Exodus 20:22-26 · Bible study
Exodus 20:22-26 Commentary: Worship Without Images
Hebrew · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
God speaks from heaven: why that bans images and commands altars of earth or uncut stone. A study of Exodus 20:22-26.
Research Summary
- Meaning: God's heavenly speaking grounds the ban on images and the command for simple, modest altars.
- Key words: Heaven (shamayim), gods of silver/gold, altar of earth (adamah), hewn stones (gazit), steps (ma'alot).
- Main debate: Whether “make with me” (v. 23) implies an implied object (“any god”) or is directly tied to the following words (“gods of silver”).
- Theological theme: Transcendence of God and purity of worship.
- Best use: A foundation for understanding OT worship laws and their Christological fulfillment.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
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.’
WEB World English Bible 2000
22Yahweh said to Moses, “This is what you shall tell the children of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.
23You shall most certainly not make gods of silver or gods of gold for yourselves to be alongside me.
24You shall make an altar of earth for me, and shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your cattle. In every place where I record my name I will come to you and I will bless you.
25If you make me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of cut stones; for if you lift up your tool on it, you have polluted it.
26You shall not go up by steps to my altar, that your nakedness may not be exposed to it.’
KJV King James Version 1769
22And the Lord said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.
23Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold.
24An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.
25And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.
26Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
22And Jehovah said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye yourselves have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.
23Ye shall not make other gods with me; gods of silver, or gods of gold, ye shall not make unto you.
24An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt-offerings, and thy peace-offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in every place where I record my name I will come unto thee and I will bless thee.
25And if thou make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stones; for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.
26Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not uncovered thereon.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
22And Jehovah saith unto Moses, `Thus dost thou say unto the sons of Israel: Ye--ye have seen that from the heavens I have spoken with you;
23ye do not make with Me gods of silver, even gods of gold ye do not make to yourselves.
24`An altar of earth thou dost make for Me, and thou hast sacrificed on it thy burnt-offerings and thy peace-offerings, thy flock and thy herd; in every place where I cause My name to be remembered I come in unto thee, and have blessed thee.
25`And if an altar of stones thou dost make to Me, thou dost not build them of hewn work; when thy tool thou hast waved over it, then thou dost pollute it;
26neither dost thou go up by steps on Mine altar, that thy nakedness be not revealed upon it.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
22And Jehovah said to Moses, Thus shalt thou say to the children of Israel: Ye have seen that I have spoken with you from the heavens.
23Ye shall not make beside megods of silver, and ye shall not make to yougods of gold.
24An altar of earth shalt thou make unto me, and shalt sacrifice on it thy burnt-offerings, and thy peace-offerings, thy sheep and thine oxen: in all places where I shall make my name to be remembered, I will come unto thee, and bless thee.
25And if thou make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone; for if thou lift up thy sharp tool upon it, thou hast profaned it.
26Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
22And the Lord said to Moses: Thus shalt thou say to the children of Israel: You have seen that I have spoken to you from heaven.
23You shall not make gods of silver, nor shall you make to yourselves gods of gold.
24You shall make an altar of earth unto me, and you shall offer upon it your holocausts and peace offerings, your sheep and oxen, in every place where the memory of my name shall be: I will come to thee, and will bless thee.
25And if thou make an altar of stone unto me, thou shalt not build it of hewn stones; for if thou lift up a tool upon it, it shall be defiled.
26Thou shalt not go up by steps unto my altar, lest thy nakedness be discovered.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Exodus 20:22
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Across traditions, commentators agree that God's declaration in verse 22, “I have talked with you from heaven”, is the theological foundation for the prohibitions that follow. Clarke notes that by speaking from the sky rather than from the mountain itself, God proved there was no imposture, since earthly sounds could be counterfeited but heavenly voices could not. Calvin and Keil & Delitzsch stress that God's heavenly origin means He cannot be represented by earthly materials; any image made to stand “alongside” Him (v. 23) diminishes His transcendence. Matthew Henry sees the repetition of the second commandment here as a safeguard against Israel's particular temptation to idolatry. The altar rules (vv. 24, 26) are read by Barnes as “old and accepted” regulations that reinforce the same point: worship requires no costly craftsmanship. The prohibition of hewn stones (v. 25) and steps (v. 26) is understood by Cambridge Bible and Gill as preserving modesty and preventing the altar from becoming an object of art in itself. In sum, the passage anchors Israel's worship in God's revealed nature, not human invention.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Literal-historical: These are practical wilderness rules for a mobile people; they prevent syncretism and ensure modesty (Barnes, Wesley).
- Theological-principial: The principles of simplicity, no images, and modesty are permanent for worship (Calvin, Matthew Henry).
- Image prohibition scope: Some say it forbids all visual representation of God; others say only images made to worship alongside Him.
