Exodus 20

1 And God [Elohim, the supreme Being] spoke [to communicate, to declare] all these words [saying, commanding]: word study 2 “I [the speaker, the self-existent One] am the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] your God [Elohim, the supreme Deity], who brought [led, freed] you out of the land [country, territory] of Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa], out of the house [place, dwelling] of slavery [bondage, servitude, a state of being a servant or slave]. word study 3 You shall have [absolutely] no [not any] other [different, distinct] gods [Elohim, the supreme Deity] before [in the presence of, facing] Me [the one true God]. word study 4 You shall not [under any circumstances] make for yourself an [carved image, or false god] idol [graven image, man-made object of worship] in the form of anything [living or non-living] in the heavens [the sky, celestial realm] above, on the earth [land, ground] below, or in the waters [oceans, seas, rivers] beneath. word study 5 You shall not bow down [prostrate yourself, worship] to them or worship [serve, give homage to] them; for I, the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] your God [Elohim, the supreme Ruler], am a jealous [zealous, passionately exclusive] God, visiting [reckoning, overseeing] the iniquity [moral evil, sin] of the fathers on their children to the third [great-grandchildren] and fourth [great-great-grandchildren] generations of those who hate [intensely dislike, reject] Me, word study 6 but showing [steadfast, trustworthy] loving devotion [kindness, mercy, pity] to a thousand [many, numerous] generations of those who [have affection for, obey] love Me and keep [obey, guard, protect] My commandments [laws, rules, guidelines]. word study 7 You shall not take [misuse, use carelessly] the name [identity, reputation] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] your God [Elohim, the supreme God] in vain [for an evil purpose, falsely], for the LORD [Yehovah] will not leave anyone unpunished [hold guiltless, acquit] who takes His name [identity, character] in vain [for a useless or deceitful purpose]. word study 8 Remember [to recall, to mark] the Sabbath [day of rest, seventh day] day [a 24-hour period, a figurative space of time] by keeping [to observe, to consecrate] it [the day, this time] holy [set apart, sacred, devoted to God]. word study 9 Six [a period of six days, a span of six days] days you shall labor [toil, work diligently, serve] and do [make, accomplish, perform] all [everything, your entire task] your work [occupation, employment, daily activities], word study 10 but the seventh day [day of rest, Sabbath] is a Sabbath [a day of worship and rest] to the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] your God, on which you must not do any work [labor, employment]—neither you [as an individual], nor your son or daughter [your children], nor your manservant [male slave] or maidservant [female slave] or livestock [animals, beasts], nor the foreigner [sojourner, temporary resident] within your gates [city entrances]. word study 11 For [because of this reason] in six [a period of six days, a sequence of time] days the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] made [created, formed, and established] the heavens [the sky, the atmosphere, and the spiritual realm] and the earth [the land, the ground, and the physical world] and the sea [the ocean, all bodies of water] and all [everything, the entirety] that is in them [the universe, creation], but on the seventh [a day of rest, the Sabbath] day He rested [ceased from work, refreshed Himself]. Therefore [for this reason, as a result] the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] blessed [praised, honored, and sanctified] the Sabbath [the day of rest, the seventh day] day and set it apart [consecrated, made holy, and dedicated] as holy [separate, sacred, and revered]. word study 12 Honor [show respect, esteem highly] your father [parent, ancestor] and mother [female parent, nurturer], so that your days [time on earth, lifespan] may be long [prolonged, extended] in the land [earth, territory] that the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] your God [Elohim, supreme deity] is giving [providing, bestowing] you. word study 13 You shall not [without cause, or unjustly] murder [kill, take a life, implying a strong negation] [as in the case of Cain and Abel, a premeditated act]. word study 14 You shall not commit [be false to the married relation, have sex with anyone other than your spouse] adultery [unfaithfulness, breaking marriage vows]. word study 15 You shall not [do not take the property of another, absolutely] steal [take something secretly, deceive to obtain]. word study 16 You shall not [under any circumstances] bear [give or provide] false [deceptive or untrue] witness [testimony or evidence] against [to the harm or injury of] your [close or nearby] neighbor [friend or companion]. word study 17 You shall not [desire to have, take great pleasure in] covet your neighbor’s [close friend, companion] house [dwelling place, family home]. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife [female person, companion], or his manservant [male slave, servant] or maidservant [female slave, servant], or his ox [cattle, work animal] or donkey [male ass, beast of burden], or anything [all, everything] that belongs to your neighbor [fellow, person close to you].” word study 18 When all [the entire nation, every individual] the people witnessed [saw, perceived, and understood] the thunder [loud rumbling sounds] and lightning [brilliant flashes of light], the sounding [loud blast] of the ram’s horn [a trumpet made from a ram’s horn], and the mountain [a hill] enveloped [surrounded, covered] in smoke, they trembled [shook, were afraid] and stood [positioned themselves, remained] at a distance [far away, in reverence]. word study 19 “Speak [communicate, declare] to us yourself and we will listen [hear and obey],” they said to Moses [the Israelite leader]. “But do not let God [Elohim, the supreme Being] speak to us, or we will die [perish, meet our end, cease to exist].” word study 20 “Do not [be terrified, fear excessively] be afraid,” Moses [the Israelite leader, God’s chosen servant] replied. “For God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] has come [approached, drawn near] to test [prove, examine] you, so that the fear [reverence, awe] of Him may be before [in the presence of, visible to] you, to keep [prevent, protect] you from sinning [missing the mark, disobeying].” word study 21 And the people [a nation, Amaw] stood [in a strong sense, firmly] at a distance [far away, physically or in time] as Moses [the Israelite leader] approached [drew near, to worship] the thick darkness [a cloud, gloom] where God [Elohim, the supreme One] was [present, in that location]. word study 22 Then the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] said to Moses, “This is what you are to tell the Israelites [sons of Israel, descendants of Jacob]: ‘You have seen [with your own eyes, perceived] for yourselves that I have spoken [communicated, talked] to you from heaven [the visible universe, the abode of God]. word study 23 You are not [under any circumstances] to make any [idols or false] gods alongside [in addition to, with] Me; you are not [never, by no means] to make for yourselves [to worship, to serve] gods of [precious, valuable] silver or [pure, refined] gold. word study 24 You are to make for Me an altar [from the ground] of earth, and sacrifice [offer, bring as a gift] on it your burnt offerings [completely consumed by fire] and peace offerings [to restore fellowship, make atonement], your sheep [flock, herd] and goats and cattle [oxen, livestock]. In every place [location, region] where I cause My name [reputation, character] to be remembered [recalled, honored], I will come to you and bless [bestow favor, pronounce good] you. word study 25 Now if you make [or construct, build] an altar [a place of sacrifice, a sanctuary] of stones [hewn or uncut rocks] for Me, you must not build [or construct, assemble] it with stones [hewn or cut stones, dressed stones] shaped by tools [instruments, chisels]; for if you use [or lift up, wield] a chisel [a tool, an instrument] on it, you will defile [or pollute, profane] it. word study 26 And you must not [under any circumstances] go up [ascend, rise] to My altar [place of sacrifice, worship] on steps [stairway, ascent], lest [so that not, in order that not] your nakedness [exposed state, shame] be exposed [revealed, uncovered] on it [upon the altar, in God’s presence].’ word study