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

22Then 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.

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

24You 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.

25Now 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.

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

Original words

Then the LORDיְהוָה֙H3068Noun - proper - masculine singularsaidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singulartoאֶל־H413PrepositionMosesמֹשֶׁ֔הH4872Noun - proper - masculine singularThis is whatכֹּ֥הH3541Adverbyou are to tellתֹאמַ֖רH559Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular. . .אֶל־H413Prepositionthe Israelitesבְּנֵ֣יH1121Noun - masculine plural construct. . .יִשְׂרָאֵ֑לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singularYouאַתֶּ֣םH859Pronoun - second person masculine pluralhave seen for yourselvesרְאִיתֶ֔םH7200Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine pluralthatכִּ֚יH3588ConjunctionI have spokenדִּבַּ֖רְתִּיH1696Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singulartoעִמָּכֶֽם׃H5973Preposition | second person masculine pluralyou fromמִן־H4480Prepositionheavenהַשָּׁמַ֔יִםH8064Article | Noun - masculine plural

Verse 23

Cross-references

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

Original words

You are notלֹ֥אH3808Adverb - Negative particleto makeתַעֲשׂ֖וּןH6213Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nunany godsאֱלֹ֤הֵיH430Noun - masculine plural constructalongside Meאִתִּ֑יH854Preposition | first person common singularyou are notלֹ֥אH3808Adverb - Negative particleto makeתַעֲשׂ֖וּH6213Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralfor yourselvesלָכֶֽם׃Preposition | second person masculine pluralgodsוֵאלֹהֵ֣יH430Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural constructof silverכֶ֙סֶף֙H3701Noun - masculine singularor goldזָהָ֔בH2091Noun - masculine singular

Verse 24

Cross-references

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

Original words

You are to makeתַּעֲשֶׂה־H6213Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularfor Meלִּי֒Preposition | first person common singularan altarמִזְבַּ֣חH4196Noun - masculine singular constructof earthאֲדָמָה֮H127Noun - feminine singularand sacrificeוְזָבַחְתָּ֣H2076Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singularon itעָלָ֗יוH5921Preposition | third person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markeryour burnt offeringsעֹלֹתֶ֙יךָ֙H5930Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine singular-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerand peace offeringsשְׁלָמֶ֔יךָH8002Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markeryour sheep and goatsצֹֽאנְךָ֖H6629Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerand cattleבְּקָרֶ֑ךָH1241Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularIn everyבְּכָל־H3605Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructplaceהַמָּקוֹם֙H4725Article | Noun - masculine singularwhereאֲשֶׁ֣רH834Pronoun - relativeI cause My nameשְׁמִ֔יH8034Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularto be rememberedאַזְכִּ֣ירH2142Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerI will comeאָב֥וֹאH935Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularto youאֵלֶ֖יךָH413Preposition | second person masculine singularand bless youוּבֵרַכְתִּֽיךָ׃H1288Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singular

Verse 25

Cross-references

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

Original words

Now ifוְאִם־H518Conjunctionyou makeתַּֽעֲשֶׂה־H6213Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularan altarמִזְבַּ֤חH4196Noun - masculine singular constructof stonesאֲבָנִים֙H68Noun - feminine pluralfor Meלִּ֔יPreposition | first person common singularyou must notלֹֽא־H3808Adverb - Negative particlebuildתִבְנֶ֥הH1129Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularitאֶתְהֶ֖ןH853Direct object marker | third person feminine pluralwith stones shaped by toolsגָּזִ֑יתH1496Noun - feminine singularfor ifכִּ֧יH3588Conjunctionyou useהֵנַ֥פְתָּH5130Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine singulara chiselחַרְבְּךָ֛H2719Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singularon itעָלֶ֖יהָH5921Preposition | third person feminine singularyou will defile itוַתְּחַֽלְלֶֽהָ׃H2490Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person feminine singular

Verse 26

Cross-references

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

Original words

And you must notוְלֹֽא־H3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particlego upתַעֲלֶ֥הH5927Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singulartoעַֽל־H5921PrepositionMy altarמִזְבְּחִ֑יH4196Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularon stepsבְמַעֲלֹ֖תH4609Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plurallestאֲשֶׁ֛רH834Pronoun - relativeלֹֽא־לֹֽא־H3808Adverb - Negative particleyour nakednessעֶרְוָתְךָ֖H6172Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singularbe exposedתִגָּלֶ֥הH1540Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularon itעָלָֽיו׃פH5921Preposition | third person masculine singular

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