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

1 And 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.

3 You shall have no other gods before Me.

4 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.

5 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,

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

7 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.

8 Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.

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

10 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 or livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates.

11 For 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.

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

13 You shall not murder.

14 You shall not commit adultery.

15 You shall not steal.

16 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

17 You 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 God אֱלֹהִ֔ים H430 Noun - masculine plural - אֵ֛ת H853 Direct object marker spoke וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר H1696 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct these הָאֵ֖לֶּה H428 Article | Pronoun - common plural . . . לֵאמֹֽר׃ס H559 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct words הַדְּבָרִ֥ים H1697 Article | Noun - masculine plural
Verse 2

Original words

I אָֽנֹכִ֖י֙ H595 Pronoun - first person common singular am the LORD יְהוָ֣ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹהֶ֑֔יךָ 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 מִבֵּ֣֥ית H1004 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct of slavery עֲבָדִיֽ֑ם׃ H5650 Noun - masculine plural
Verse 3

Original words

You לְךָ֛֩ Preposition | second person masculine singular shall have יִהְיֶֽה־ H1961 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular no לֹֽ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle 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 4

Original words

{You shall} not לֹֽ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle make תַֽעֲשֶׂ֨ה־ H6213 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular for yourself לְךָ֥֣ Preposition | second person masculine singular an idol פֶ֣֙סֶל֙׀ H6459 Noun - masculine singular in the form וְכָל־ H3605 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct of anything תְּמוּנָ֡֔ה H8544 Noun - feminine singular - אֲשֶׁ֤ר֣ H834 Pronoun - relative in the heavens בַּשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙׀ H8064 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural above מִמַּ֡֔עַל H4605 Preposition-m | Adverb - וַֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר֩ H834 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - relative on the earth בָּאָ֖֨רֶץ H776 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular below מִתַָּ֑֜חַת H8478 Preposition-m | Adverb - וַאֲשֶׁ֥֣ר 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 5

Original words

You shall not לֹֽא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle bow down תִשְׁתַּחְוֶ֥֣ה H7812 Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - second person masculine singular to them לָהֶ֖ם֮ Preposition | third person masculine plural or וְלֹ֣א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle worship them תָעָבְדֵ֑ם֒ H5647 Verb - Hofal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine plural for כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction I אָֽנֹכִ֞י 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 אָבֹ֧ת H1 Noun - masculine plural on עַל־ H5921 Preposition [their] children בָּנִ֛ים H1121 Noun - masculine plural to עַל־ H5921 Preposition 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 6

Original words

but showing וְעֹ֥֤שֶׂה H6213 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular loving devotion חֶ֖֙סֶד֙ H2617 Noun - masculine singular to a thousand [generations] לַאֲלָפִ֑֔ים 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 מִצְוֺתָֽי׃ס H4687 Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common singular

BSB notes

  • Or to thousands
Verse 7

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 - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker His name שְׁמ֖וֹ H8034 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular in vain לַשָּֽׁוְא׃פ H7723 Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 8

Original words

Remember זָכ֛וֹר֩ H2142 Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the Sabbath הַשַּׁבָּ֖֜ת H7676 Article | Noun - common singular day י֥֨וֹם H3117 Noun - masculine singular construct by keeping it holy לְקַדְּשֽׁ֗וֹ׃ H6942 Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular
Verse 9

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 כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct your work מְלַאכְתֶּֽךָ֒׃ H4399 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Verse 10

Original words

but the seventh הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔֜י 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 לַיהוָ֣ה H3068 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹהֶ֑֗יךָ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular on which you must not לֹֽ֣א־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle do תַעֲשֶׂ֣֨ה H6213 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular any כָל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct work מְלָאכָ֡֜ה H4399 Noun - feminine singular neither you אַתָּ֣ה׀ H859 Pronoun - second person masculine singular nor your son וּבִנְךָֽ֣־ H1121 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular or daughter וּ֠בִתֶּ֗ךָ H1323 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular nor your manservant עַבְדְּךָ֤֨ H5650 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular or maidservant וַאֲמָֽתְךָ֜֙ H519 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular or livestock וּבְהֶמְתֶּ֔֗ךָ H929 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular nor the foreigner וְגֵרְךָ֖֙ H1616 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular within אֲשֶׁ֥֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative your gates בִּשְׁעָרֶֽ֔יךָ׃ H8179 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Verse 11

Original words

For כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction [in] six שֵֽׁשֶׁת־ H8337 Number - masculine singular construct days יָמִים֩ H3117 Noun - masculine plural the LORD יְהוָ֜ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker made עָשָׂ֨ה H6213 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular the heavens הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם H8064 Article | Noun - masculine plural - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker and the earth הָאָ֗רֶץ H776 Article | Noun - feminine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker and the sea הַיָּם֙ H3220 Article | Noun - masculine singular and וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct that אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative [is] in them בָּ֔ם Preposition | third person masculine plural but on the seventh הַשְּׁבִיעִ֑י H7637 Article | Number - ordinal masculine singular day בַּיּ֣וֹם H3117 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular He rested וַיָּ֖נַח H5117 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Therefore עַל־ H5921 Preposition . . . כֵּ֗ן H3651 Adverb the LORD יְהוָ֛ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker blessed בֵּרַ֧ךְ H1288 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular the Sabbath הַשַּׁבָּ֖ת H7676 Article | Noun - common singular day י֥וֹם H3117 Noun - masculine singular construct and set it apart as holy וַֽיְקַדְּשֵֽׁהוּ׃ס H6942 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Verse 12

Original words

Honor כַּבֵּ֥ד H3513 Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker your father אָבִ֖יךָ H1 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker and mother אִמֶּ֑ךָ H517 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular so that לְמַ֙עַן֙ H4616 Conjunction your days יָמֶ֔יךָ H3117 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular may be long יַאֲרִכ֣וּן H748 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nun in עַ֚ל H5921 Preposition the land הָאֲדָמָ֔ה 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 13

Original words

You shall not לֹ֥֖א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle murder תִּֿרְצָֽ֖ח׃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 14

Original words

You shall not לֹ֣֖א H3808 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 15

Original words

You shall not לֹ֣֖א H3808 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 16

Original words

You shall not לֹֽא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle bear תַעֲנֶ֥ה H6030 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular false שָֽׁקֶר׃ס H8267 Noun - masculine singular witness עֵ֥ד H5707 Noun - masculine singular construct against your neighbor בְרֵעֲךָ֖ 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 17

Original words

You shall not לֹ֥א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle covet תַחְמֹ֖ד H2530 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular your neighbor’s רֵעֶ֑ךָ H7453 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular house בֵּ֣ית H1004 Noun - masculine singular construct You shall not לֹֽא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle covet תַחְמֹ֞ד H2530 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular your neighbor’s רֵעֶ֗ךָ H7453 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular wife אֵ֣שֶׁת H802 Noun - feminine singular construct 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 וְשׁוֹר֣וֹ H7794 Conjunctive waw | 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׃פ 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.