Exodus 20:1-11 · Bible study
Exodus 20:1-11 Commentary: The Ten Words from the Lord
Hebrew · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why does the text stress that God spoke the Decalogue directly to Israel? Examine the first four commandments and their covenantal foundation.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The Decalogue's preamble and first four commands establish God's exclusive claim on Israel, grounded in His redemptive act.
- Key words: יהוה (Yahweh, LORD), פסל (idol or graven image), שׁוא (emptiness, vain), שׁבת (Sabbath, rest).
- Main debate: How to number the commands (Jewish/Protestant vs. Catholic/Lutheran traditions), and whether the Sabbath remains a binding moral command or is fulfilled in Christ.
- Theological theme: Covenant relationship based on redemption requires exclusive loyalty and shapes the community's worship and rhythm of life.
- Best use: As the foundation of biblical ethics and covenant teaching, showing that law follows grace.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
1And God spoke all these words:
2“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
3You shall have no other gods before Me.
4You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath.
5You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,
6but showing loving devotion to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.
7You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave anyone unpunished who takes His name in vain.
8Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
9Six days you shall labor and do all your work,
10but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God, on which you must not do any work—neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant or livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates.
11For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that is in them, but on the seventh day He rested. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.
WEB World English Bible 2000
1God 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:
5you 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,
6and 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.
9You shall labor six days, and do all your work,
10but 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;
11for 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.
KJV King James Version 1769
1And God spake all these words, saying,
2I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
4Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
5Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
6And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
7Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
8Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
10But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
11For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
1And God spake all these words, saying,
2I am Jehovah thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
4Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
5thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them; for I Jehovah thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation of them that hate me,
6and showing lovingkindness unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.
7Thou shalt not take the name of Jehovah thy God in vain; for Jehovah will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
8Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work;
10but the seventh day is a sabbath unto Jehovah thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
11for in six days Jehovah made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore Jehovah blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
1`And God speaketh all these words, saying,
2I am Jehovah thy God, who hath brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of a house of servants.
3`Thou hast no other Gods before Me.
4`Thou dost not make to thyself a graven image, or any likeness which is in the heavens above, or which is in the earth beneath, or which is in the waters under the earth.
5Thou dost not bow thyself to them, nor serve them: for I, Jehovah thy God, am a zealous God, charging iniquity of fathers on sons, on the third generation , and on the fourth, of those hating Me,
6and doing kindness to thousands, of those loving Me and keeping My commands.
7`Thou dost not take up the name of Jehovah thy God for a vain thing, for Jehovah acquitteth not him who taketh up His name for a vain thing.
8`Remember the Sabbath-day to sanctify it;
9six days thou dost labour, and hast done all thy work,
10and the seventh day is a Sabbath to Jehovah thy God; thou dost not do any work, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, thy man-servant, and thy handmaid, and thy cattle, and thy sojourner who is within thy gates, --
11for six days hath Jehovah made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and resteth in the seventh day; therefore hath Jehovah blessed the Sabbath-day, and doth sanctify it.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
1And God spoke all these words, saying,
2I am Jehovah thy God, who have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3Thou shalt have no othergods before me.
4Thou shalt not make thyself any graven image, or any form of what is in the heavens above, or what is in the earth beneath, or what is in the waters under the earth:
5thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them; for I, Jehovah thy God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the sons to the third and to the fourth [generation] of them that hate me,
6and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.
7Thou shalt not idly utter the name of Jehovah thy God; for Jehovah will not hold him guiltless that idly uttereth his name.
8Remember the sabbath day to hallow it.
9Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work;
10but the seventh day is the sabbath of Jehovah thy God: thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy bondman, nor thy handmaid, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates.
11For in six days Jehovah made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore Jehovah blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
1And the Lord spoke all these words:
2I am the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3Thou shalt not have strange gods before me.
4Thou shalt not make to thyself a graven thing, nor the likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, nor of those things that are in the waters under the earth.
5Thou shalt not adore them, nor serve them: I am the Lord thy God, mighty, jealous, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me:
6And shewing mercy unto thousands to them that love me, and keep my commandments.
7Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that shall take the name of the Lord his God in vain.
8Remember that thou keep holy the sabbath day.
9Six days shalt thou labour, and shalt do all thy works.
10But on the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: thou shalt do no work on it, thou nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy beast, nor the stranger that is within thy gates.
11For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and the sea, and all things that are in them, and rested on the seventh day: therefore the Lord blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Exodus 20:1
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that the opening verses establish the foundation for the entire Decalogue. The declaration 'I am Yahweh your God' (v.2) is not a command but a preamble, grounding obedience in the redeeming act of the exodus (Keil, Calvin, Barnes). The first four commandments then specify exclusive loyalty to Yahweh, prohibition of images, reverence for His name, and observance of the Sabbath. The text's emphasis that 'God spoke all these words' (v.1), directly, without Moses as intermediary, is not incidental; it underscores the covenantal solemnity. As Matthew Henry notes, 'He never spoke at any time upon any occasion as He spoke the ten commandments.' The direct address makes each hearer personally accountable. Scholars note that this theophany of voice places the Decalogue at the heart of Israel's covenant relationship with God (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown).
