Exodus 20

King James Version

Full text for Exodus Chapter 20

1¶ And God spake all these words, saying,

2I [am] the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

3Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

4Thou 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:

5Thou 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;

6And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

7Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

8Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

9Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

10But the seventh day [is] the sabbath of the LORD thy God: [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:

11For [in] six days the LORD made heaven 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.

12¶ Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

13Thou shalt not kill.

14Thou shalt not commit adultery.

15Thou shalt not steal.

16Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

17Thou 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.

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.

19And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.

20And 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.

21And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God [was].

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 heaven.

23Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold.

24An 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.

25And 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.

26Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Exodus 20 records God's direct revelation of the Ten Commandments to the Israelites at Mount Sinai. These divine laws begin with foundational principles of monotheism and proper worship, forbidding idolatry and the misuse of God's name, and establishing the Sabbath. The commandments then outline moral precepts concerning respect for parents, the sanctity of life, marriage, property, truthfulness, and covetousness. The chapter concludes with the people's fear of God's direct voice and initial instructions for building altars.

Medium Summary

Exodus 20 details the momentous occasion at Mount Sinai where God Himself spoke the Ten Commandments to the assembled Israelites. The divine pronouncements commence by establishing the Lord as their sole God, who delivered them from Egyptian bondage, and strictly forbid the worship of other deities or the creation of graven images. Further commands include honoring the Sabbath day as a time of rest, respecting parents, and upholding the sanctity of life, marriage, and property. The chapter also prohibits bearing false witness and coveting a neighbor's possessions. Witnessing the thunder, lightning, and trumpet sound, the people were filled with fear and requested Moses to be their mediator. God then provided specific instructions for building altars, emphasizing simplicity with earth or unhewn stone, and prohibiting steps to maintain modesty during worship.

Long Summary

Exodus 20 commences with God speaking directly to the children of Israel from Mount Sinai, introducing Himself as the LORD who brought them out of Egypt, the house of bondage. He then delivers the Ten Commandments, beginning with the foundational principle of monotheism, declaring that Israel shall have no other gods before Him. This is followed by a strict prohibition against making or worshipping any graven images, emphasizing God's jealous nature and His mercy towards those who love Him and keep His commandments. The third command forbids taking the Lord's name in vain, with a warning of guilt for those who do so. The fourth commandment instructs the Israelites to remember and keep the Sabbath day holy, laboring for six days and resting on the seventh, in remembrance of God's creation and rest. Subsequently, the commandments shift to interpersonal ethics, beginning with the command to honour father and mother, promising long life in the land. The remaining five commandments are concise prohibitions: "Thou shalt not kill," "Thou shalt not commit adultery," "Thou shalt not steal," "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour," and "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, nor his wife, nor his servants, nor his animals, nor anything that is his." After this divine revelation, the people were overwhelmed by the thunder, lightning, trumpet sound, and smoking mountain, standing afar off in fear. They implored Moses to speak with them instead of God directly, fearing death. Moses reassured them that God's presence was to prove them and instill His fear, preventing sin. Moses then approached the thick darkness where God was. The chapter concludes with God giving Moses further instructions for the Israelites regarding worship, specifically concerning altars. He reiterates the prohibition against making gods of silver or gold and commands the construction of altars of earth for burnt and peace offerings. If an altar of stone is built, it must not be made of hewn stone, to avoid pollution, and no steps should be used to prevent exposure of nakedness.

Core Concepts

  • The Decalogue (Ten Commandments)The core set of divine laws directly spoken by God to Israel at Mount Sinai, encompassing both theological and ethical principles for their conduct and worship.
  • Monotheism and IdolatryThe foundational command establishing the Lord as the one true God and strictly prohibiting the worship of other deities or the creation and veneration of graven images.
  • Sabbath ObservanceThe commandment to dedicate the seventh day as a holy day of rest, commemorating God's creation and His rest on the seventh day.
  • Moral and Social LawsA series of commands governing human relationships, including honoring parents, and prohibitions against killing, adultery, stealing, false witness, and coveting.
  • Divine Presence and FearThe overwhelming manifestation of God's presence at Sinai, causing the people to fear and request Moses to mediate God's communication.
  • Altar ConstructionSpecific instructions given by God regarding the building of altars for worship, emphasizing simplicity (earth or unhewn stone) and modesty.