Exodus 20
The Ten Commandments
1 And God spake all these words, saying, Word: Deuteronomy 4:36, 5:22. Parallel theme: Deuteronomy 5:4
2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. References God: Leviticus 19:36, 23:43, 26:13, Deuteronomy 5:6, 5:15, 13:10, Psalms 81:10, Hosea 13:4. References Lord: Exodus 13:3, Deuteronomy 7:8 +5
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; References God: Exodus 34:14, Deuteronomy 4:24, 6:15, Joshua 23:7, Nahum 1:2. Sin: Numbers 14:18, Deuteronomy 5:9, Joshua 24:19, Psalms 109:14, Jeremiah 32:18 +5
6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORDLord: יְהוָה / אֲדֹנָי (YHWH / Adonai). When 'LORD' appears in small capitals, it represents the Tetragrammaton YHWH (יְהוָה), God's personal covenant name meaning 'I AM.' When 'Lord' appears normally, it's Adonai (אֲדֹנָי), meaning 'my Lord,' emphasizing sovereignty. thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. References God: Leviticus 19:12, Deuteronomy 5:11, 10:20, Proverbs 30:9, 2 Corinthians 1:23. References Lord: Joshua 2:12, Jeremiah 4:2. Parallel theme: Joshua 2:17, 9:20, James 5:12 +5
8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Holy: Genesis 2:3, Leviticus 23:3. Parallel theme: Exodus 23:12, Leviticus 19:3, 19:30, 26:2
9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy GodGod: אֱלֹהִים (Elohim). The Hebrew Elohim (אֱלֹהִים) is a plural form denoting majesty and fullness of deity. Though grammatically plural, it takes singular verbs when referring to the one true God, suggesting the Trinity's plurality within unity.: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
11 For in six days the LORD made heavenHeaven: שָׁמַיִם (Shamayim). The Hebrew shamayim (שָׁמַיִם) means heaven or sky—God's dwelling place and the realm above earth. 'The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD's' (Psalm 115:16), yet 'the heaven of heavens cannot contain Him' (1 Kings 8:27). and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. Creation: Exodus 31:17
12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORDLord: יְהוָה / אֲדֹנָי (YHWH / Adonai). When 'LORD' appears in small capitals, it represents the Tetragrammaton YHWH (יְהוָה), God's personal covenant name meaning 'I AM.' When 'Lord' appears normally, it's Adonai (אֲדֹנָי), meaning 'my Lord,' emphasizing sovereignty. thy God giveth thee. References Lord: Colossians 3:20. References God: Leviticus 19:3, Deuteronomy 5:16. Parallel theme: Exodus 21:15, 21:17, Proverbs 20:20, 30:17, Matthew 19:19, Mark 7:10, Luke 18:20 +5
13 Thou shalt not kill. Parallel theme: Exodus 21:14, 21:20, Leviticus 24:21, Deuteronomy 5:17, Isaiah 26:21, Matthew 19:18, Romans 13:9, 1 Timothy 1:9, James 2:11, 2:13 +5
14 Thou shalt not commit adultery. Parallel theme: Leviticus 18:20, 20:10, Deuteronomy 5:18, 2 Samuel 11:27, Romans 13:9, Hebrews 13:4, James 4:4, Revelation 21:8 +3
15 Thou shalt not steal. Parallel theme: Leviticus 19:11, 19:13, Deuteronomy 24:7, Proverbs 11:1, Matthew 19:18, 21:13, John 12:6, Romans 13:9, 1 Corinthians 6:10, Ephesians 4:28 +5
16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.
The People's Fear
18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. Parallel theme: Jeremiah 23:23
19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not GodGod: אֱלֹהִים (Elohim). The Hebrew Elohim (אֱלֹהִים) is a plural form denoting majesty and fullness of deity. Though grammatically plural, it takes singular verbs when referring to the one true God, suggesting the Trinity's plurality within unity. speak with us, lest we die.
20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not. References God: Genesis 22:1, Deuteronomy 8:2, 13:3, Isaiah 41:10. Sin: Proverbs 16:6. Parallel theme: 1 Samuel 12:20, Job 28:28, Proverbs 1:7, 3:7, Isaiah 8:13 +5
21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.
Laws About Altars
22 And the LORD said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heavenHeaven: שָׁמַיִם (Shamayim). The Hebrew shamayim (שָׁמַיִם) means heaven or sky—God's dwelling place and the realm above earth. 'The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD's' (Psalm 115:16), yet 'the heaven of heavens cannot contain Him' (1 Kings 8:27).. Parallel theme: Deuteronomy 4:36, Nehemiah 9:13
23 Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold.
24 An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.
25 And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it. Sacrifice: Joshua 8:31
26 Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon. Sacrifice: Ecclesiastes 5:1. Parallel theme: Psalms 89:7, 1 Peter 1:16