Exodus 20:18-26

18 ¹All the people perceived the thunder and the lightning flashes and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood at a distance.

19 ²Then they said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself and we will listen; but let not God speak to us, or we will die."

20 Moses said to the people, "³Do not be afraid; for God has come in order ⁴to test you, and in order that ⁵the fear of Him may remain * with you, so that you may not sin."

21 So the people stood at a distance, while Moses approached ⁶the thick cloud where * God was.

22 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'You yourselves have seen that ⁷I have spoken to you from heaven.

23 '⁸You shall not make other gods besides Me; ⁹gods of silver or gods of gold, you shall not make for yourselves.

24 'You shall make ¹⁰an altar of earth for Me, and you shall sacrifice on it your ¹¹burnt offerings and your ¹²peace offerings, ¹³your sheep and your oxen; in every place ¹⁴where I cause My name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you.

25 'If you make an altar of stone for Me, ¹⁵you shall not build it of cut stones, for if you wield your tool on it, you will profane it.

26 'And you shall not go up by steps to My altar, so that ¹⁶your nakedness will not be exposed on it.'

Exodus 20:18-26 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. Exodus 19:16, 18; Hebrews 12:18, 19
• 2. Deut 5:5, 23-27; Galatians 3:19; Hebrews 12:19
• 3. Exodus 14:13; Isaiah 41:10, 13
• 4. Exodus 15:25; Deuteronomy 13:3
• 5. Deuteronomy 4:10; Deuteronomy 6:24; Proverbs 3:7; Proverbs 16:6; Isaiah 8:13
• 6. Exodus 19:16; Deuteronomy 5:22
• 7. Deuteronomy 4:36; Deuteronomy 5:24, 26; Nehemiah 9:13
• 8. Exodus 20:3
• 9. Ex 32:1, 2, 4; Deuteronomy 29:17
• 10. Exodus 20:25; Exodus 27:1-8
• 11. Exodus 10:25; Exodus 18:12
• 12. Exodus 24:5; Leviticus 1:2
• 13. Deuteronomy 12:5; Deuteronomy 16:6, 11; Deuteronomy 26:2; 2 Chronicles 6:6
• 14. Deuteronomy 12:5; Deuteronomy 26:2
• 15. Deuteronomy 27:5, 6; Joshua 8:31
• 16. Exodus 28:42, 43

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "sounds"
• [b]. Lit "with"
• [c]. Lit "with"
• [d]. Lit "be before"
• [e]. Lit "with"