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Traditional Jewish/Protestant numbering: Treats v.2 as a preamble and v.3 as the first commandment, following the natural verse divisions and the precedent of Deuteronomy 5.
- Catholic/Lutheran numbering: Combines vv.2-6 as one commandment (no other gods and no images) to maintain ten commands despite the prohibition of coveting being split into two (Exodus 20:17).
- Sabbath as moral vs. ceremonial command: Some hold the Sabbath is a creation ordinance binding on all; others see it as a ceremonial law fulfilled in Christ's rest and no longer required in the same form.
What is clear: God directly addressed Israel with these foundational commands, establishing a covenant relationship based on His redemptive act and requiring exclusive loyalty.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Numbering of the Ten Commandments | The text contains ten 'words' (Deuteronomy 4:13, 10:4) that form the covenant basis for Israel. | Jewish and Protestant traditions treat v.2 as a preface and count v.3 as the first commandment. Catholic and Lutheran traditions combine vv.2-6 as the first commandment, making v.7 the second. Both readings uphold the core content. |
| Prohibition of graven images | All traditions agree that the command forbids worshiping images as gods. | Some traditions (Eastern Orthodox, Catholic) permit icons and statues as aids to worship, distinguishing between veneration and worship. Others (Reformed, Anabaptist) forbid any visual representation of God in worship. Both sides point to the context of vv.4-6 to support their practice. |
| Sabbath observance | The command requires a regular day of rest from ordinary work, extending to the whole household and animals. | Christians differ on which day is observed (Saturday or Sunday) and whether the command is a moral law binding on all people or a ceremonial law fulfilled in Christ. Seventh-day groups keep Saturday; most others worship on Sunday as the Lord's Day. |
| Meaning of 'visiting iniquity of the fathers on the children' | Sin has consequences that affect future generations, a theme echoed in Scripture (Exodus 34:7, Numbers 14:18). | Some understand this as God actively punishing descendants for the sins of ancestors. Others see it as describing the natural outworking of sin within families and communities. Both views agree that the passage emphasizes God's mercy to those who love Him (v.6). |
Historical & Cultural Context
The Decalogue is set within the covenant-making event at Mount Sinai. Israel, having been redeemed from Egyptian slavery, now stands at the mountain amid fire, cloud, and trumpet blast (Exodus 19). The direct divine speech, 'God spoke all these words', reflects the theophany described in Deuteronomy 4:33 and 5:4, where Yahweh speaks 'face to face' with the people.
In the ancient Near East, suzerain-vassal treaties typically opened with the Great King's self-identification and a summary of his benefactions before listing stipulations. The Decalogue follows this pattern: v.2 declares 'I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt,' establishing the basis for the commands that follow. The first four commandments address Israel's relationship with God: exclusive loyalty (v.3), prohibition of images (vv.4-6), reverence for God's name (v.7), and Sabbath rest (vv.8-11). These commands stand in sharp contrast to the polytheistic cultures surrounding Israel.
The Sabbath injunction is especially striking: in a world where rest was a privilege of the elite, this command extends rest to every member of the household, including the slave, the foreigner, and even the livestock (v.10). The grounding of the Sabbath in creation (v.11) ties the command to the order of the cosmos, not merely to Israel's national identity. The textual emphasis that God Himself spoke these words directly, rather than through Moses, underscores the gravity of the covenant: this is not human legislation but divine revelation, personally addressed to the people whom He has redeemed.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Exodus 20:1-11. The parallel version in Deuteronomy 5:6-21 contains small wording differences (e.g., 'Observe' for 'Remember' in the fourth commandment), but these are consistent with literary variation within Scripture and do not affect the meaning of the passage.
Reception History
The Decalogue has been central to Christian catechesis and ethics from the earliest centuries. Clement of Alexandria first used the term 'Decalogue' to refer to the Ten Words. Augustine divided the commandments into two tables: love of God (first four) and love of neighbor (last six), a division widely adopted by later theologians. During the Reformation, both Luther and Calvin produced extensive commentaries on the Ten Commandments, using them as a framework for moral instruction. The direct divine speech of Exodus 20:1 has been understood as a sign of the law's authority and permanence, though the application of the Sabbath command has been discussed across traditions.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Deliverer Announces His Identity (v.2), God begins not with a command but with a declaration of who He is and what He has done. Redemption precedes ethics. The covenant relationship is grounded in grace.
- Loyalty to the One True God (vv.3-7), The first three commandments protect Israel's exclusive devotion. No other gods, no images, no misuse of His name. Each prohibition guards a different aspect of worship: object, method, and attitude.
- Rest in the Creator's Pattern (vv.8-11), The fourth commandment anchors human rhythm in divine creation. Work six days, rest one. This rest is not just personal but communal, extending to family, servants, animals, and visitors.
