Focused Passage

Deuteronomy 5:6-21

The Ten Commandments and the Living Voice at Horeb

From the living-covenant frame (vv. 1-5) through the Decalogue's re-presentation (vv. 6-21) to the Horeb aftermath and Moses's mediatorial appointment (vv. 22-33) — the chapter establishes who spoke, what was said, how it was received, and through whom it will continue to be communicated.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

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

7 You shall have no other gods before Me.

8 You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath.

9 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,

10 but showing loving devotion to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.

11 You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave anyone unpunished who takes His name in vain.

12 Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the LORD your God has commanded you.

13 Six days you shall labor and do all your work,

14 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God, on which you must not do any work—neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox or donkey or any of your livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest as you do.

15 Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. That is why the LORD your God has commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.

16 Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that your days may be long and that it may go well with you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

17 You shall not murder.

18 You shall not commit adultery.

19 You shall not steal.

20 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

21 You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house or field, or his manservant or maidservant, or his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 6

Original words

I אָֽנֹכִי֙ H595 Pronoun - first person common singular am the LORD יְהוָ֣ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular who אֲשֶׁ֧ר H834 Pronoun - relative brought you out הוֹצֵאתִ֛יךָ H3318 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singular of the land מֵאֶ֥רֶץ H776 Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct of Egypt מִצְרַ֖יִם H4714 Noun - proper - feminine singular out of the house מִבֵּ֣ית H1004 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct of slavery עֲבָדִֽ֑ים׃ H5650 Noun - masculine plural
Verse 7

Original words

You shall have יִהְיֶ֥ה־ H1961 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular no לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle - לְךָ֛֩ Preposition | second person masculine singular other אֲחֵרִ֖֜ים H312 Adjective - masculine plural gods אֱלֹהִ֥֨ים H430 Noun - masculine plural before עַל־ H5921 Preposition Me פָּנָֽ֗יַ׃ H6440 Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular

BSB notes

  • Or besides Me
Verse 8

Original words

{You shall} not לֹֽ֣א־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle make תַעֲשֶׂ֥ה־ H6213 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular for yourself לְךָ֥֣ Preposition | second person masculine singular an idol פֶ֣֙סֶל֙׀ H6459 Noun - masculine singular construct in the form תְּמוּנָ֔֡ה H8544 Noun - feminine singular - אֲשֶׁ֤֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative of anything כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct in the heavens בַּשָּׁמַ֣֙יִם֙׀ H8064 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural above מִמַּ֔֡עַל H4605 Preposition-m | Adverb - וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר֩ H834 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - relative on the earth בָּאָ֖֨רֶץ H776 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular below מִתָּ֑֜חַת H8478 Preposition-m | Adverb - וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - relative or in the waters בַּמַּ֖֣יִם׀ H4325 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural beneath מִתַּ֥֣חַת H8478 Preposition-m - לָאָֽ֗רֶץ׃ H776 Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 9

Original words

You shall not לֹא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle bow down תִשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֥֣ה H7812 Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - second person masculine singular to them לָהֶ֖ם֮ Preposition | third person masculine plural . . . וְלֹ֣א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle or worship them תָעָבְדֵ֑ם֒ H5647 Verb - Hofal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine plural for כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction I אָנֹכִ֞י H595 Pronoun - first person common singular the LORD יְהוָ֤ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular am a jealous קַנָּ֔א H7067 Adjective - masculine singular God אֵ֣ל H410 Noun - masculine singular visiting פֹּ֠קֵד H6485 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular the iniquity עֲוֺ֨ן H5771 Noun - common singular construct of the fathers אָב֧וֹת H1 Noun - masculine plural on עַל־ H5921 Preposition their children בָּנִ֛ים H1121 Noun - masculine plural . . . וְעַל־ H5921 Conjunctive waw | Preposition to the third שִׁלֵּשִׁ֥ים H8029 Noun - masculine plural . . . וְעַל־ H5921 Conjunctive waw | Preposition and fourth [generations] רִבֵּעִ֖ים H7256 Noun - masculine plural of those who hate Me לְשֹׂנְאָֽ֑י׃ H8130 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Verse 10

