The Ten Commandments
1 Then God spoke all these words:
2 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. 20:2 Ex 13:3; Hs 13:4
3 Do not have other gods besides me. 20:3 Dt 6:14; Jr 35:15
4 Do not make an idol 20:4 Lv 26:1; Dt 27:15 for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. 5 Do not bow in worship to them, and do not serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, 20:5 Ex 34:14; Dt 4:24; Is 44:15,19 bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children to the third and fourth generations 20:5 Nm 14:18; Ps 79:8; Jr 32:18 of those who hate me, 6 but showing faithful love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commands. 20:6 Dt 7:9
7 Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God, because the Lord will not leave anyone unpunished who misuses his name. 20:7 Lv 19:12; Mt 5:33
8 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy: 20:8 Ex 31:13–16; Lv 26:29 You are to labor six days and do all your work, 20:9 Ex 34:21; Lk 13:1410 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. You must not do any work — you, your son or daughter, your male or female servant, your livestock, or the resident alien who is within your city gates. 20:10 Gn 2:2–3; Neh 13:16–1911 For the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and everything in them in six days; then he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and declared it holy.
12 Honor your father and your mother 20:12 Lv 19:3; Mt 15:4; Mk 7:10; Lk 18:20; Eph 6:2 so that you may have a long life in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
13 Do not murder. 20:13 Mt 5:21; Rm 13:9
14 Do not commit adultery. 20:14 Dt 5:18; Mt 5:27
15 Do not steal. 20:15 Lv 19:11; Mt 19:18
16 Do not give false testimony against your neighbor. 20:16 Ex 23:1
17 Do not covet your neighbor’s house. Do not covet your neighbor’s wife, his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. 20:17 Dt 5:21; Mt 5:28; Lk 12:15; Rm 7:7; 13:9; Eph 5:3,5; Heb 13:5
The People’s Reaction
18 All the people witnessed 20:18 Lit saw the thunder and lightning, the sound of the ram’s horn, and the mountain surrounded by smoke. When the people saw it 20:18 Sam, LXX, Syr, Tg, Vg read smoke. The people (or they) were afraid, they trembled and stood at a distance. 20:18 Ex 19:18; Heb 12:1819 "You speak to us, and we will listen," they said to Moses, "but don’t let God speak to us, or we will die." 20:19 Dt 5:25,27; Gl 3:19
20 Moses responded to the people, "Don’t be afraid, for God has come to test you, so that you will fear him and will not 20:20 Lit that the fear of him may be in you, and you do not sin." 20:20 Dt 13:3; Pr 16:6; Is 8:1321 And the people remained standing at a distance as Moses approached the total darkness where God was. 20:21 Ex 19:16; Dt 5:22
Moses Receives Additional Laws
22 Then the Lord told Moses, "This is what you are to say to the Israelites: You have seen that I have spoken to you from heaven. 20:22 Dt 4:36; Neh 9:1323 Do not make gods of silver to rival me; do not make gods of gold for yourselves. 20:23 Ex 20:3; 32:4
24 "Make an earthen altar for me, and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, your flocks and herds. I will come to you and bless you in every place where I cause my name to be remembered. 20:24 Gn 12:2; Dt 12:5; 16:6,11; 1Kg 9:3; 2Ch 6:625 If you make a stone altar for me, do not build it out of cut stones. If you use your chisel on it, you will defile it. 20:25 Dt 27:5–6; Jos 8:3126 Do not go up to my altar on steps, so that your nakedness is not exposed on it.