Exodus 20:1-17 NIV

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:2

I am the Lord thy God - אלהיך יהוה Yehovah eloheycha . On the word Jehovah, which we here translate Lord, see Clarke's note on Genesis 2:4 , and see Clarke's note on Exodus 6:3 . And on the word Elohim, here translated God, see Clarke's note on Genesis 1:1 . It is worthy of remark that each individual is addressed here, and not the people collectively, though they are all necessarily included; that each might feel that he was bound for himself to hear and do all these words. Moses... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:3

Thou shalt have no other gods before me - אחרים אלהים elohim acherim , no strange gods - none that thou art not acquainted with, none who has not given thee such proofs of his power and godhead as I have done in delivering thee from the Egyptians, dividing the Red Sea, bringing water out of the rock, quails into the desert, manna from heaven to feed thee, and the pillar of cloud to direct, enlighten, and shield thee. By these miracles God had rendered himself familiar to them, they were... read more

Adam Clarke

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:7

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain - This precept not only forbids all false oaths, but all common swearing where the name of God is used, or where he is appealed to as a witness of the truth. It also necessarily forbids all light and irreverent mention of God, or any of his attributes; and this the original word לשוא lashshav particularly imports: and we may safely add to all these, that every prayer, ejaculation, etc., that is not accompanied with deep reverence... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:8

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy - See what has been already said on this precept, Genesis 2:2 , and elsewhere. See Clarke's note on Genesis 2:2 . As this was the most ancient institution, God calls them to remember it; as if he had said, Do not forget that when I had finished my creation I instituted the Sabbath, and remember why I did so, and for what purposes. The word שבת shabbath signifies rest or cessation from labor; and the sanctification of the seventh day is... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:9

Six days shalt thou labor - Therefore he who idles away time on any of the six days, is as guilty before God as he who works on the Sabbath. No work should be done on the Sabbath that can be done on the preceding days, or can be deferred to the succeeding ones. Works of absolute necessity and mercy are alone excepted. He who works by his servants or cattle is equally guilty as if he worked himself. Hiring out horses, etc., for pleasure or business, going on journeys, paying worldly visits,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:12

Honor thy father and thy mother - There is a degree of affectionate respect which is owing to parents, that no person else can properly claim. For a considerable time parents stand as it were in the place of God to their children, and therefore rebellion against their lawful commands has been considered as rebellion against God. This precept therefore prohibits, not only all injurious acts, irreverent and unkind speeches to parents, but enjoins all necessary acts of kindness, filial respect,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:13

Thou shalt not kill - This commandment, which is general, prohibits murder of every kind. All actions by which the lives of our fellow creatures may be abridged. All wars for extending empire, commerce, etc. All sanguinary laws, by the operation of which the lives of men may be taken away for offenses of comparatively trifling demerit. All bad dispositions which lead men to wish evil to, or meditate mischief against, one another; for, says the Scripture, He that hateth his brother... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:3

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:12

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 20:13

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