18; Rom. 13:9

Footnotes

• [a] 20:13 The Hebrew word also covers causing human death through carelessness or negligence