Original words

but showing וְעֹ֤֥שֶׂה H6213 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular loving devotion חֶ֖֙סֶד֙ H2617 Noun - masculine singular to a thousand [generations] לַֽאֲלָפִ֑֔ים H505 Preposition-l | Number - masculine plural of those who love Me לְאֹהֲבַ֖י H157 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | first person common singular and keep וּלְשֹׁמְרֵ֥י H8104 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct My commandments מִצְוֹתוֹ׃ס H4687 Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common singular

BSB notes

  • Hebrew loving devotion to thousands; forms of the Hebrew chesed are translated here and in most cases throughout the Scriptures as loving devotion; the range of meaning includes love, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and mercy, as well as loyalty to a covenant.
Verse 11

Original words

You shall not לֹ֥א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle take תִשָּׂ֛א H5375 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the name שֵֽׁם־ H8034 Noun - masculine singular construct of the LORD יְהוָ֥ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular in vain לַשָּׁ֑וְא H7723 Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular for כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction the LORD יְהוָ֔ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֵ֛ת H853 Direct object marker will not לֹ֤א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle leave anyone unpunished יְנַקֶּה֙ H5352 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular who אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative takes יִשָּׂ֥א H5375 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular His name שְׁמ֖וֹ H8034 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker in vain לַשָּֽׁוְא׃ס H7723 Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 12

Original words

Observe שָׁמ֣֛וֹר H8104 Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the Sabbath הַשַּׁבָּ֖֨ת H7676 Article | Noun - common singular day י֥וֹם֩ H3117 Noun - masculine singular construct by keeping it holy לְקַדְּשׁ֑֜וֹ H6942 Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular as כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative the LORD יְהוָ֥֣ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹהֶֽ֗יךָ׃ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular has commanded you צִוְּךָ֖֣׀ H6680 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular
Verse 13

Original words

Six שֵׁ֤֣שֶׁת H8337 Number - masculine singular construct days יָמִ֣ים֙ H3117 Noun - masculine plural you shall labor תַּֽעֲבֹ֔ד֮ H5647 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular and do וְעָשִׂ֖֣יתָ H6213 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular all כָּֿל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct your work מְלַאכְתֶּֽךָ֒׃ H4399 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Verse 14

Original words

but the seventh הַשְּׁבִיעִ֜֔י H7637 Article | Number - ordinal masculine singular day וְי֙וֹם֙ H3117 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct is a Sabbath שַׁבָּ֖֣ת׀ H7676 Noun - common singular to the LORD לַיהוָ֣֥ה H3068 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹהֶ֑֗יךָ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular on which you must not לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle do תַעֲשֶׂ֣ה H6213 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular any כָל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct work מְלָאכָ֡ה H4399 Noun - feminine singular neither you אַתָּ֣ה H859 Pronoun - second person masculine singular nor your son וּבִנְךָֽ־ H1121 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular [or] daughter וּבִתֶּ֣ךָ H1323 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular nor your manservant וְעַבְדְּךָֽ־ H5650 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular [or] maidservant וַ֠אֲמָתֶךָ H519 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular nor your ox וְשׁוֹרְךָ֨ H7794 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular or donkey וַחֲמֹֽרְךָ֜ H2543 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular or any וְכָל־ H3605 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct of your livestock בְּהֶמְתֶּ֗ךָ H929 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular nor the foreigner וְגֵֽרְךָ֙ H1616 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular - אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative within your gates בִּשְׁעָרֶ֔יךָ H8179 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular so that לְמַ֗עַן H4616 Conjunction your manservant עַבְדְּךָ֥ H5650 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular and maidservant וַאֲמָתְךָ֖ H519 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular may rest יָנ֛וּחַ H5117 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular as you do כָּמֽ֑וֹךָ׃ H3644 Preposition | second person masculine singular
Verse 15

