New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Exodus 20
2
"I am the Lord your God. I brought you out of Egypt. That is the land where you were slaves.
Reference
References God
Deuteronomy 5:6
Hosea 13:4
Leviticus 26:13
Psalm 81:10
Leviticus 19:36
Deuteronomy 5:15
Leviticus 23:43
Deuteronomy 13:10
References Lord
Exodus 13:3
Deuteronomy 7:8
4
"Do not make statues of gods that look like anything in the sky or on the earth or in the waters.
Reference
5
Do not bow down to them or worship them. I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God. I punish the children for the sin of their parents. I punish the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of those who hate me.
Reference
6
But for all time to come I show love to all those who love me and keep my commandments.
Reference
Grace
Deuteronomy 7:9
Love
1 John 5:3
John 14:21
Deuteronomy 4:37
John 14:15
1 John 4:19
2 John 1:6
Parallel theme
Acts 2:39
Word
Deuteronomy 5:29
7
"Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will find guilty anyone who misuses his name.
Reference
Parallel theme
James 5:12
Joshua 2:17
Joshua 9:20
References God
Deuteronomy 5:11
Leviticus 19:12
Proverbs 30:9
Deuteronomy 10:20
2 Corinthians 1:23
References Lord
Jeremiah 4:2
Joshua 2:12
8
"Remember to keep the Sabbath day holy.
Reference
Holy
Genesis 2:3
Leviticus 23:3
Parallel theme
Leviticus 26:2
Leviticus 19:3
Leviticus 19:30
Exodus 23:12
10
But the seventh day is a Sabbath in honor of the Lord your God. Do not do any work on that day. The same command applies to your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and your animals. It also applies to any outsiders who live in your cities.
Reference
11
In six days I made the heavens and the earth. I made the oceans and everything in them. But I rested on the seventh day. So I blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
Reference
Creation
Exodus 31:17
12
"Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long time in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
Reference
Parallel theme
Mark 7:10
Proverbs 30:17
Proverbs 20:20
Exodus 21:17
Luke 18:20
Exodus 21:15
Matthew 19:19
References God
Deuteronomy 5:16
Leviticus 19:3
References Lord
Colossians 3:20
16
"Do not give false witness against your neighbor.
Reference
Parallel theme
Psalm 15:3
Proverbs 10:18
Ephesians 4:31
1 Timothy 1:10
James 4:11
Proverbs 11:13
Witness
Proverbs 19:5
Matthew 19:18
Exodus 23:1
Acts 6:13
17
"Do not long for anything that belongs to your neighbor. Do not long for your neighbor's house, wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey."
Reference
18
The people saw the thunder and lightning. They heard the trumpet. They saw the mountain covered with smoke. They trembled with fear and stayed a long way off.
Reference
Parallel theme
Jeremiah 23:23
19
They said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself. Then we'll listen. But don't let God speak to us. If he does, we'll die."
Reference
20
Moses said to the people, "Don't be afraid. God has come to put you to the test. He wants you to have respect for him. That will keep you from sinning."
Reference
Parallel theme
Proverbs 3:7
1 Samuel 12:20
Isaiah 8:13
Job 28:28
Proverbs 1:7
References God
Deuteronomy 13:3
Genesis 22:1
Deuteronomy 8:2
Isaiah 41:10
Sin
Proverbs 16:6
21
Moses approached the thick darkness where God was. But the people remained a long way off.
Reference
22
Then the Lord said to Moses, "Here is what you must tell the people of Israel. Say to them, 'You have seen for yourselves what I said to you from heaven.
Reference
23
Do not put any other gods in place of me. Do not make silver or gold statues of them for yourselves.
Reference
Parallel theme
Zephaniah 1:5
Revelation 22:15
References God
Ezekiel 20:39
2 Kings 17:33
Exodus 32:31
24
" 'Make an altar out of dirt for me. Sacrifice your burnt offerings and friendship offerings on it. Sacrifice your sheep, goats and cattle on it. I will come to you and bless you everywhere I cause my name to be honored.
Reference
25
" 'If you make an altar out of stones in honor of me, do not build it with blocks of stone. You will make it "unclean" if you use a tool on it.
Reference
Sacrifice
Joshua 8:31
Chapter Summary
Exodus chapter 20 records the giving of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. After delivering the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, God instructs them. These commandments provide the basis upon which Israel's relationship with God and the people is built.
God reminds the Israelites that He is the LORD, who has delivered them from Egypt, where they were slaves. Before giving the commandments, God reminds the people that their freedom is because of him. He instructs a people who have been rescued.
The first commandment reminds the Israelites that they must have no other gods before the LORD. They must worship and serve Him, and their relationship with Him must come before every other allegiance.