Five-point outline
- The Great "I Am" (v.2), Preamble: God identifies Himself as Redeemer, establishing His authority to command.
- No Other Gods (v.3), Exclusive loyalty to Yahweh alone.
- No Graven Images (vv.4-6), No created thing may represent or replace God in worship.
- Honor His Name (v.7), God's name is not to be used casually or falsely.
- Keep the Sabbath Holy (vv.8-11), A day set apart for rest and worship, patterned after creation.
Illustration hooks
- A signed letter from a parent, A personal, handwritten letter carries more weight than a typed note. God's direct speech signals the importance of what follows.
- A team loyalty pledge, An athlete can wear only one team's jersey. The first commandment calls for undivided allegiance in a world of competing loyalties.
- A weekly pause everyone gets, Imagine a workplace where the boss insists that even the newest intern gets the day off. The Sabbath command flattens social hierarchies in rest.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does the Old Testament law apply to me today, and if so, how?
- What counts as taking God's name in vain, only swearing, or more?
- Should Christians still observe a Saturday Sabbath, or is Sunday the new Sabbath?
Leading a Discussion
The Ten Commandments are more than a moral checklist. They are a covenant relationship initiated by God. In this passage, God speaks directly to His people, reminding them who He is and what He has done before giving them directions for life.
Discussion questions
- Observation: What does the text reveal about God's character in v.2? Why does He begin with His identity before giving commands?
- Observation: List the specific actions forbidden in vv.3-7. What patterns do you see in the kinds of things prohibited?
- Interpretation: Why does the prohibition of images come immediately after the command for exclusive loyalty? What danger do images pose to true worship?
- Interpretation: The Sabbath command is the longest in this section. What does that length tell you about its importance? How does grounding it in creation (v.11) affect its meaning?
- Interpretation: The direct speech of God (v.1) is emphasized. Why does the text make a point that God spoke these words Himself, not through a mediator?
- Application: What “other gods” compete for your loyalty today? How can the first commandment shape your daily choices?
- Application: How might observing a weekly rhythm of rest and worship change the way you experience the rest of the week?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Deuteronomy 4:33 | Did a people ever hear the voice of God speaking out of the middle of the fire, as you have heard, and live? |
| Deuteronomy 4:36 | Out of heaven he made you to hear his voice, that he might instruct you. On earth he made you to see his great fire; and you heard his words out of the middle of the fire. |
| Deuteronomy 5:4 | Yahweh spoke with you face to face on the mountain out of the middle of the fire, |
| Deuteronomy 5:22 | Yahweh spoke these words to all your assembly on the mountain out of the middle of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice. He added no more. He wrote them on two stone tablets, and gave them to me. |
| Acts 7:38 | This is he who was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel that spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, who received living revelations to give to us, |
| Acts 7:53 | You received the law as it was ordained by angels, and didn’t keep it!” |
| Genesis 17:7 | I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God to you and to your offspring after you. |
| Genesis 17:8 | I will give to you, and to your offspring after you, the land where you are traveling, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession. I will be their God.” |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes stresses that God gave the Ten Commandments specifically to the people He had just redeemed from Egypt, not to humanity in general. The preamble recalls the Exodus rather than creation because the law rests on God's saving act. Obedience should spring from gratitude for deliverance, not from fear of punishment.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin treats the opening declaration as a general preface, not a commandment, designed to establish God's authority and attract the people through grace before giving law. He distinguishes the first commandment (worship the one true God) from the second (worship Him only in the prescribed spiritual manner
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill emphasizes that God spoke the Ten Commandments directly and authoritatively, without any mediator or angel, and that these laws were specifically adapted to Israel’s own sins and temptations. He also highlights the ancient Jewish notion that all ten were uttered as a single word, underscoring their inseparable unity.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB emphasizes that God spoke the Ten Commandments in terrifyingly loud tones because He was addressing fallen, sinful creatures, not merely rational beings. Had humanity remained sinless, God would have spoken with the still small voice of persuasion and love, but the awful circumstances matched the law’s holy sanctions.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil and Delitzsch insist that God spoke the Ten Commandments directly to Israel, not through angels or finite spirits. They argue the Old Testament gives no support for angelic mediation here, and the New Testament references are too indefinite to prove it. The angels were present only as attendants, not as speakers.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange argues that the Hebrew phrase in this command means "over against," not "before me" or "besides me." Other gods are not just additional deities in God's presence but rivals set up to confront and oppose Him. The command forbids any rival claim to His exclusive authority.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry draws attention to the unique manner of God's speech here. Though God speaks through conscience, providence, and many other means, the Ten Commandments are the one occasion where He spoke directly and audibly. This makes them unlike any other revelation and demands a special response.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley emphasizes that the Ten Commandments are unique because God spoke them directly, unlike any other communication. He sees this law as originally written on the human heart but defaced by sin, making its revival necessary. God's authority rests on being self-existent, covenant-keeping, and the Redeemer who freed Israel from Egypt.