Exodus

God spoke all these words, these words Tradition varies as to the division of the Commandments in vv. 2–14, and as to the numbering of the verses from 2 on. Cf. note at Deut. 5.6. saying:

I יהוה am your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, the house of bondage:

You You The Decalogue is couched both in the second-person masculine singular and in terms of a household—the basic social and economic unit. Such a format addresses the legal provisions to whichever responsible party they apply—most typically the (male) householder, or he and his (primary) wife as household administrators, or every man, or every adult member of the community. Cf. note at Deut. 12.7. See further the Dictionary under “house,” “householder,” and “you.” shall have no other gods bes

You shall not make for yourself a sculptured image, or any likeness of what is in the heavens above, or on the earth below, or in the waters under the earth.

You shall not bow down to them or serve them. For I your God יהוה am an impassioned God, visiting the guilt of the parents upon the children, upon the third and upon the fourth generations of those who reject Me.

but showing kindness to the thousandth generation of those who love Me and keep My commandments.

You shall not swear falsely by .” the name of your God יהוה; for יהוה will not clear one who swears falsely by God’s name.

Remember the sabbath day and keep it holy.

Six days you shall labor and do all your work,

but the seventh day is a sabbath of your God יהוה: you shall not do any work—you, your son or daughter, your male or female slave, or your cattle, or the stranger who is within your settlements.

For in six days יהוה made heaven and earth and sea—and all that is in them—and then rested on the seventh day; therefore יהוה blessed the sabbath day and hallowed it.

Honor your father and your mother, that you may long endure on the land that your God יהוה is assigning to you.

You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

You shall not covet your neighbor’s house: house I.e., the corporate household, both persons and possessions. (Cf. Deut. 5.18.) Heb. bayith, in construct form (beth). See the Dictionary under “house.” you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, wife In ancient Israel, a typical man could take a woman (even more than one) into his household as a wife; but a typical woman was not in a symmetrical position—which explains why “husband” is not also mentioned. See also note at v. 3. or male or female sl

All the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the blare of the horn and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they fell back and stood at a distance.

“You speak to us,” they said to Moses, “and we will obey; but let not God speak to us, lest we die.”

Moses answered the people, “Be not afraid; for God has come only in order to test you, and in order that the fear of God may be ever with you, so that you do not go astray.”

So the people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick cloud where God was.

יהוה said to Moses: Thus shall you say to the Israelites: You yourselves saw that I spoke to you from the very heavens:

With Me, therefore, you shall not make any gods of silver, nor shall you make for yourselves any gods of gold.

Make for Me an altar of earth and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your sacrifices of well-being, .” Meaning of Heb. shelamim uncertain. your sheep and your oxen; in every place where I cause My name to be mentioned I will come to you and bless you.

And if you make for Me an altar of stones, do not build it of hewn stones; for by wielding your tool upon them you have profaned them.

Do not ascend My altar by steps, that your nakedness may not be exposed upon it.