The second commandment instructs that the Israelites must not make and worship images or idols. They must not make an image of anything in heaven, on earth, or in the waters and bow down to it. God wants them to worship Him, not something made with their own hands.
The third commandment instructs that the Israelites must not take the LORD's name in vain. His name is holy and should be treated with respect. They must not use His name carelessly, dishonestly, or disrespectfully.
The fourth commandment instructs the Israelites to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. They must work for six days but rest on the seventh day. The Sabbath belongs to the LORD and is a special day of rest for the people, their families, servants, animals, and foreigners among them.
The Sabbath is a sign of God's work as He made heaven, earth, the sea, and all that is in them in six days and rested on the seventh. He has blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
The fifth commandment instructs the children to honor their father and mother. God promises that their days may be long in the land that He is giving them. They must show respect for their parents for the family to continue.
The sixth commandment instructs that people must not kill. As a holy God, He considers human life sacred, and therefore people must not treat it as something without value.
The seventh commandment instructs people not to commit adultery. They must treat marriage partners with faithfulness and respect and must not destroy other people's marriages.
The eighth commandment instructs people not to steal. They must respect the right of others to their personal property and possessions.
The ninth commandment instructs people not to bear false testimony against another. They must tell the truth, especially in matters that could bring harm to others if what they say is believed.
The tenth commandment goes beyond actions to address what the people think about or want. God instructs the Israelites that they must not desire their neighbor's house, wife, servants, animals, or possessions. They must not be jealous of their neighbor's family or belongings.
When hearing the thunder, lightning, the sound of the trumpet, and seeing the great smoke, the Israelites are terrified and ask Moses to speak to them instead of God. They do not want Him to speak to them because they fear that they will die.
Moses tells the people that they must not seek the wrong kind of fear. He wants them to know that God has come to test them so that his fear will be with them and they will not sin. The Israelites should not fear dying because of what they witnessed at the mountain. They should fear not living holy lives.
The people are still far away when Moses draws near to the thick darkness where God is. Moses receives further instructions about worship.
God instructs Israel not to make silver or gold gods for themselves. He tells them how to make Him an altar for when they offer sacrifices. The Israelites must not make idols but must offer sacrifices the right way.
Chapter 20 of Exodus teaches that God instructs his people how to love Him and others. The Ten Commandments set the framework for how Israel must relate to Him and live together in peace.
The first commandments are about the people's relationship with God. They must worship Him as the only true God, and refrain from making Him images so they can obey Him from their hearts. They must honor God's name and keep the Sabbath-day as a holy day.
The last five commandments relate to how the people should live together as God's covenant people. They must honor their parents, respect human life, and treat marriage and property with respect. They must avoid lying and seek to honor God by telling the truth. The last commandment relates to the condition of their hearts as they must not desire what belongs to others. People must not think evil about others.
The last commandment is significant as it shows that God cares about more than people's actions. People may seek to do what is right, but their motives and intentions may be wrong. God sees their hearts.
The commandments will also bring order as a nation of people delivered from slavery. The Israelites must learn to live with each other and avoid some of the sins that they witnessed in Egypt.
The dramatic events of Sinai show the Israelites that God's commands are serious. The commands are from the Holy God, who has delivered His people.
The fear that the Israelites feel is also an important lesson. As God's covenant people, they must understand that the Lord is holy and that they must change their ways to stay in His presence. Moses assures the people that their fear should keep them away from sin instead of the wrong kind of fear.
God knows that people cannot have two masters. By giving the first commandment, He wants Israel to know that they must place Him first before anything else. The Israelites and people today should understand that idolatry takes various forms. People must not serve their desires but must be God-focused.
Idols could be self-serving and must be removed from people's lives. People must not make things themselves, but they must turn to the Creator.
God's instructions about respecting His name mean that it must not be used carelessly or in vain. People should show respect for their God. They must seek to use good words to encourage others. People must also honor their parents as a way of showing respect to them and to God.
People must treat others as they would want to be treated. Marriage partners must be treated with faithfulness and respect. Parents must raise their children to understand that human life is sacred.
The Israelites must treat foreigners who are among them with respect. They must not steal the things that belong to others or give false testimony against them unless they are guilty. When a person's life is threatened, they must defend them by telling the truth. People must also honor the Sabbath-day as a way of showing respect to God.
The lessons teach that God wants people to put Him first and to treat others with respect. They must also put thought into their actions as the last commandment shows that God cares about their intentions. When people turn to God, He can transform their lives.
God reminds the Israelites that He is the LORD, who has delivered them from Egypt, where they were slaves. Before giving the commandments, God reminds the people that their freedom is because of him. He instructs a people who have been rescued.
