Exodus 20:12-22

12 "Respect your father and your mother, so that you may live a long time in the land that I am giving you. ¹

13 "Do not commit murder. ²

14 "Do not commit adultery. ³

15 "Do not steal. ⁴

16 "Do not accuse anyone falsely. ⁵

17 "Do not desire another man's house; do not desire his wife, his slaves, his cattle, his donkeys, or anything else that he owns." ⁶

18 When the people heard the thunder and the trumpet blast and saw the lightning and the smoking mountain, they trembled with fear and stood a long way off. ⁷

19 They said to Moses, "If you speak to us, we will listen; but we are afraid that if God speaks to us, we will die."

20 Moses replied, "Don't be afraid; God has only come to test you and make you keep on obeying him, so that you will not sin."

21 But the people continued to stand a long way off, and only Moses went near the dark cloud where God was.

22 The Lord commanded Moses to tell the Israelites: "You have seen how I, the Lord, have spoken to you from heaven.

Exodus 20:12-22 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 aDeuteronomy 27.16;Matthew 15.4; 19.19;Mark 7.10; 10.19;Luke 18.20;Ephesians 6.2; bEphesians 6.3.
• 2. 20.13Genesis 9.6;Leviticus 24.17;Matthew 5.21; 19.18;Mark 10.19;Luke 18.20;Romans 13.9;James 2.11.
• 3. 20.14Leviticus 20.10;Matthew 5.27; 19.18;Mark 10.19;Luke 18.20;Romans 13.9;James 2.11.
• 4. 20.15Leviticus 19.11;Matthew 19.18;Mark 10.19;Luke 18.20;Romans 13.9.
• 5. 20.16Exodus 23.1;Matthew 19.18;Mark 10.19;Luke 18.20.
• 6. 20.17Romans 7.7; 13.9.
• 7. 20.18, 19Hebrews 12.18, 19.