The big picture
Exodus 20 opens in verse 1 with “And God spake all these words, saying,”, reaches its middle movement near verse 13 with “Thou shalt not kill.”, and closes in verse 26 with “Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, earth, Moses, people, altar. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Exodus · King James Version · 26Exodus 20:1-7
1–7: God spake all these words, saying,
Exodus 20:1–7 opens with “And God spake all these words, saying,” and reaches “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by LORD, earth, name.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And God spake all these words, saying,” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.
“I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.” Naming Egypt keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Exodus 20:1-7
King James Version1And 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.
Exodus 20:8-14
8–14: Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Exodus 20:8–14 opens with “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.” and reaches “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by LORD, days, sabbath.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.” Naming Remember keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:” The number six makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
Exodus 20:8-14
King James Version8Remember 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.
12Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
13Thou shalt not kill.
14Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Exodus 20:15-21
15–21: Thou shalt not steal.
Exodus 20:15–21 opens with “Thou shalt not steal.” and reaches “And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by people, Moses, neighbour’s.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Thou shalt not steal.” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his…” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Exodus 20:15-21
King James Version15Thou shalt not steal.
16Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
17Thou shalt not 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.
18And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.
19And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.
20And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.
21And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.
Exodus 20:22-26
22–26: The LORD said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of…
Exodus 20:22–26 opens with “And the LORD said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that…” and reaches “Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by altar, gods, offerings.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And the LORD said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with…” Naming Israel and Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Exodus 20:22-26
King James Version22And 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.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Exodus 20:1 begins with “And God spake all these words, saying,”
Where the chapter turns
Exodus 20:10 forms a natural hinge: “But 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…”
The final note
Exodus 20:26 leaves the reader with “Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, earth, Moses, people, altar, days help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What assumption drives Abraham's deception?
He assumes there is no fear of God in the place and that he will be killed.
How does the chapter expose that assumption?
Abimelech responds seriously to God's warning and confronts Abraham about wrongdoing.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- spake
- spoke
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.