What is clear: God spoke from heaven; Israel must not make gods to worship alongside Him; altars must be simple and non-decorative; steps are forbidden for modesty.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Reason for image prohibition | God's speech from heaven shows His transcendence; He cannot be represented by earthly materials. | Some read this as a ban on all images of God (Reformed tradition); others as a ban only on images made to worship alongside Yahweh (syncretism). |
| Altar materials | Simple earth or uncut stones prevent the altar becoming an object of art and avoid attachment to a fixed location. | Whether these rules apply permanently or only for the wilderness period; the later tabernacle altar was made of acacia wood and gold (Exodus 27). |
| Steps prohibition | Steps are forbidden to prevent exposure of the priests' nakedness, thus preserving modesty. | Whether this prohibition is only about physical decency, or also about not “climbing” to God in human pride; Ezekiel's temple has steps (Ezekiel 43:17). |
| Applicability beyond Israel | The principle that God is not limited to one place or image is universal for Christian worship. | How much of the specific altar law applies to Christian practice (e.g., simplicity in church architecture). |
Historical & Cultural Context
This passage introduces the Book of the Covenant (Exodus 20:22, 23:33), the oldest written body of law in the Old Testament, given immediately after the Ten Commandments. The surrounding narrative (Exodus 20:18, 21) shows the people terrified by thunder, lightning, and the sound of a trumpet from Mount Sinai. They beg Moses to mediate because they fear God's direct voice will kill them. God then speaks to Moses privately in the thick darkness, dictating these instructions for worship.
The phrase “from heaven” is key. By speaking from the sky rather than from an earthly throne, God emphasized His transcendence: He is not a localized deity confined to a mountain. This directly challenges the surrounding cultures, who regularly made physical images of their gods. The command “you shall not make gods of silver or gods of gold to be alongside me” (v. 23) counters the common practice of syncretism, where Israelites might have tried to honor Yahweh by making a physical image to accompany the invisible God. The golden calf episode (Exodus 32) shows how real this temptation was.
The altar regulations reflect both practical and theological concerns. In the wilderness, Israel had no permanent home; an altar of earth or uncut stones was quick to build and left no trace after the people moved on (Calvin). Unlike the elaborate stepped altars of Canaanite high places, Israel's altar was to be simple. The ban on hewn stones prevented decorative carving that might attract superstitious veneration. Steps were forbidden because the priests wore ankle-length garments; climbing up would risk exposure, and God would not have His worship associated with indecency. The promise “In every place where I record my name I will come to you and I will bless you” (v. 24) anticipates later centralization of worship, but for the wilderness period it assured Israel that God's presence accompanied their simple altars.
Textual Notes
The Masoretic punctuation in verse 23 places a disjunctive accent (athnach) after “with me,” separating the phrase from the following words. This could imply that an object must be supplied (“you shall not make [anything] with me”). However, the syntax is ambiguous, and the LXX and Vulgate connect “gods of silver” directly, reading “You shall not make with me gods of silver.” Neither reading changes the core prohibition against making gods alongside Yahweh. The consulted sources note no other significant textual variants for this passage.
Reception History
Early Christian interpreters, such as Gregory the Great, read the altar of earth as symbolizing humility and the uncut stones as believers built into a spiritual house. The Reformation brought fresh emphasis on the second commandment and the simplicity of worship; Calvin used this passage to argue against images and ornate church furnishings. In the modern period, scholars like Keil and Delitzsch focused on the historical context, seeing these regulations as early Israelite responses to Canaanite practices. Across eras, the passage has been a touchstone for discussions about the proper form of worship.
Preaching This Verse
Three-Point Outline
- The God who speaks from heaven cannot be captured in an image (vv. 22, 23). The people had seen and heard God, but they saw no form. The prohibition of “gods of silver and gods of gold” is the first application: because God spoke from heaven, He is not the kind of being who can be represented by metal or stone. Our worship must honor His invisibility.
- The simple altar points to God's presence and blessing (vv. 24, 25). God accepts worship made on earth or uncut stones. The material does not matter; His presence does. The focus is not on the building but on the blessing: “I will come to you and I will bless you.”
- Modesty and purity in approaching God (v. 26). Steps are forbidden to protect decency. The point: how we come to God matters. We do not approach casually; we come with reverence and attention to holiness.
Five-Point Outline
- Heavenly origin of the Law (v. 22). God's voice from heaven proves His sovereignty and sets the stage for everything that follows.
- No images allowed (v. 23). The second commandment reapplied in a concrete way: no “gods alongside Me.”
- Altar of earth or uncut stone (vv. 24, 25). The materials discourage human pride and artistry from becoming the focus.
- God's promise to meet His people (v. 24b). Wherever He records His name, He comes with blessing. This comforted Israel in the wanderings.
- Decency in worship (v. 26). The steps prohibition reminds us that God cares about the manner of our approach, not just the act of worship.
Illustration Hooks
- A parent speaking to a child from behind a screen: the child hears the voice clearly but cannot see the face. The voice alone creates trust and relationship. Our worship is like that, we respond to the God we have heard, not the one we have crafted.
- Think of a rough wooden cross compared to an ornate gold cross. The message is the same, but the simplicity of the wood reminds us that the object itself is not the point. The altar is just the place for sacrifice; the Lord is the blessing.
