Exodus 20:12-17

12 Honor your father and mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. ^[a]

13 You shall not murder. ^[b]

14 You shall not commit adultery. ^[c]

15 You shall not steal. ^[d]

16 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. ^[e]

17 You shall not covet ^[f] your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, or his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

Exodus 20:12-17 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.

Footnotes

• [a] Cited in Matthew 15:4, Matthew 19:19, Mark 7:10, Luke 18:20, and Ephesians 6:2–3
• [b] Cited in Matthew 5:21, Matthew 19:18, Mark 10:19, Luke 18:20, Romans 13:9, and James 2:11
• [c] Cited in Matthew 5:27, Matthew 19:18, Mark 10:19, Luke 18:20, Romans 13:9, and James 2:11
• [d] Cited in Matthew 19:18, Mark 10:19, Luke 18:20, and Romans 13:9
• [e] Cited in Matthew 19:18, Mark 10:19, and Luke 18:20
• [f] Cited in Romans 7:7 and Romans 13:9