Exodus 20:1-17

1 God spoke, and these were his words:

2 "I am the Lord your God who brought you out of Egypt, where you were slaves.

3 "Worship no god but me.

4 "Do not make for yourselves images of anything in heaven or on earth or in the water under the earth. ¹

5 Do not bow down to any idol or worship it, because I am the Lord your God and I tolerate no rivals. I bring punishment on those who hate me and on their descendants down to the third and fourth generation. ²

6 But I show my love to thousands of generations of those who love me and obey my laws.

7 "Do not use my name for evil purposes, for I, the Lord your God, will punish anyone who misuses my name. ³

8 "Observe the Sabbath and keep it holy. ⁴

9 You have six days in which to do your work, ⁵

10 but the seventh day is a day of rest dedicated to me. On that day no one is to work - neither you, your children, your slaves, your animals, nor the foreigners who live in your country.

11 In six days I, the Lord, made the earth, the sky, the seas, and everything in them, but on the seventh day I rested. That is why I, the Lord, blessed the Sabbath and made it holy. ⁶

12 "Respect your father and your mother, so that you may live a long time in the land that I am giving you. ⁷

13 "Do not commit murder. ⁸

14 "Do not commit adultery. ⁹

15 "Do not steal. ¹⁰

16 "Do not accuse anyone falsely. ¹¹

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." ¹²

Exodus 20:1-17 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.

Cross References

• 1. 20.4, 5Exodus 34.17;Leviticus 19.4; 26.1;Deuteronomy 4.15-18; 27.15.
• 2. 20.5, 6Exodus 34.6, 7;Numbers 14.18;Deuteronomy 7.9, 10.
• 3. 20.7Leviticus 19.12.
• 4. 20.8Exodus 16.23-30; 31.12-14.
• 5. 20.9, 10Exodus 23.12; 31.15; 34.21; 35.2;Leviticus 23.3.
• 6. 20.11Genesis 2.1-3;Exodus 31.17.
• 7. 20.12 aDeuteronomy 27.16;Matthew 15.4; 19.19;Mark 7.10; 10.19;Luke 18.20;Ephesians 6.2; bEphesians 6.3.
• 8. 20.13Genesis 9.6;Leviticus 24.17;Matthew 5.21; 19.18;Mark 10.19;Luke 18.20;Romans 13.9;James 2.11.
• 9. 20.14Leviticus 20.10;Matthew 5.27; 19.18;Mark 10.19;Luke 18.20;Romans 13.9;James 2.11.
• 10. 20.15Leviticus 19.11;Matthew 19.18;Mark 10.19;Luke 18.20;Romans 13.9.
• 11. 20.16Exodus 23.1;Matthew 19.18;Mark 10.19;Luke 18.20.
• 12. 20.17Romans 7.7; 13.9.

Footnotes

• [a] thousands of generations; [or] thousands.