ExodusChapter 20

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Show the Ten CommandmentsGod's law given on Sinai

The Ten Commandments were given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai. The first four concern our relationship with God, and the last six concern our relationship with others.

No other gods

[Exodus 20:3]

v.3

No idolatry

[Exodus 20:4-6]

v.4, 5, 6

Do not misuse God's name

[Exodus 20:7]

v.7

Keep the Sabbath holy

[Exodus 20:8-11]

v.8, 9, 10, 11

Honor your father and mother

[Exodus 20:12]

v.12

Do not murder

[Exodus 20:13]

v.13

Do not commit adultery

[Exodus 20:14]

v.14

Do not steal

[Exodus 20:15]

v.15

Do not give false testimony

[Exodus 20:16]

v.16

Do not covet

[Exodus 20:17]

v.17

Then God spoke all these words:

"I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

You shall have no other gods before me.

You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any image of anything in the heavens above, or on the earth below, or in the waters under the earth.

You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the guilt of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,

but showing steadfast love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold guiltless anyone who misuses his name.

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.

Six days you shall labor and do all your work,

but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female servant, your livestock, or the foreigner residing within your gates.

For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and everything in them, but he rested on the seventh day. That is why the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

You shall not murder.

You shall not commit adultery.

You shall not steal.

You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or his donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."

All the people witnessed the thunder and the flashes of lightning, the blast of the trumpet, and the mountain wrapped in smoke. And when the people saw it, they trembled and stood far off.

They said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not let God speak to us, or we will die."

Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of him will be with you and keep you from sinning."

The people remained at a distance while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Say this to the Israelites: You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven.

You shall not make gods of silver to be alongside me, nor shall you make for yourselves gods of gold.

Make an altar of earth for me, and on it sacrifice your burnt offerings and your fellowship offerings, your sheep and your cattle. Wherever I cause my name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you.

If you make an altar of stones for me, do not build it with cut stones, for if you use a chisel on it, you will defile it.

And do not go up to my altar on steps, so that your nakedness is not exposed on it."

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Summary2

Chapter 20

Main Theme: God gives Israel the Ten Commandments and foundational laws for worship at Sinai.

Content: God speaks directly to Israel and gives them the Ten Commandments, covering their relationship with God (no other gods, no idols, not misusing God's name, keeping the Sabbath) and their relationship with one another (honor parents, do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not covet). The people are overwhelmed by fear at God's powerful presence and ask Moses to be their mediator. The chapter concludes with instructions on how the altar should be built.

Key Words/Images:

The Ten Commandments (עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדְּבָרִים): God's fundamental covenant requirements that define Israel's relationship with Him and with each other.
The Sabbath: The seventh day set apart for rest, grounded in God's creation.
A Jealous God (אֵל קַנָּא): God demands undivided loyalty and does not tolerate idolatry.
Theophany: God's powerful revelation accompanied by thunder, lightning, and smoke that causes the people to fear.
Altar of earth/unhewn stones: Simple worship without human ornamentation, honoring God's holiness.

Historical context

Historical and Cultural Context for Exodus 20

People

In this chapter, Moses serves as the intermediary between God and the people. When the Israelites become afraid of God’s direct speech (v. 19), they ask Moses to speak to them instead. Moses alone enters the dark cloud (arafel, עֲרָפֶל) where God is present (v. 21) and receives further instructions about worship there.

Places

Mount Sinai (Horeb) is the central setting for this chapter. In biblical tradition, the mountain represents the meeting point between heaven and earth—the place where God reveals Himself directly to His people. The dark cloud (arafel, עֲרָפֶל) surrounding God on the mountain (v. 21) is a classic theophany motif in the Old Testament.

Events and Customs

The Ten Commandments (Hebrew: aseret ha-devarim, עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדְּבָרִים, "the ten words") are presented in this chapter. The division of the commandments into those concerning our relationship with God (vv. 3–11) and those concerning our relationships with others (vv. 12–17) follows a structure known from covenant literature: identification of the Lord, a historical prologue about His acts of kindness, and subsequent requirements.

The prohibition against images (vv. 4–5) was radical in a world where divine statues were central to all religious practice. In Egypt and Mesopotamia, gods were worshipped through statues that were "opened" through rituals so that the deity could take up residence within them. The Israelites’ ban on images marked a fundamental break with this practice and emphasized that YHWH could not be manipulated or controlled through representations.

The Sabbath commandment (vv. 8–11) stands out from surrounding cultures. While the Babylonians had days of restriction (šapattu) tied to lunar cycles, the Israelite Sabbath was a weekly day of rest rooted in creation. Remarkably, the Sabbath command explicitly includes servants, foreigners, and livestock—a social dimension without parallel in antiquity.

The regulations concerning altars at the end of the chapter (vv. 24–26) reflect a simple worship practice. The prohibition against using hewn stones or steps contrasts with the grand temple complexes of Egypt and Canaan, emphasizing that true worship does not require human craftsmanship.

The apodictic (unconditional) form of the commandments—"You shall not"—without specifying penalties suggests they functioned as foundational principles rather than detailed legislation.

Key Terms

The word qanna (קַנָּא), translated "jealous" or "passionate" (v. 5), describes God’s exclusive claim to His people’s loyalty. This is not jealousy in the human sense, but a marriage-like faithfulness—a metaphor that the prophets later developed extensively.

The expression lo tissa (לֹא תִשָּׂא, v. 7), "you shall not bear/lift up," refers to the misuse of God’s name. This included more than cursing—it encompassed false oaths, magical use of the name, and any casual treatment of the holy name YHWH.

The verb chamad (חָמַד), "covet" (v. 17), which appears twice in the verse, describes not merely feelings but an active desire that leads to action. In a Near Eastern context, this could include legal manipulation to acquire another person’s property.

People3

God2 Jacob1 Moses3

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Key words12

The Ten Commandments — Fundamental moral rules given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai.
Moses — The prophet and leader who led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt and received the Ten Commandments from God.
Mount Sinai — The place where God gave Moses the Ten Commandments and made a covenant with the Israelites.
Israelites — A people descended from Jacob, also called the children of Israel, whom God freed from slavery in Egypt.
Idols — Represent false gods or idols, which are forbidden according to the first commandment.
Sabbath day — The seventh day of the week, on which God rested after creating the world. It is to be kept holy according to the fourth commandment.
Parents — Mother and father, whom one must honor and respect according to the fifth commandment.
Murder — Taking another person's life, which is forbidden according to the sixth commandment.
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