Exodus
Summary
Exodus 20 contains the Ten Commandments (*Aseret ha-Dibrot*), the foundational moral and legal framework for the covenant community. Spoken directly by the LORD from Mount Sinai, these laws establish the absolute priority of the LORD's worship, the sanctity of His name, and the institution of the Sabbath. The final six commandments define human relationships through the lens of holiness—honouring parents and forbidding murder, adultery, theft, false witness, and covetousness. The chapter concludes with the people's intense fear at the divine presence and the LORD's instructions for simple, unhewn altars, signifying that true worship is defined by His word rather than human artifice.
And God spoke all these words:
"I am the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery."
"You shall have no other gods before me."
"You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below."
"You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your Elohim, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,"
"but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments."
"You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your Elohim, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His name."
"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy."
"Six days you shall labour and do all your work,"
"but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your Elohim. 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."
"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."
"Honour your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your Elohim is giving you."
"You shall not [1] (murder)."
"You shall not commit adultery."
"You shall not steal."
"You shall not give false testimony against your neighbour."
"You shall not covet your neighbour’s house. You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbour."
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
and said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have 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 God will be with you to 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, "Tell the Israelites this: 'You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven:'"
"'Do not make any gods to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold.'"
"'Make an altar of earth for me and sacrifice on it your [2] (burnt offerings) and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats and your cattle. Wherever I cause my name to be honoured, I will come to you and bless you.'"
"'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.'"
"'And do not go up to my altar on steps, or your nakedness will be exposed on it.'"