Focused Passage

Exodus 20:22-26

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

22 Then the LORD said to Moses, “This is what you are to tell the Israelites: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven.

23 You are not to make any gods alongside Me; you are not to make for yourselves gods of silver or gold.

24 You are to make for Me an altar of earth, and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and peace offerings, your sheep and goats and cattle. In every place where I cause My name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you.

25 Now if you make an altar of stones for Me, you must not build it with stones shaped by tools; for if you use a chisel on it, you will defile it.

26 And you must not go up to My altar on steps, lest your nakedness be exposed on it.’

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 22

Cross-references

1 Corinthians 10:14 BSB references Nehemiah 9:13 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 4:36 Classic cross-references Hebrews 12:25 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 4:12 Classic cross-references Hebrews 12:19 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 12:5-14 OliveGrove study links Genesis 12:7-8 OliveGrove study links Genesis 26:24-25 OliveGrove study links

Original words

Then the LORD יְהוָה֙ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular said וַיֹּ֤אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition Moses מֹשֶׁ֔ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular This is what כֹּ֥ה H3541 Adverb you are to tell תֹאמַ֖ר H559 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular . . . אֶל־ H413 Preposition the Israelites בְּנֵ֣י H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct . . . יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular You אַתֶּ֣ם H859 Pronoun - second person masculine plural have seen for yourselves רְאִיתֶ֔ם H7200 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural that כִּ֚י H3588 Conjunction I have spoken דִּבַּ֖רְתִּי H1696 Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular to עִמָּכֶֽם׃ H5973 Preposition | second person masculine plural you from מִן־ H4480 Preposition heaven הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם H8064 Article | Noun - masculine plural

Verse 23

Cross-references

Exodus 20:3 Classic cross-references Leviticus 19:4 Classic cross-references Ezekiel 20:39 Classic cross-references Exodus 32:31 Classic cross-references Exodus 32:8 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 12:5-14 OliveGrove study links Genesis 12:7-8 OliveGrove study links Genesis 26:24-25 OliveGrove study links

Original words

You are not לֹ֥א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle to make תַעֲשׂ֖וּן H6213 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nun any gods אֱלֹ֤הֵי H430 Noun - masculine plural construct alongside Me אִתִּ֑י H854 Preposition | first person common singular you are not לֹ֥א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle to make תַעֲשׂ֖וּ H6213 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural for yourselves לָכֶֽם׃ Preposition | second person masculine plural gods וֵאלֹהֵ֣י H430 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct of silver כֶ֙סֶף֙ H3701 Noun - masculine singular or gold זָהָ֔ב H2091 Noun - masculine singular

Verse 24

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 12:5 Classic cross-references Psalms 132:13 Classic cross-references 2 Chronicles 6:6 Classic cross-references 1 Kings 9:3 Classic cross-references 2 Chronicles 7:16 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 12:5-14 OliveGrove study links Genesis 12:7-8 OliveGrove study links Genesis 26:24-25 OliveGrove study links

Original words

You are to make תַּעֲשֶׂה־ H6213 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular for Me לִּי֒ Preposition | first person common singular an altar מִזְבַּ֣ח H4196 Noun - masculine singular construct of earth אֲדָמָה֮ H127 Noun - feminine singular and sacrifice וְזָבַחְתָּ֣ H2076 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular on it עָלָ֗יו H5921 Preposition | third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker your burnt offerings עֹלֹתֶ֙יךָ֙ H5930 Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine singular - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker and peace offerings שְׁלָמֶ֔יךָ H8002 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker your sheep and goats צֹֽאנְךָ֖ H6629 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker and cattle בְּקָרֶ֑ךָ H1241 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular In every בְּכָל־ H3605 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct place הַמָּקוֹם֙ H4725 Article | Noun - masculine singular where אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative I cause My name שְׁמִ֔י H8034 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular to be remembered אַזְכִּ֣יר H2142 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker I will come אָב֥וֹא H935 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular to you אֵלֶ֖יךָ H413 Preposition | second person masculine singular and bless you וּבֵרַכְתִּֽיךָ׃ H1288 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singular

Verse 25

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 27:5 Classic cross-references Joshua 8:31 Classic cross-references 1 Kings 6:7 Classic cross-references Ezekiel 40:42 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 12:5-14 OliveGrove study links Genesis 12:7-8 OliveGrove study links Genesis 26:24-25 OliveGrove study links

Original words

Now if וְאִם־ H518 Conjunction you make תַּֽעֲשֶׂה־ H6213 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular an altar מִזְבַּ֤ח H4196 Noun - masculine singular construct of stones אֲבָנִים֙ H68 Noun - feminine plural for Me לִּ֔י Preposition | first person common singular you must not לֹֽא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle build תִבְנֶ֥ה H1129 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular it אֶתְהֶ֖ן H853 Direct object marker | third person feminine plural with stones shaped by tools גָּזִ֑ית H1496 Noun - feminine singular for if כִּ֧י H3588 Conjunction you use הֵנַ֥פְתָּ H5130 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine singular a chisel חַרְבְּךָ֛ H2719 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular on it עָלֶ֖יהָ H5921 Preposition | third person feminine singular you will defile it וַתְּחַֽלְלֶֽהָ׃ H2490 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person feminine singular

Verse 26

Cross-references

1 Peter 1:16 Classic cross-references Ecclesiastes 5:1 Classic cross-references Exodus 28:43 Classic cross-references Ezekiel 43:17 Classic cross-references Hebrews 12:28 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 12:5-14 OliveGrove study links Genesis 12:7-8 OliveGrove study links Genesis 26:24-25 OliveGrove study links

Original words

And you must not וְלֹֽא־ H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle go up תַעֲלֶ֥ה H5927 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular to עַֽל־ H5921 Preposition My altar מִזְבְּחִ֑י H4196 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular on steps בְמַעֲלֹ֖ת H4609 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plural lest אֲשֶׁ֛ר H834 Pronoun - relative לֹֽא־ לֹֽא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle your nakedness עֶרְוָתְךָ֖ H6172 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular be exposed תִגָּלֶ֥ה H1540 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular on it עָלָֽיו׃פ H5921 Preposition | third person masculine singular

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