Exodus 20:1-17
The Ten Words show that Israel's obedience begins with grace already received: the Lord has redeemed them, and now He commands a life ordered by exclusive worship, reverence, rest, honor, justice, faithfulness, truth, and contentment.
1 God spoke all these words, saying,
2 “I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3 “You shall have no other gods before me.
4 “You shall not make for yourselves an idol, nor any image of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
5 you shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them, for I, Yahweh your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me,
6 and showing loving kindness to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7 “You shall not misuse the name of Yahweh your God, for Yahweh will not hold him guiltless who misuses his name.
8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9 You shall labor six days, and do all your work,
10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to Yahweh your God. You shall not do any work in it, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your livestock, nor your stranger who is within your gates;
11 for in six days Yahweh made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day; therefore Yahweh blessed the Sabbath day, and made it holy.
12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which Yahweh your God gives you.
13 “You shall not murder.
14 “You shall not commit adultery.
15 “You shall not steal.
16 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”
The Ten Words show that Israel's obedience begins with grace already received: the LORD has redeemed them, and now he commands a life ordered by exclusive worship, reverence, rest, honor, justice, faithfulness, truth, and contentment.
To reveal the foundational covenant obligations of the redeemed people by grounding exclusive allegiance, true worship, reverent speech, holy time, household order, neighbor-love, truthfulness, and inward desire in the LORD's prior act of redemption from Egypt.
This passage follows Exodus 19:16-25, where the Lord descends on Sinai and repeatedly warns the people not to break through the holy boundary. Exodus 20:1-17 gives the Ten Commandments as the foundational covenant words spoken by God. It is followed by Exodus 20:18-21, where the people tremble and ask Moses to mediate, and by the Book of the Covenant beginning in Exodus 20:22.
Exodus 20 occurs at Sinai after the LORD has redeemed Israel from Egypt, brought them through the sea, provided in the wilderness, and descended upon the mountain. The Ten Words function as the covenant foundation for Israel's national life under the LORD's kingship.
The Ten Commandments and the Fear of the LORD
The LORD who redeemed Israel from slavery gives His covenant law so His people may worship Him alone, live holy before Him, love their neighbors rightly, and approach Him with reverent fear.