Exodus 20:1-6 NIV

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:4

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image - As the word פסל pasal signifies to hew, carve, grave, etc., פסל pesel may here signify any kind of image, either of wood, stone, or metal, on which the axe, the chisel, or the graving tool has been employed. This commandment includes in its prohibitions every species of idolatry known to have been practiced among the Egyptians. The reader will see this the more plainly by consulting the notes on the ten plagues, particularly those on... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:5

Jealous God - This shows in a most expressive manner the love of God to this people. He felt for them as the most affectionate husband could do for his spouse; and was jealous for their fidelity, because he willed their invariable happiness. Visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children - This necessarily implies - if the children walk in the steps of their fathers; for no man can be condemned by Divine justice for a crime of which he was never guilty; see Ezekiel 18. Idolatry... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:6

And showing mercy unto thousands - Mark; even those who love God and keep his commandments merit nothing from him, and therefore the salvation and blessedness which these enjoy come from the mercy of God: Showing mercy, etc. What a disproportion between the works of justice and mercy! Justice works to the third or fourth, mercy to thousands of generations! The heathen had maxims like these. Theocritus also teaches that the children of the good shall be blessed because of their parents'... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:1

Verse 1 1.And God spoke. I am aware that many agree in reading this verse and the next in connection with each other, and thus making them together the first of the ten commandments. Others taking them separately, consider the affirmation to stand in the place of one entire commandment; but since God neither forbids nor commands anything here, but only comes forth before them in His dignity, to devote the people to Himself, and to claim the authority He deserves, which also He would have... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:3

Verse 3 Exodus 20:3Thou shalt have no other gods before me. In this commandment God enjoins that He alone should be worshipped, and requires a worship free from all superstition. For although it seems to be a simple prohibition, yet must we deduce an affirmation from the negative, as will be more apparent from the following words. Therefore does He set Himself before them, in order that the Israelites may look to Him alone; and claims His own just right, in order that it may not be transferred... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:4

Verse 4 4.Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image. In the First Commandment, after He had taught who was the true God, He commanded that He alone should e worshipped; and now He defines what is His Legitimate Worship. Now, since these are two distinct things, we conclude that the commandments are also distinct, in which different things are treated of. The former indeed precedes in order, viz., that believers are to be contented with one God; but it would not be sufficient for us to be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 20:1

God spake all these words . It has been suggested that Moses derived the Decalogue from Egypt, by summarising the chief points of the Egyptian teaching as to the duty of man. But neither the second, nor the fourth, nor the tenth commandment came within the Egyptian ideas of moral duty; nor was any such compendious form as the Decalogue known in Egypt. Moreover, Egyptian morality was minute and complex, rather than grand and simple. Forty-two kinds of sin were denied by the departed soul... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 20:1

The moral law-Preliminary. The law given from Sinai is the moral law by pre-eminence . The principles which it embodies are of permanent obligation. It is a brief summary of the whole compass of our duty to God and man. It is a law of supreme excellence—"holy, just, and good" ( Romans 7:12 ). God's own character is expressed in it; it bears witness to his unity, spirituality, holiness, sovereignty, mercy, and equity; truth and righteousness are visible in its every precept. Listening... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 20:1-2

The Ten Commandments-an introductory reminder. Before the speaker of these commandments proceeded to the utterance of them, it was necessary that he should call special and reverent attention to himself. Not one of the words he was about to say could either be understood or obeyed without a constant reference in thought to him who had delivered and arranged them. He did not bring them before Israel as a far seeing legislator might bring such rules as were best adapted to the limitations... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 20:1-2

Utility of a course of teaching on the commandments, that Divine law which can never be destroyed. Let those who object to the preaching of morality remember John Wesley's words: " I find more profit in sermons on either good tempers or good works than in what are vulgarly called 'gospel sermons.'" Consider— I. THE DIVISION AND GROUPING OF THE COMMANDMENTS . 1 . Division . We know that there are ten—the ten words—but how are the ten words made up? The modern... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:5

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:6

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:1

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:3

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 20:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 20:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 20:1-2

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 20:1-2

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