Exodus 20:13-17

13 "¹You shall not murder.

14 "²You shall not commit adultery.

15 "³You shall not steal.

16 "⁴You shall not bear false witness against your ⁵neighbor.

17 "⁶You shall not covet your neighbor's house; ⁷you shall not covet your neighbor's wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor."

Exodus 20:13-17 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. Genesis 9:6; Exodus 21:12; Leviticus 24:17; Matthew 5:21; Matthew 19:18; Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20; Romans 13:9; James 2:11
• 2. Leviticus 20:10; Deuteronomy 5:18; Matthew 5:27; Matthew 19:18; Romans 13:9
• 3. Exodus 21:16; Leviticus 19:11, 13; Matthew 19:18; Romans 13:9
• 4. Exodus 23:1, 7; Deuteronomy 5:20; Matthew 19:18
• 5. Leviticus 19:18
• 6. Deuteronomy 5:21; Romans 7:7; Romans 13:9; Ephesians 5:3, 5
• 7. Proverbs 6:29; Matthew 5:28