- An open-air prayer meeting on a hillside: no building, no decorations, just people and God. That is essentially the wilderness altar, and God promises to be there.
Questions Your Congregation Is Asking
- Does this mean we should never use images or art in worship? (Explain the distinction between images of God versus images that illustrate Bible stories.)
- Why does God care about the material of the altar? If He wanted simple things, why later did He command an elaborate tabernacle? (The altar is for sacrifice, not for beauty; the tabernacle was for God's dwelling, with different rules.)
- Are we allowed to worship anywhere, or only in church buildings? (The principle of “every place where I record my name” suggests God is not limited to one spot.)
Leading a Discussion
Exodus 20:22, 26 moves from the grand revelation at Sinai to the practical rules for worship. After God's voice terrified the people (vv. 18, 19), He now instructs them how to approach Him safely and rightly. The main issue: because God is heavenly and invisible, Israel must not make images or build elaborate altars. Instead, worship is to be simple, decent, and focused on God's presence and blessing.
Read the passage aloud. Then work through these questions together.
Discussion Questions
- What do the people see and hear in verse 22? Why does God use the phrase “from heaven” specifically?
- In verse 23, what does it mean to make gods “alongside Me”? How is this different from outright worshiping other gods?
- Why do you think God commands an altar of “earth” or “uncut stones”? What might this teach about human effort in worship?
- The promise in verse 24b, “I will come to you and I will bless you”, is linked to the altar. How does this shape the way we think about our own gatherings for worship?
- What is the purpose of forbidding steps (v. 26)? Is this only about clothing, or does it point to a deeper principle about approaching God?
- How does this passage connect to the second commandment (Exodus 20:4-6)? In what ways do Christians today face the same temptation to make God in our own image?
- If you had to summarize the “takeaway” of Exodus 20:22-26 for a new believer, what would you say?
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 4:36 | 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. |
| Nehemiah 9:13 | “You also came down on Mount Sinai, and spoke with them from heaven, and gave them right ordinances and true laws, good statutes and commandments, |
| Hebrews 12:25 | See that you don’t refuse him who speaks. For if they didn’t escape when they refused him who warned on the earth, how much more will we not escape who turn away from him who warns from heaven, |
| Hebrews 12:26 | whose voice shook the earth then, but now he has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heavens.” |
| Exodus 20:3 | “You shall have no other gods before me. |
| Exodus 20:5 | 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, |
| Exodus 32:1 | When the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron, and said to him, “Come, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we don’t know what has become of him.” |
| Exodus 32:4 | He received what they handed him, fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made it a molded calf. Then they said, “These are your gods, Israel, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” |
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
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke argues that God deliberately made every part of Israel's worship
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes observes that it makes perfect sense for the book of the covenant to open with rules for public worship. The altar-building guidelines were already ancient and widely accepted, and they align smoothly with the later instructions for constructing the tabernacle's altar.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin stresses that God commanded rough, unworked altars to prevent any permanent structure that might later tempt the Israelites into superstition. He explicitly dismisses allegorical interpretations of the materials, insisting the sole purpose was practical: to keep the people from venerating the altar itself. The prohibition against steps likewise aimed at preserving modesty and reverence, not hidden symbolism.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible commentary stresses that early Israelite worship was strikingly simple and accessible. Any Israelite could sacrifice at altars of earth or undressed stone, erected wherever God chose to make His name known. This broad permission contrasts sharply with later worship centralized at a single sanctuary and restricted to official priests.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill stresses that the command against hewn stones for the altar was meant to separate Israel from the idolatrous customs of surrounding nations, who used polished stones. He also explains that steps were forbidden to prevent indecency, showing God's concern for modesty and purity in worship.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes that the command against making images of God follows directly from the fact that no visible form was shown at Sinai; since the people saw nothing, they should not try to represent Him. The altar regulations, using earth or unhewn stone, were temporary measures to prevent superstition and indecency.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch argue that the altar of earth or unhewn stones does not symbolize a "native purity" of the material. Instead, the earth, cursed by sin, must be renewed into God's kingdom solely by His gracious hand, not by human craftsmanship. The altar’s simplicity shows that man cannot improve the soil for God.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange treats these verses as the seed of the entire Levitical ritual law, not just a one-time regulation. He distinguishes this worship-focused prohibition of images from the ethical command in the Decalogue and sees the simple earthen altar as the primitive starting point from which the tabernacle's graded altars of copper and gold later developed.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry suggests the second commandment is repeated here for either of two reasons: to stress Israel's particular weakness for idolatry, or as a natural conclusion from the fact that God spoke to them from heaven without any visible form. He also marvels at God's condescension in speaking familiarly with such undeserving people.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley notes that the command for altars of earth or unhewn stone was only for temporary, occasional use. The plainness was intentional, guarding against any temptation toward graven images. Wherever God's name is sincerely worshipped, He promises to come and bless.