Focused Passage

Exodus 20:1-17

The Ten Commandments and the Fear of the LORD

The LORD identifies Himself as Israel’s Redeemer, speaks the Ten Commandments, the people tremble and ask for mediation, Moses explains that the fear of God is meant to keep them from sinning, and the LORD gives initial altar instructions that guard worship from idolatry and human self-display.

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

1And God spoke all these words:

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

3You shall have no other gods before Me.

4You 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.

5You 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,

6but showing loving devotion to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.

7You 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.

8Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.

9Six days you shall labor and do all your work,

10but 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 or livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates.

11For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that is in them, but on the seventh day He rested. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.

12Honor your father and mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

13You shall not murder.

14You shall not commit adultery.

15You shall not steal.

16You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

17You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, or his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Original words

And Godאֱלֹהִ֔יםH430Noun - masculine plural-אֵ֛תH853Direct object markerspokeוַיְדַבֵּ֣רH1696Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularallכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructtheseהָאֵ֖לֶּהH428Article | Pronoun - common plural. . .לֵאמֹֽר׃סH559Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructwordsהַדְּבָרִ֥יםH1697Article | Noun - masculine plural
Verse 2

Original words

Iאָֽנֹכִ֖י֙H595Pronoun - first person common singularam the LORDיְהוָ֣הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularyour Godאֱלֹהֶ֑֔יךָH430Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularwhoאֲשֶׁ֧רH834Pronoun - relativebrought you outהוֹצֵאתִ֛יךָH3318Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singularof the landמֵאֶ֥רֶץH776Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular constructof Egyptמִצְרַ֖יִםH4714Noun - proper - feminine singularout of the houseמִבֵּ֣֥יתH1004Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular constructof slaveryעֲבָדִיֽ֑ם׃H5650Noun - masculine plural
Verse 3

Original words

Youלְךָ֛֩Preposition | second person masculine singularshall haveיִהְיֶֽה־H1961Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularnoלֹֽ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particleotherאֲחֵרִ֖֜יםH312Adjective - masculine pluralgodsאֱלֹהִ֥֨יםH430Noun - masculine pluralbeforeעַל־H5921PrepositionMeפָּנָֽ֗יַ׃H6440Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular

BSB notes

  • Or besides Me
Verse 4

Original words

{You shall} notלֹֽ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particlemakeתַֽעֲשֶׂ֨ה־H6213Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularfor yourselfלְךָ֥֣Preposition | second person masculine singularan idolפֶ֣֙סֶל֙׀H6459Noun - masculine singularin the formוְכָל־H3605Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructof anythingתְּמוּנָ֡֔הH8544Noun - feminine singular-אֲשֶׁ֤ר֣H834Pronoun - relativein the heavensבַּשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙׀H8064Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine pluralaboveמִמַּ֡֔עַלH4605Preposition-m | Adverb-וַֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר֩H834Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - relativeon the earthבָּאָ֖֨רֶץH776Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singularbelowמִתַָּ֑֜חַתH8478Preposition-m | Adverb-וַאֲשֶׁ֥֣רH834Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - relativeor in the watersבַּמַּ֖֣יִם׀H4325Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine pluralbeneathמִתַּ֥֣חַתH8478Preposition-m. . .לָאָֽ֗רֶץ׃H776Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 5

