Exodus 20

“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.

“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in…” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the…” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.” The line’s distinctive content terms include commandments, keep, love. Its relationship to verses 5 and 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his…” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“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.

“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…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.” Naming Honour keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thou shalt not kill.” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thou shalt not commit adultery.” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“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.

“And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking…” The line’s distinctive content terms include people, afar, lightnings. Its relationship to verses 17 and 19 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.” Naming Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces…” Naming Fear keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.” Naming Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“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.

“Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“And 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…” The line’s distinctive content terms include stone, altar, build. Its relationship to verses 24 and 26 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.” Naming Neither keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.