Original words

Remember וְזָכַרְתָּ֞֗ H2142 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular that כִּ֣י־ H3588 Conjunction you were הָיִ֣֙יתָ֙׀ H1961 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular a slave עֶ֤֥בֶד H5650 Noun - masculine singular in the land בְּאֶ֣רֶץ H776 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct of Egypt מִצְרַ֔֗יִם H4714 Noun - proper - feminine singular and that the LORD יְהוָ֤֨ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹהֶ֤֙יךָ֙ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular brought you out וַיֹּצִ֨אֲךָ֜֩ H3318 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular of there מִשָּׁ֔ם֙ H8033 Preposition-m | Adverb with a mighty חֲזָקָ֖ה֙ H2389 Adjective - feminine singular hand בְּיָ֤֥ד H3027 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular and an outstretched נְטוּיָ֑֔ה H5186 Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singular arm וּבִזְרֹ֣עַ H2220 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular That is why עַל־ H5921 Preposition . . . כֵּ֗ן H3651 Adverb the LORD יְהוָ֣ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular has commanded צִוְּךָ֙ H6680 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular you to keep לַעֲשׂ֖וֹת H6213 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the Sabbath הַשַׁבָּֽת׃ס H7676 Article | Noun - common singular day י֥וֹם H3117 Noun - masculine singular construct
Verse 16

Original words

Honor כַּבֵּ֤ד H3513 Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker your father אָבִ֙יךָ֙ H1 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker and your mother אִמֶּ֔ךָ H517 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular as כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative the LORD יְהוָ֣ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular has commanded you צִוְּךָ֖ H6680 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular so that לְמַ֣עַן׀ H4616 Conjunction your days יָמֶ֗יךָ H3117 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular may be long יַאֲרִיכֻ֣ן H748 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nun and that וּלְמַ֙עַן֙ H4616 Conjunction it may go well יִ֣יטַב H3190 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular with you לָ֔ךְ Preposition | second person masculine singular in עַ֚ל H5921 Preposition the land הָֽאֲדָמָ֔ה H127 Article | Noun - feminine singular that אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative the LORD יְהוָ֥ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular is giving נֹתֵ֥ן H5414 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular you לָֽךְ׃ס Preposition | second person masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Cited in Matthew 15:4, Matthew 19:19, Mark 7:10, Luke 18:20, and Ephesians 6:2–3
Verse 17

Original words

You shall not לֹ֥֖א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle murder תִּֿרְצָֽח׃ס H7523 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Cited in Matthew 5:21, Matthew 19:18, Mark 10:19, Luke 18:20, Romans 13:9, and James 2:11
Verse 18

Original words

You shall not וְלֹ֖֣א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle commit adultery תִּֿנְאָֽ֑ף׃ס H5003 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Cited in Matthew 5:27, Matthew 19:18, Mark 10:19, Luke 18:20, Romans 13:9, and James 2:11
Verse 19

Original words

You shall not וְלֹ֖֣א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle steal תִּֿגְנֹֽ֔ב׃ס H1589 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Cited in Matthew 19:18, Mark 10:19, Luke 18:20, and Romans 13:9
Verse 20

Original words

You shall not וְלֹֽא־ H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle bear תַעֲנֶ֥ה H6030 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular false שָֽׁוְא׃ס H7723 Noun - masculine singular witness עֵ֥ד H5707 Noun - masculine singular construct against your neighbor בְרֵֽעֲךָ֖ H7453 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Cited in Matthew 19:18, Mark 10:19, and Luke 18:20
Verse 21

Original words

You shall not וְלֹ֥א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle covet תַחְמֹ֖ד H2530 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular your neighbor’s רֵעֶ֑ךָס H7453 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular . . . וְלֹ֨א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle wife אֵ֣שֶׁת H802 Noun - feminine singular construct You shall not covet תִתְאַוֶּ֜ה H183 Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - second person masculine singular your neighbor’s רֵעֶ֗ךָ H7453 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular house בֵּ֣ית H1004 Noun - masculine singular construct or field שָׂדֵ֜הוּ H7704 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular or his manservant וְעַבְדּ֤וֹ H5650 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular or maidservant וַאֲמָתוֹ֙ H519 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular or his ox שׁוֹר֣וֹ H7794 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular or donkey וַחֲמֹר֔וֹ H2543 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular or anything וְכֹ֖ל H3605 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular that אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative belongs to your neighbor לְרֵעֶֽךָ׃ס H7453 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Cited in Romans 7:7 and Romans 13:9

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.