Original words

You shall notלֹֽא־H3808Adverb - Negative particlebow downתִשְׁתַּחְוֶ֥֣הH7812Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - second person masculine singularto themלָהֶ֖ם֮Preposition | third person masculine pluralorוְלֹ֣אH3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particleworship themתָעָבְדֵ֑ם֒H5647Verb - Hofal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine pluralforכִּ֣יH3588ConjunctionIאָֽנֹכִ֞יH595Pronoun - first person common singularthe LORDיְהוָ֤הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularyour Godאֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙H430Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularam a jealousקַנָּ֔אH7067Adjective - masculine singularGodאֵ֣לH410Noun - masculine singularvisitingפֹּ֠קֵדH6485Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularthe iniquityעֲוֺ֨ןH5771Noun - common singular constructof the fathersאָבֹ֧תH1Noun - masculine pluralonעַל־H5921Preposition[their] childrenבָּנִ֛יםH1121Noun - masculine pluraltoעַל־H5921Prepositionthe thirdשִׁלֵּשִׁ֥יםH8029Noun - masculine plural. . .וְעַל־H5921Conjunctive waw | Prepositionand fourth [generations]רִבֵּעִ֖יםH7256Noun - masculine pluralof those who hate Meלְשֹׂנְאָֽ֑י׃H8130Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Verse 6

Original words

but showingוְעֹ֥֤שֶׂהH6213Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularloving devotionחֶ֖֙סֶד֙H2617Noun - masculine singularto a thousand [generations]לַאֲלָפִ֑֔יםH505Preposition-l | Number - masculine pluralof those who love Meלְאֹהֲבַ֖יH157Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | first person common singularand keepוּלְשֹׁמְרֵ֥יH8104Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural constructMy commandmentsמִצְוֺתָֽי׃סH4687Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common singular

BSB notes

  • Or to thousands
Verse 7

Original words

You {shall} notלֹ֥אH3808Adverb - Negative particletakeתִשָּׂ֛אH5375Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe nameשֵֽׁם־H8034Noun - masculine singular constructof the LORDיְהוָ֥הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularyour Godאֱלֹהֶ֖יךָH430Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularin vainלַשָּׁ֑וְאH7723Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singularforכִּ֣יH3588Conjunctionthe LORDיְהוָ֔הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singular-אֵ֛תH853Direct object markerwill notלֹ֤אH3808Adverb - Negative particleleave anyone unpunishedיְנַקֶּה֙H5352Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singularwhoאֲשֶׁר־H834Pronoun - relativetakesיִשָּׂ֥אH5375Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerHis nameשְׁמ֖וֹH8034Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularin vainלַשָּֽׁוְא׃פH7723Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 8

Original words

Rememberזָכ֛וֹר֩H2142Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe Sabbathהַשַּׁבָּ֖֜תH7676Article | Noun - common singulardayי֥֨וֹםH3117Noun - masculine singular constructby keeping it holyלְקַדְּשֽׁ֗וֹ׃H6942Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular
Verse 9

Original words

Sixשֵׁ֤֣שֶׁתH8337Number - masculine singular constructdaysיָמִ֣ים֙H3117Noun - masculine pluralyou shall laborתַּֽעֲבֹ֔ד֮H5647Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularand doוְעָשִׂ֖֣יתָH6213Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singularallכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructyour workמְלַאכְתֶּֽךָ֒׃H4399Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Verse 10

Original words

but the seventhהַשְּׁבִיעִ֔֜יH7637Article | Number - ordinal masculine singulardayוְי֙וֹם֙H3117Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructis a Sabbathשַׁבָּ֖֣ת׀H7676Noun - common singularto the LORDלַיהוָ֣הH3068Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singularyour Godאֱלֹהֶ֑֗יךָH430Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularon which you must notלֹֽ֣א־H3808Adverb - Negative particledoתַעֲשֶׂ֣֨הH6213Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularanyכָל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructworkמְלָאכָ֡֜הH4399Noun - feminine singularneither youאַתָּ֣ה׀H859Pronoun - second person masculine singularnor your sonוּבִנְךָֽ֣־H1121Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularor daughterוּ֠בִתֶּ֗ךָH1323Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singularnor your manservantעַבְדְּךָ֤֨H5650Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularor maidservantוַאֲמָֽתְךָ֜֙H519Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singularor livestockוּבְהֶמְתֶּ֔֗ךָH929Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singularnor the foreignerוְגֵרְךָ֖֙H1616Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularwithinאֲשֶׁ֥֣רH834Pronoun - relativeyour gatesבִּשְׁעָרֶֽ֔יךָ׃H8179Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Verse 11

