Bible Commentaries
Exodus 20

Verse 1

20:1 And God {a} spake all these words, saying,

(a) When Moses and Aaron were gone up, or had passed the bounds of the people, God spoke thus out of the mount Horeb, that all the people heard.

Verse 3

20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods {b} before me.

(b) To whose eyes all things are open.

Verse 5

20:5 Thou shalt not {c} bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God [am] a {d} jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth [generation] of them that hate me;

(c) By this outward gesture, all forms of service and worship to idols is forbidden.

(d) And will have revenge on those who condemn my honour.

Verse 6

20:6 And shewing mercy unto {e} thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

(e) So ready is he rather to show mercy than to punish.

Verse 7

20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in {f} vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

(f) Either by swearing falsely or rashly by his Name, or by condemning it.

Verse 8

20:8 Remember the sabbath day, {g} to keep it holy.

(g) Which is by meditating the spiritual rest, by hearing God’s word, and resting from worldly labours.

Verse 12

20:12 Honour thy {h} father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

(h) By parents it is also meant all that have authority over us.

Verse 13

20:13 Thou shalt not {i} kill.

(i) But love and preserve your brother’s life.

Verse 14

20:14 Thou shalt not {k} commit adultery.

(k) But be pure in heart, word and deed.

Verse 15

20:15 Thou shalt not {l} steal.

(l) But study to save his goods.

Verse 16

20:16 Thou shalt not bear false {m} witness against thy neighbour.

(m) But further his good name, and speak truth.

Verse 17

20:17 Thou shalt not {n} covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that [is] thy neighbour’s.

(n) You may not so much as wish his hinderance in anything.

Verse 20

20:20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to {o} prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.

(o) Whether you will obey his precepts as you promised in Exodus 19:8.

Verse 26

20:26 Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy {p} nakedness be not discovered thereon.

(p) Which might be by his stooping or flying up of his clothes.