Exodus, Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Verses 1-23: The Ten Commandments

1. And God spoke all these words:
2. “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
3. You shall have no other gods before me.
4. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
5. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,
6. but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7. You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
8. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
9. Six days you shall labor and do all your work,
10. but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns.
11. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
12. Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
13. You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal.
14. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
15. 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 donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
16. When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance
17. and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.”
18. Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”
19. The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.
20. Then the LORD said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites this: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven:
21. Do not make any gods to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold.
22. An altar of earth you shall make for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats and your cattle. Wherever I cause my name to be honored, I will come to you and bless you.
23. If you make an altar of stones for me, do not build it with dressed stones, for you will defile it if you use a tool on it.

Interpretation: Exodus 20 marks a seminal moment in the biblical narrative, where God establishes the moral and spiritual foundation for the Israelite community. The Ten Commandments encapsulate the essence of the covenant between God and His people, delineating the principles of worship, justice, and personal conduct. This divine law underscores the uniqueness of the relationship between God and Israel, predicated on exclusivity of worship and ethical living. The commandments serve not only as legal imperatives but as a guide to holiness, aiming to set the Israelites apart from surrounding nations and to foster a society rooted in respect for God and for one another. The people’s reaction to God’s manifestation on Sinai—fear, awe, and a request for mediation through Moses—reflects the profound impact of encountering the divine, emphasizing the need for reverence and obedience in their walk with God. The instructions for making an altar highlight the simplicity and sincerity God desires in worship, devoid of idolatry and human artifice.