Original words

Forכִּ֣יH3588Conjunction[in] sixשֵֽׁשֶׁת־H8337Number - masculine singular constructdaysיָמִים֩H3117Noun - masculine pluralthe LORDיְהוָ֜הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markermadeעָשָׂ֨הH6213Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularthe heavensהַשָּׁמַ֣יִםH8064Article | Noun - masculine plural-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerand the earthהָאָ֗רֶץH776Article | Noun - feminine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerand the seaהַיָּם֙H3220Article | Noun - masculine singularandוְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerallכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructthatאֲשֶׁר־H834Pronoun - relative[is] in themבָּ֔םPreposition | third person masculine pluralbut on the seventhהַשְּׁבִיעִ֑יH7637Article | Number - ordinal masculine singulardayבַּיּ֣וֹםH3117Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularHe restedוַיָּ֖נַחH5117Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularThereforeעַל־H5921Preposition. . .כֵּ֗ןH3651Adverbthe LORDיְהוָ֛הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerblessedבֵּרַ֧ךְH1288Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singularthe Sabbathהַשַּׁבָּ֖תH7676Article | Noun - common singulardayי֥וֹםH3117Noun - masculine singular constructand set it apart as holyוַֽיְקַדְּשֵֽׁהוּ׃סH6942Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Verse 12

Original words

Honorכַּבֵּ֥דH3513Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markeryour fatherאָבִ֖יךָH1Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerand motherאִמֶּ֑ךָH517Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singularso thatלְמַ֙עַן֙H4616Conjunctionyour daysיָמֶ֔יךָH3117Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularmay be longיַאֲרִכ֣וּןH748Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nuninעַ֚לH5921Prepositionthe landהָאֲדָמָ֔הH127Article | Noun - feminine singularthatאֲשֶׁר־H834Pronoun - relativethe LORDיְהוָ֥הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularyour Godאֱלֹהֶ֖יךָH430Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularis givingנֹתֵ֥ןH5414Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularyouלָֽךְ׃סPreposition | 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 13

Original words

You shall notלֹ֥֖אH3808Adverb - Negative particlemurderתִּֿרְצָֽ֖ח׃סH7523Verb - 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 14

Original words

You shall notלֹ֣֖אH3808Adverb - Negative particlecommit adulteryתִּֿנְאָֽ֑ף׃סH5003Verb - 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 15

Original words

You shall notלֹ֣֖אH3808Adverb - Negative particlestealתִּֿגְנֹֽ֔ב׃סH1589Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Cited in Matthew 19:18, Mark 10:19, Luke 18:20, and Romans 13:9
Verse 16

Original words

You shall notלֹֽא־H3808Adverb - Negative particlebearתַעֲנֶ֥הH6030Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularfalseשָֽׁקֶר׃סH8267Noun - masculine singularwitnessעֵ֥דH5707Noun - masculine singular constructagainst your neighborבְרֵעֲךָ֖H7453Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Cited in Matthew 19:18, Mark 10:19, and Luke 18:20
Verse 17

Original words

You shall notלֹ֥אH3808Adverb - Negative particlecovetתַחְמֹ֖דH2530Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularyour neighbor’sרֵעֶ֑ךָH7453Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularhouseבֵּ֣יתH1004Noun - masculine singular constructYou shall notלֹֽא־H3808Adverb - Negative particlecovetתַחְמֹ֞דH2530Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularyour neighbor’sרֵעֶ֗ךָH7453Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularwifeאֵ֣שֶׁתH802Noun - feminine singular constructor his manservantוְעַבְדּ֤וֹH5650Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularor maidservantוַאֲמָתוֹ֙H519Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularor his oxוְשׁוֹר֣וֹH7794Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularor donkeyוַחֲמֹר֔וֹH2543Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularor anythingוְכֹ֖לH3605Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularthatאֲשֶׁ֥רH834Pronoun - relativebelongs to your neighborלְרֵעֶֽךָ׃פH7453Preposition-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.