The first commandment reminds the Israelites that they must have no other gods before the LORD. They must worship and serve Him, and their relationship with Him must come before every other allegiance.
The second commandment instructs that the Israelites must not make and worship images or idols. They must not make an image of anything in heaven, on earth, or in the waters and bow down to it. God wants them to worship Him, not something made with their own hands.
The third commandment instructs that the Israelites must not take the LORD's name in vain. His name is holy and should be treated with respect. They must not use His name carelessly, dishonestly, or disrespectfully.
The fourth commandment instructs the Israelites to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. They must work for six days but rest on the seventh day. The Sabbath belongs to the LORD and is a special day of rest for the people, their families, servants, animals, and foreigners among them.
The Sabbath is a sign of God's work as He made heaven, earth, the sea, and all that is in them in six days and rested on the seventh. He has blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
The fifth commandment instructs the children to honor their father and mother. God promises that their days may be long in the land that He is giving them. They must show respect for their parents for the family to continue.
The sixth commandment instructs that people must not kill. As a holy God, He considers human life sacred, and therefore people must not treat it as something without value.
The seventh commandment instructs people not to commit adultery. They must treat marriage partners with faithfulness and respect and must not destroy other people's marriages.
The eighth commandment instructs people not to steal. They must respect the right of others to their personal property and possessions.
The ninth commandment instructs people not to bear false testimony against another. They must tell the truth, especially in matters that could bring harm to others if what they say is believed.
The tenth commandment goes beyond actions to address what the people think about or want. God instructs the Israelites that they must not desire their neighbor's house, wife, servants, animals, or possessions. They must not be jealous of their neighbor's family or belongings.
When hearing the thunder, lightning, the sound of the trumpet, and seeing the great smoke, the Israelites are terrified and ask Moses to speak to them instead of God. They do not want Him to speak to them because they fear that they will die.
Moses tells the people that they must not seek the wrong kind of fear. He wants them to know that God has come to test them so that his fear will be with them and they will not sin. The Israelites should not fear dying because of what they witnessed at the mountain. They should fear not living holy lives.
The people are still far away when Moses draws near to the thick darkness where God is. Moses receives further instructions about worship.
God instructs Israel not to make silver or gold gods for themselves. He tells them how to make Him an altar for when they offer sacrifices. The Israelites must not make idols but must offer sacrifices the right way.
Chapter 20 of Exodus teaches that God instructs his people how to love Him and others. The Ten Commandments set the framework for how Israel must relate to Him and live together in peace.
The first commandments are about the people's relationship with God. They must worship Him as the only true God, and refrain from making Him images so they can obey Him from their hearts. They must honor God's name and keep the Sabbath-day as a holy day.
The last five commandments relate to how the people should live together as God's covenant people. They must honor their parents, respect human life, and treat marriage and property with respect. They must avoid lying and seek to honor God by telling the truth. The last commandment relates to the condition of their hearts as they must not desire what belongs to others. People must not think evil about others.
The last commandment is significant as it shows that God cares about more than people's actions. People may seek to do what is right, but their motives and intentions may be wrong. God sees their hearts.
The commandments will also bring order as a nation of people delivered from slavery. The Israelites must learn to live with each other and avoid some of the sins that they witnessed in Egypt.
The dramatic events of Sinai show the Israelites that God's commands are serious. The commands are from the Holy God, who has delivered His people.
The fear that the Israelites feel is also an important lesson. As God's covenant people, they must understand that the Lord is holy and that they must change their ways to stay in His presence. Moses assures the people that their fear should keep them away from sin instead of the wrong kind of fear.
God knows that people cannot have two masters. By giving the first commandment, He wants Israel to know that they must place Him first before anything else. The Israelites and people today should understand that idolatry takes various forms. People must not serve their desires but must be God-focused.
Idols could be self-serving and must be removed from people's lives. People must not make things themselves, but they must turn to the Creator.
God's instructions about respecting His name mean that it must not be used carelessly or in vain. People should show respect for their God. They must seek to use good words to encourage others. People must also honor their parents as a way of showing respect to them and to God.
People must treat others as they would want to be treated. Marriage partners must be treated with faithfulness and respect. Parents must raise their children to understand that human life is sacred.
The Israelites must treat foreigners who are among them with respect. They must not steal the things that belong to others or give false testimony against them unless they are guilty. When a person's life is threatened, they must defend them by telling the truth. People must also honor the Sabbath-day as a way of showing respect to God.
The lessons teach that God wants people to put Him first and to treat others with respect. They must also put thought into their actions as the last commandment shows that God cares about their intentions. When people turn to God, He can transform their lives.